sidered doubtful whether a majority of the whole people would consent to the passage of a law which should authorize a debt for the reconstruction of the Central and Southern Railroads, or either of them. There would then appear to be but one remedy, to wit: a speedy sale of our public works to a company, who would have the ability as it would be for their interest, immediately to renew a great portion of the superstructure and lay the T or H rail. By a judicious sale of our roads, providing for their early extension and securing our citizens against an extortionate monopoly, our citizens residing in their vicinity, or doing business upon them, would be greatly benefitted in the increased value of their property, and more than three millions of dollars of the public debt would be extinguished, leaving a small sum unpaid in comparison with the resources and enterprise of the people of Michigan. The Board would therefore respectfully recommend the sale of our public works to the favorable consideration of the legislature.

The amount paid for killing and maiming animalsupon the Railroads is becoming enormously large. If animals are allowed to run upon our road tracks, very many must inevitably be killed; and when killed, and where no want of care on the part of the engineer can be proven, should not the loss fall entirely upon the owner of the property destroyed? If the owner is not debarred from collecting any portion of the loss, should he not, at least, share in the risk, say to the amount of one half the damage? These suggestions are thrown out in the belief that some change in the present mode of settling damages is imperiously required.

In our last annual communication, the board expressed their conviction, that the gross receipts of the Central road in the year now closed, would not fall short of two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. This large increase was based upon the presumption that the exports of the state, particularly grain and flour, prior to another harvest, would be equal to the export of the corresponding months of the previous year. Such, however, has not been the case, as fully appears, from the monthly statement which follows, to wit:

The deficiency upon these two items alone, amounts to $35,695 70, in the first nine months of the last fiscal year. In consequence of our light harvest, a wise and general check was also given to mercantile operations, and the revenue under this head, which had heretofore kept pace with the increase of our population, and had therefore been annually increasing in amount, had fallen off $743 94, in the nine months above mentioned.

While the board regret the diminution of revenue from our public works, yet, under the state of facts as demonstrated in the foregoing table, we see not only a satisfactory explanation, but cause for congratulation, that our business men have so universally limited their business to the ability of the country to pay.

The following sums have been received for the transportation of the following articles, and the sale of old iron, to wit:

1,880 83

2,588 83

4,469 66

1,728 12

1844-Dec.,

1,725 96

3,454 08

697 69

8,621 43

130 00 31,997 07