Documents Accompanying the Journal of the House

less stores of wealth imbedded in the rocks and hills of the

mineral range,

Prior to the Act of April 28th, 1846, which attempted to reg. ulate the character of the assignments of Primary School Certificates, they had been regarded as simply a chattel interest, in the hands of the owner, transferable, as any other personal property.

The law, as it now stands, works very great hardship upon the present owners of many of the early certificates, held under imperfect assignments.

The original parties and their heirs, have in many cases disappeared, leaving no trace behind, and still, according to the letter of the act referred to, the present holder of the certificate cannot obtain a patent for his land, although paid in full, until his assignments are perfected.

Many cases of this character are presented, and the law should be made to apply only to certificates issued since its passage.

TRESPASSES.

Trespasses upon the public lands have been confined mainly to the region of country about Green Bay and its tributary streams.

Few cases of any magnitude, have occurred within the Lower Peninsula, for the past two years. Some timber has been cut, but chiefly for shingle bolts, on the lands adjacent to Lake Michigan, and for staves, in the country adjacent to Lake Huron.

The cases detected and adjusted have been numerous, varying in amount of damages from five dollars to as many hundreds.

The amount of damages adjusted during the years 1863-4, is $5,760, over $5,000 of which has been collected by my prin. cipal agent, Mr. E. L. Briggs, of Grand Rapids. Hon. J. C. Waterbury has rendered efficient service upon the shores of Lake Huron, in protecting the public lands, and a few cases only have been adjusted by J. M. Fuller, Esq., of Greenville.

The expenses incurred in the detection, adjustment and collection, amounts to $1,943 25.

Of the remainder, $3,727 10 has been paid into the treasury to the credit of the proper fund, and the balance of something less than one hundred dollars, remains on hand and in the hands of the agents for future operations-as there is not any fund from which to draw to meet these expenses.

It is confidently believed that the steps which have been taken in regard to trespasses upon the public lands, for a few years past, have put an effectual check upon future depredations.

We have abundant reason for the most profound gratitude to the Author of all good, that, at this time, when the great event of the century is being decided by the most gigantic and bloody war ever presented in the history of any people, when a million of our fellow citizens have voluntarily quitted peaceful pursuits that the principles of human progress and human right may be established forever, that we are still surrounded by such evidences of substantial prosperity.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

SAMUEL S. LACEY,

Commissioner.