Minority Report of Committee on Internal Improve

ment.

The undersigned of the minority of committee on internal improvement, to whom was referred several resolutions, having for their object, appropriations of the internal improvement lands in this state to improve the navigation of the waters thereof, beg leave to bring in the following brief report, which embraces their view of what should be the legitimate object of appropriation.

Among the first, if not the first, in the opinion of the undersigned, ranks the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo, and the Flint river also, presents a strong claim to the favorable consideration of the legislature. The first named steam, the St. Joseph, is navigable for nearly twice the distance of any of the waters in the peninsula, and the fact that in all appropriations have been hitherto made at times when the finances were in a worse condition even than at present, affords ample evidence that it presented peculiar and strong claims for the favorable consideration of the legislature in times past and present. The assessable property of the counties which would be directly benefitted by an appropriation, amounts to between three and four million dollars, and the exports for the current year, according to a statement made out by the Collector of the port of Detroit, to be 600,000 in round numbers in value, thus exceeding many times the amount of the products transported over any of the other rivers. It may be urged that there is an unexpended balances, amounting to over $7000. This balance will not any more than complete the portions of the river upon which commencements have been made, so as to finish in a continuous line, as far as said balance may reach. The upper part of the river, and especially the shoals between Colon, in St. Joseph county, and Constantine or Mottville, in the same county, stands greatly in need of clearing out and deepening. Far

more than ever has been, or the resources of the state would permit at present, might be profitably expended. It affords the only means of transportation to a very large and fertile country, a country which can derive no benefit neither at present nor in future from the extensions of the Southern or Central Railroads, or at most, to a very limited degree.

Justice to the southwest seems to demand a small appropriation, so as to place as far as possible the different portions of the state upon something of an equal basis, in order to pay the pro rata of state tax before proceeding to assess the same. Good policy alone would seem to demand this course, because the disposition of a people feeling themselves aggrieved to pay taxes, while the subjects of unjust and partial legislation might well be doubted. While the south have had half a million of the means of the state for which no return ever has been or ever will be made, and the north have been the recipients of the bounties of the state, and the centre are enabled to command a speedy transit to market for the products of the soil, the southwest point in vain to any munificent act which might be calculated to place her upon equal footing. It is true, the state has received cost for the central road, yet it is at the same time true that the centre receives all the beuefit from the work, which enables her to progress, and to pay the taxes due with far more ease than could otherwise be done. Besides, in the cost of the road, the legislation, costing thousands of dollars, the salaries of officers, and many other things, have not been taken into consideration. The minority consider that a small appropriation for the aid of the navigation of the Kalamazoo and Flint rivers would tend much to develope the resources of the contiguous country, would be highly beneficial and proper. They are aware it is difficult and embarrassing to distinguish between the fair and legitimate object of appropriation, and those which are not, and of the dangerous tendency of opening wide the door for the disposition of the public domain. Nevertheless, believing, as this is perhaps the last time that an opportunity will be afforded to mete out justice to the hardy pioneer of the west and north, and on full investigation of the merits of the different propositions under consideration, your committee deem that appropriations should be confined to the ob

jects above referred to. Considering it then in a financial point of view expedient, and upon equitable grounds, no more than just, they report that an amount not exceeding ten thousand acres should be appropriated for the improvement of the St. Joseph, 5000 for the Kalamozoo, and 5000 for the Flint river. All of which is respectfully submitted.

P. MARANTETTE.