chases, was to be paid out of the principal to be received on the sale of lands granted, not to exceed the sum of $10,000. The whole amount donated by citizens of Ypsilanti has been made available, viz: $13,500, and the requisite Normal School building, with rooms for the model school and other departments, has been completed and furnished, ready for the accommodation of pupils. In accordance with the provisions of the act recited, this has been accomplished with the additional expense of nearly $6,000 for building purposes, drawn from the principal of the Normal School fund, as provided in the act, thus furnishing, with comparatively small cost to the fund, an institution now ready to receive and prepare for the primary and union schools, a supply of well qualified and thoroughly educated teachers-a desideratum which ought not to fail of marking a new era in our educational system and affairs.

The Normal school has been placed under the charge of an able and competent superintendent. The building for the school having been finished, was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, and a Teacher's Institute established on the 5th day of October last. Two hundred and fifty teachers enrolled their names as members of the Institute, which was held for three subsequent weeks. More than one hundred lectures, familiar or written, were delivered before the Institute, on subjects connected with the teacher's vocation. The plan pursued was unanimously approved by the teachers. It has been decided by the Board of Education, that the school shall be opened in April next, for those who may wish to prepare themselves to take charge of the primary and union schools, and a thorough English and scientific course for all pupils.

The act establishing this school contemplates instruction in the arts of husbandry and agricultural chemistry. In this there is great propriety, and from it the most beneficial results may flow. A knowledge of many things useful to the farmer might be taught, and diffused by the teachers throughout the State, in an economical and yet most efficient manner.

The funds of the school are not sufficient to accomplish the ends designed. All are deeply interested in its progress and rapid advancement. It is the surest, the cheapest and the best way in which the general intelligence of the people can be increased. If the inten

tion of the Legislature which projected it, be faithfully carried into effect, it will be a fine school for the education of teachers, and afford to some extent, that instruction to our husbandmen, which should be provided for them by the State.

The constitution requires the election by the people of Regents of the University, the reduction of their number, and a reconstruction and reorganization of the Board, making the President of the University their presiding officer. This requirement has been fulfilled, and it is believed the change will prove advantageous. The accademic department has also been reorganized, and at the present time consists of a President and six Professors. Judging from the distinguished reputation of the President, and the high character of the professors, I doubt not the institution will now rapidly progress. If properly appreciated and cherished, and that aid which it eminently deserves is extended to it, it may be made equal to any in the country. This is an object of prime importance and should be our constant aim. Its prosperity and elevated standing will reflect great honor on the State, and bestow large benefits on the people. Our young men should have as fine advantages here as elsewhere, and if so, few of them would be induced to go abroad. There are now sixty students in the under-graduate classes. The want of preparatory schools is seriously felt; but if the project of establishing union schools succeeds, that which is so much desired will be in a great degree supplied. The library is small and deficient, and suitable apparatus much needed.

The Medical Department continues to flourish, and has already attained an enviable reputation. There are few institutions of the kind that offer so many advantages to the medical student. The course occupies seven months, and that of others only four. It numbers one hundred and sixty students.

A comparison is apt to be instituted between the two departments, based upon numbers, but it cannot be fairly made, although the prerequisite attainments in the medical department are greater than usual, yet equal literary and scientific acquirements, and the same time, are not essentially necessary for graduation. The one leads directly to business, fam and gain, whilst the other is only a preparatory step to either.

The University labors under financial difficulties from which it should be relieved. It has received a new impetus, and the prospect is bright and encouraging. This is not the time for the State to hesitate or falter, when the institution has been re-invigorated, and every assurance of success is given.

The Capital is permanently fixed, and the State is the owner of real estate estimated at $106,995 63, in the village of Lansing. You should, therefore, be liberal to all improvements necessary to its health, prosperity or advancement.

I would call your attention to the great danger of the public papers and records being destroyed by fire. The buildings erected are of such materials as to afford no safe protection against the elements. If the books and papers in the offices of the Treasurer and Auditor General should be consumed, the loss could not be repaired, and the State would suffer to a very large amount. There is no fire engine in the place, nor any efficient organization to prevent such a catastrophy. Would it not be good economy, then, to have constructed a fire-proof building for these offices, and make such other provisions as the safety and security of the public property demands?

