under consideration became a member; and it has since pursued a career of continual progress, keeping pace with the most advanced principles and theories of business. It has a board of trade, college, bank, and mercantile houses of all kinds. In each of these all of the formalities of actual business transactions are regularly gone through with by the students. The regular weekly law lectures are another important feature of this institution.

MAYHEW BUSINESS COLLEGE.

This institution, situated on the corner of Congress and Randolph streets, Detroit, was established in Albion, in 1860, and removed to Detroit in 1869. Its founder, the Hon. Ira Mayhew, had had large experience as a teacher, had written valuable works on education, had been two years county superintendent of schools in New York, and eight years superintendent of public instruc tion in Michigan, and was, therefore, well prepared for the suc cessful management of such an institution.

Professor Mayhew has devoted his time and energies to the

house and the country to the great historical fact that appears in all the traditions of the human race, shines through every page of history, through every period of human greatness, through the rise and fall of empires, through all the long successions of national growth and decay, that whatever people controlled the commerce of the world controlled the world itself; and this, too, whether their municipal power extended over vast realms of sea and land, or was confined to a single city or circumscribed island.

"To our legislation, in part, is committed the duty of realizing the lessons of history, and asserting the supremacy of our national com

merce

"Athough the task is difficult, the consummation will be glorious. Over what a world of waters do our laws extend! For what vast highways of commerce within our own borders must we legislate!

"From the Kennebunk to the Rio Grande, along the thousand miles of coast line we front the Atlantic and woo the traffic of the East. From San Diego to Behring's Straits we welcome across the calm Pacific 'the treasures of Cathay and farthest Inde!'

"Between the two oceans what magnificent inland seas! What vast interlacing rivers! on which ten thousand vessels are wafted by the winds of heaven, or driven by the energy of steam, as they bear onward the

establishment of a superior business college, worthy of his reputation as a teacher, an author, and a school officer. Early in the late war his partner entered the army, and remained until its close. Prof. Mayhew, during this time, conducted his business college, and for three years officiated as collector of internal revenue for the third district of Michigan, in which he at that time resided. With several years of experience in conducting a business college, in which his practical book-keeping, first published in 1851, was used as a text-book, he found it desirable to employ a fuller and more complete treatise. This led to the preparation of Mayhew's University Book-keeping, which was published in 1868, and which is regarded as a very superior work. A most valuable business practice, employing money and business papers in the great number and variety required for reducing to actual practice the sets of Mayhew's University Book-keeping, was soon prepared, which added greatly to its efficiency as a text-book for business colleges. Institutions using it became strongly attached to it, and urged upon its author the formation of an association to be known as the Mayhew Business College Association.

accumulated wealth and vast commerce of modern civilization; where these are wanting, through the great forests, across the prairies, and over the mountain ranges, the iron track and the tireless engine must supply the necessities of travel and compensate the lack of navigation, and furnish to all these vast regions of our country the modern highways which human genius has devised to supplement the deficiencies of nature and equalize the conditions of locality."

In the Forty-second Congress, Mr. Conger was again assigned a position on the committee on commerce of the house, and frequently addressed that body on the important questions brought before it for legislation.

In the Forty-third Congress, Mr. Conger is third on the committee on commerce, and chairman of the committee on patents, and is acknowledged to be one of the ablest representatives from his State.

On the 4th of July, 1871, Mr. Conger delivered an oration in Port Huron, from which we give a few extracts, both as illustrating his popular style of eloquence, and as giving an interesting view of the commercial importance of his district:

"What thronging memories of the past crowd upon us to-day. The scenery around us is all eloquent of our national growth. On the very spot where we now stand was planted the first settlement of white men

This was accordingly done, and the institution, and its patrons, now enjoy whatever of advantage there is to be derived from the coöperation of first-class institutions, situated in different parts of the country.

