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and fertilize an area of more than twenty thousand square miles. This tract of country, though but thinly inhabited at present, holds out such irresistable inducements to the western emigrant, that it is doubtless destined at no distant period to sustain a dense and flourishing population.

In view of such considerations as these, the undersigned feels that it requires no spirit of prophecy to determine that in case the capitol were now located at either Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson or Marshall, it would in a few years be as far distant from the centre of population, as it would now be remote from the geographical centre of the State.

That the location of the capitol which is now about to be made, should be in strict conformity to the letter and spirit of the constitution, a permanent location, the undersigned deems “ a consummation devoutly to be wished."

The undersigned has taken into consideration the heavy expenses and onerous burdens that must attend frequent legislation upon this exciting question—a question which arrays and calls into action the local feeling, strength and interest of every section of the State. Expensive as such legislation is at the present time, the undersigned cannot here refrain from adverting to the fact, that as the population of our State increases, and the number of its Senators and Representatives undergoes a proportionate increase, the expenses of legislation upon this question must inevitably increase in like proportion. But another and more important consideration lies beyond. If the present Legislature, in the discharge of its duty, should locate the capitol at a point from which the nature of things, and the "inevitable laws of population" must compel its removal at no distant period, great and grievous expenses must of necessity again be incurred, in purchasing new sites, and erecting new buildings. The undersigned is of opinion that the obvious and undoubted motive of the framers of the constitution in providing for the permanent location of the capitol, was to guard against the recurrence of these and other like evils, which must ever attend this great question, in its unsettled state. In view of the foregoing considerations, the undersigned is of opinion that the permanent interests of the State would be promoted by locating the cap

itol at some suitable point farther north than the line of the Central rail road; the selection of which point, he would submit to the good judgment of this iegislative body.

The undersigned would further suggest that in addition to reasons already alluded to, he is of firm conviction that the location of the capitol in the manner above alluded to, would result in important benefits to the State, by giving an impetus to emigration in a direction towards that part of the State where most of our State lands are located; thereby facilitating the sale of said lands, and accomplishing the two fold purpose of replenishing our treasury and populating our wilds.

That such a course would inevitably prove beneficial to the State at large, the undersigned cannot entertain a doubt, and that precedent is not wanting, to encourage and justify such a course, it will doubtless be sufficient to point to the past action of the State of Ohio, in a similar case. The legislative body of that State, at a period which must be fresh in the remembrance of many of the members of this House, dictated by a commendable foresight, worthy of the emulation of other legislative bodies, located the capitol of that State in the depths of a wilderness. The result is known to the world. The flourishing city of Columbus, with its various works of internal improvement, connecting it with all parts of that prosperous and powerful State, bears testimony of the wisdom of

the measure.

The undersigned fondly hopes that this State may reap the same inestimable benefits from the adoption of the course of policy suggested by this report.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

ENOS GOODRICH.

Report of the Select Commitee on the Geological Survey, relative to the publication of a Final Report on the Geology of Michigan.

The select committee, to whom was referred so much of the governor's message as related to the geological survey of the state, and the publication of a final report thereon, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave respectfully to submit to the House the result of their inquiry as to the cost of publication of such a report, and its propriety at the present time. Bela Hubbard, Esq., of this city, in whose hands the papers of the late Dr. Houghton, relating to the geological survey of the state, now are, and on whom would naturally and perhaps most properly devolve the duty of preparing and superintending the publication of a Final Geological Report, had submitted for the use of the Executive an estimate of the expense of such publication, which was transmitted to the House with the annual message of the governor, and laid before the committee. The same gentleman also kindly procured for the use of the committee, propositions from several printers and bookbinders in this city for printing and binding the work in a style similar or superior in some respects to that of the several volumes of the New York Geological Report. The committee did not deem it advisable to delay making their report, until some of the New York or Boston publishers could be consulted as to the terms on which they would undertake the publication of such a work, as it was not believed that much, if any, better terms would be offered by them than could be obtained here-and it seemed to be the impression of Mr. Hubbard, as well as the belief of the committee, that any deduction in the price of paper, of composition or of press work, would be more than counterbalanced by

the additional expense of superintending the publication of the report in any of the eastern cities, involving, as it would, the travelling expenses there and back, and the residence there for one or more months of the person having charge of the publication.

The result of the estimates and propositions submitted to the committee, is, that for an edition of two thousand copies of a volume comprising four hundred and fifty to five hundred pages of printing with wood-cut illustrations, and about twenty-eight pages lithography, there would be required the sum of five thousand or five thousand five hundred dollars. If the work is to be published at all, it seemed to your committee that two thousand copies was the smallest edition that ought to be contemplated, especially as an edition of fifteen hundred copies would only cause a deduction in the expense of one quarter of the cost of paper, press-work, lithographic printing and of binding, which would amount in the whole to seven hundred and fity dollars or less, or about a dollar and a half a volume for the five hundred copies to be added to an edition of fifteen hundred. And the saving of expense for any other number short of the two thousand, would be in about the same proportion. To illustrate this more fully, it will be sufficient to state the several items going to constitute the expense of publication for an edition of two thousand copies, which is as follows:

Two years' salary of geologist,

Lithographic drawing and printing, including paper,

$1,600

Wood engraving, in addition to that already executed,

200

800

[blocks in formation]

The whole of the first two items, and of the fifth, and a large proportion of the third, would have to be incurred for any edition, however small; whilst the fourth, and the last two items, and a small portion of the third, would be in proportion to the number of volumes published.

It is supposed that arrangements could be made with some of

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