In conformity with the provisions of the act for the procurement of a block of Michigan native copper, for the Washington National Monument, a beautiful block was prepared under the superintendence of the Hon. Andrew Harvie, and by him taken and presented, in a neat and appropriate manner, to the Board of Managers of the Washington National Monument association. The block, in its native state, was generously contributed by the Pittsburg & Boston Mining. Company. The whole work was performed with exquisite taste, by accomplished artists, residents of the city of Detroit.

To carry out the provisions of the act, there was placed at the disposal of the Governor, one thousand dollars, of which $910 36 has been expended, leaving an unexpended balance of $89 64, in the treasury. The accompanying report of Mr. Harvie, gives a most interesting and satisfactory account of all his proceedings in connection with the State's contribution to this noble monument.

On the 26th day of August last, Congress passed an act for theconstruction of a ship canal around the Falls of St. Mary It grants to the State the right of locating a canal through the public lands,

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known as the Military Reservation, at the Falls at St. Mary's River, and four hundred feet of land in width, extending along the line of the canal, to be used for the construction and convenience thereof; and also, for constructing and completing said canal, 750,000 acres of public land, to be selected in sub-divisions, agreeably to the United States surveys, by an agent or agents to be appointed by the Governor of the State, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from any lands within the State, subject to private entry. These lands are at the disposal of the Legislature of this State, for the purposes aforesaid, and no other. The line of the canal must be located on the line of the surveys heretofore made for that purpose, or such other route between the waters above and below the Falls, as under the approval of the Secretary of War, may be selected. The canal must be at least one hundred feet wide, with a depth of water twelve feet, and the locks at least two hundred and fifty feet long, and sixty feet wide. The law requires it to be commenced within three and completed within ten years. Before it shall be competent for the State to dispose any of the lands to be selected, the route of the canal must be established, and a plat or plats thereof filed in the office of the War -Department, and a duplicate thereof, in the office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office. These are the most material provisions of the act, and those most essential to your intelligent action. So soon as I had notice of the passage of the law, deeming the work national in its character, I applied to the Secretary of War for a competent engineer, to make the necessary survey, plans and estimates, in order to save expense; to have it well and scientifically done, and to be able to communicate the information to you. My application was denied on the ground that there had been no money appropriated to defray the necessary expenses. On informing Capt. A. Canfield, an accomplished officer of the Topographical Corps of Engineers, of the fact, he promptly volunteered his services, on condition that he should receive no compensation for his time, skill or labor. Accompanied and aided by Judge Burt, a civil engineer of our own State, and a gentleman of great merit, he made the necessary examination and survey, whereof a most valuable and instructive report, together with a profile, map, plans and estimates of the work, is herewith submitted. He recommends the minimum width and depth of the canal,

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as prescribed by the act of Congress, and two locks, each three hundred feet in length. By his proposed route, the canal will be nearly a mile long. The cost of construction is estimated at five hundred and fifty-seven thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine dollars. The whole expense of the survey and examination was two hundred ánd twenty-five dollars and thirty-seven and a half cents-being about one-third of what it would have otherwise cost the State. Great credit is due to Capt. Canfield for the liberal' spirit which induced him to undertake this portion of the work, and the speedy, scientific and practical manner in which he accomplished it.

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You will observe that the route of the canal is to be fixed by you, and some provision made for the disposal of the lands and the construction of the work. The grant is to be applied exclusively to this object. The effort should be to construct the canal of such dimensions as the increasing commerce of the lakes demands, and as speedily and permanently as possible.

At the same time that I wrote the Secretary of War, I communicated with the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and suggested the propriety of having some of the lands in the Lake Supefor region and the contiguous territory noted on the books and plats, of the General Land Offices in this State, on the report of the State agents, so that they might be withdrawn from market, and kept out of the hands of speculators. The quantity would not probably exceed 50,000 to 75,000 acres, and as the certainty of the canal's being constructed would enhance the value of these lands, I deemed it advisable to appoint some agents with this view, and they were so instructed. As the commissioner adopted my suggestion, no possible injury could result to the State from my action. My determination has been, as far as practicable, to frustrate the designs of the watchful and grasping speculator, and at the same time, without compromiting the public interests, to await the action of the Legislature, and consult the wishes of the contractors, if the work was to be done by contract.

We should strive to keep the work itself out of the hands of mere speculators. The State has been entrusted with the application of the grant. We should promptly accept and honestly dispose of it. Every effort should be made to perform the trust faithfully. It is a work of great magnitude, and of especial importance to all the Lake