Students in this institution receive a thorough course of instruction, beginning with the rudimentary principles of business and of keeping accounts, after which they are instructed in the different forms of accounts, business correspondence, commercial papers, commercial calculations, the philosophy and morals of business, and in relation to the organization and management of the different kinds of banks. After this preliminary training has been gone through with, instruction is given in double-entry bookkeeping, and in the manner of opening and closing of books. A number of carefully graded sets of examples for practice are worked by the student, each set embracing a large number and variety of transactions. The elements of commercial law receive proper attention throughout the course.

on the lower peninsula of Michigan. Before the Griffin floated on these waters-before Detroit was discovered or settled-the gallant Du Lhut, with his coureurs des bois, had traversed the eastern shore of Lake Huron from the Ottawa route, and crossing from the low point that guards the foot of Lake Huron, which was then an island, he erected on this mound Fort St. Joseph, and for more than two years held encampment near where we stand, with the beautiful St. Clair before him, the River Dulude (named after him, as you find it in the older maps) in his rear, and Lake Huron sleeping in solitary grandeur within the range of his vision.

"To the adventurous Frenchman and his band of military hunters, and to his companion, the learned and devoted priest, who shared his perils and recorded his discoveries, all around was the grandeur of solitude, the mysterious voices of the unexplored wilderness, and the flood of waters rushing to an unknown bourne. Then they were the only Christain inhabitants of Michigan. To-day we number a million and a quarter of souls. Then his few frail boats were all that dotted the face of the lake or river. To-day the rushing of steam, the splashing wheels, the white-winged vessels, the car-laden barge, the graceful yacht, all the living, moving panorama of water life, spreads before you, awakening the delightful consciousness of the prosperity and glory of our beloved land, and gratifying your taste with glimpses of scenery unsurpassed in its quiet beauty and loveliness in any land under the sun."

This closes our review of the educational institutions of Michigan. The public schools of the State are free to all pupils within the limits of the district, so that poverty is no bar to the acquirement of a good common school education. Within the last few years a system of compulsory education has been adopted, making it obligatory upon every one having the control or custody of children, between the ages of eight and fourteen years, to send them to school for a period of at least twelve weeks in each school year, six weeks of which, at least, shall be consecutive.

Thus we have seen that Michigan, within a period of a little over thirty-five years, has established a system of education unexcelled in any of the States, old or new. No people have ever been more prompt to take advantage of the educational facilities offered them than have the people of Michigan. The utmost liberality has been manifested by them in everything that pertains to their educational interests; and the good results are everywhere manifest in the superior intelligence and virtue of the rising generation.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

AGRICULTURE - MANUFACTURES · COMMERCE.

In regard to the agricultural productions of Michigan, it has already been remarked that no State in the Union produces a greater variety of crops, and few, if any, produce a greater average yield per acre of the more important cereals. Of the other western States each one is remarkable for the production of some one or two crops, whilst its soil is unadapted to the growth of any other in profitable quantities. But Michigan produces in great abundance all crops belonging to its latitude. The quality of nearly all agricultural productions of this State will compare favorably with those of any other State in the Union. Its wheat is sought after in all the markets of the east, and the highest price is paid for it. The average yield per acre is greater than in a majority of the States, and in some years outranks, in this respect, every western State east of the Rocky mountains. For the purpose of comparison, the four States immediately surrounding Michigan will be taken, viz: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and. Wisconsin.

In 1879 the average yield per acre of the principal crops, in the five States named, was as follows: Wheat, bushels-Ohio, 13.8; Indiana, 11.0; Illinois, 12.0; Wisconsin, 13.4; Michigan, 14.0. Rye Ohio, 13.8; Indiana, 13.7; Illinois, 16.4; Wisconsin, 13.6; Michigan, 18.2. Oats-Ohio, 31.1; Indiana, 28.1; Illinois, 26.0; Wisconsin, 27.9; Michigan, 35.3. Barley-Ohio, 2.35; Indiana, 24.1; Illinois, 20.0; Wisconsin, 26.5; Michigan, 25.0. Buckwheat-Ohio, 16.3; Indiana, 19.2; Illinois, 18.8; Wisconsin, 20.1; Michigan, 17.3. Potatoes-Ohio, 72; Indiana, 45; Illinois, 81; Wisconsin, 57; Michigan, 95. Tobacco, pounds-Ohio, 916; Indiana, 850; Illinois, 840; Wisconsin, 900; Michigan, 950. Hay, tons-Ohio, 1.31; Indiana, 1.27; Illinois, 1.18; Wisconsin,