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The net prison earnings for the year are given as $95,129.67, and the expenses for the same time $84,517.66, showing a balance of earnings over expenses of $10,612.01.

The following are the statistics of prisoners for the year:

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The detailed inventory covers thirty-six pages, and is minute enough to meet the demands of the most inquisitive investigator into the nature of prison property. During the term of its operation this prison has received 7,071 persons, committed for offenses which are covered by 757 titles. Of these 5,097 were convicted for offenses against property, 988 of offenses against lives and persons of individuals, 549 of forgery and counterfeiting, 284 of offenses against chastity, morality and decency, 145 of offenses against public justice, and 8 of unclassified offenses.. During the last prison year twenty persons were received under conviction of offenses against life, as follows:

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This was established at Lansing in 1855, in the northeastern portion of the city, as the "House of Correction for Juvenile Offenders," having about it many features of a prison. In 1859, the name was changed to the "State Reform School." The government and discipline have undergone many and radical changes, until all the prison features have been removed, except those that remain in the walls of the original structure, and which remain only as monuments of instructive history. No bolts, bars or guards are employed. The inmates are necessarily kept under the surveillance of officers, but the attempts at escape are much fewer than under the more rigid regime of former days. This school is for the

detention, education and reformation of boys between the ages of eight and sixteen years, who are convicted of light offenses.

The principal building is four stories high, including basement, and has an extreme length of 246 feet, the center a depth of 48 feet, and the wings a depth of 33 feet each. Besides, there are two "family houses," where the more tractable and less vicious boys form a kind of family, as distinguished from the congregate life of the institution proper. The boys are required to work half a day and attend school half a day. A farm of 328 acres, belonging to the school, furnishes work for many of the working boys during the working season. Some are employed in making clothing and shoes for the inmates. The only shop-work now carried on is the cane-seating of chairs; formerly, cigars were manufactured here somewhat extensively. There is no contract labor, but all the work is done by the institution itself.

The number of inmates now averages about 200, and are taken care of by a superintendent and assistant, matron and assistant, two overseers and six teachers.

THE LAND OFFICE

Of this State has a great deal of business to transact, as it has within its jurisdiction an immense amount of new land in market, and much more to come in. During the fiscal year ending September 30, 1877, the total number of acres sold was 50,835.72, for $87,968.05, of which $69,800.54 was paid in hand. At that time, the amount of land still owned by the State was 3,049,905.46, of which 2,430,050.47 were swamp land; 447,270.89, primary school; 164,402.55, Agricultural College; 310.26, University; 160, Normal School; 2,115.63, salt spring; 1,840, Asylum; 32.40, State building; 3,342.75, asset, and 380.31, internal improvement. But of the foregoing, 1,817,084.25 acres, or more than half, are not in market.

STATE LIBRARY.

Territorial Library, 1828-1835.-The first knowledge that we have of this library, is derived from the records found in the printed copies of the journals and documents of the Legislative Councils of the Territory, and in the manuscript copies of the Executive journals.

The library was established by an act of the Legislative Councils, approved June 16, 1828, authorizing the appointment of a librarian by the Governor, with advice and consent of the Council.

The Librarian so appointed was required to take an oath of office and give bond to the Treasurer of the Territory in the sum of $1,000 for the faithful performance of his duties; his time of service was for two years, or until another be appointed. The librarian was also required to take charge of the halls and committee room, and other property appertaining to the Legislative Council. He was

also required to make an annual report to the Council, upon the state of the library, and upon all such branches of duty as might from time to time be committed to his charge. For his services he was to receive annually the sum of $100. The library seemed to have been kept open only during the actual sittings of the Legislative Council.

The Executive journal, by its records, shows that under the provisions of this act, William B. Hunt was appointed Librarian, July 3, 1828, by Gov. Lewis Cass, for the term of two years. Mr. Hunt continued to act as Librarian until March 7, 1834, when Gersham Molt Williams was appointed by Gov. Porter. Mr. Williams seems to have acted as Librarian until the organization of the institution as a State library. The honored names of Henry B. Schoolcraft, Charles Moran, Daniel S. Bacon, Calvin Brittain, Elon Farnsworth, Charles C. Hascall, and others, are found in the list of the members of the Library Committee.

March, 1836, the State Library was placed in charge of the Secretary of State; in February, 1837, it was given to the care of the private Secretary of the Governor; December 28 following, its custody was given to the Governor and Secretary of State, with power to appoint a Librarian, and make rules and regulations for its government. C. C. Jackson acted as the first Librarian for the State. Lewis Bond also had the care of the books for a time. Oren Marsh was appointed Librarian in 1837, and had the office several years. In March, 1840, the law was again changed, and the library was placed in the care of the Secretary of State, and the members of the Legislature and Executive officers of the State were to have free access to it at all times.

The library was, of course, increased from time to time by legislative appropriations. In 1844, as the result of the efforts of Alexandre Vattemare, from Paris, a system of international exchange was adopted.

April 2, 1850, an act was passed requiring the Governor to appoint a State librarian with the consent of the Senate, and it was made the duty of the librarian to have the sole charge of the library. This act, with some amendments, still remains in force. It requires the librarian to make biennial reports and catalogues. The librarians under this act have been: Henry Tisdale, April 2, 1850, to January 27, 1851; Charles J. Fox, to July 1, 1853; Charles P. Bush, to December 5, 1854; John James Bush, to January 6, 1855; De Witt C. Leach, to February 2, 1857; George W. Swift, to January 27, 1859; J. Eugene Tenney, to April 5, 1869, and Mrs. Harriet A. Tenney, to the present time. This lady has proved to be one of the best librarians in the United States. She has now in her charge about 60,000 volumes, besides thousands of articles in the new and rapidly growing museum department. She is also secretary of the "Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan," and has charge of the books, papers and relics collected by that society.

The library and these museums are now kept in the new State Capitol at Lansing, in a series of rooms constructed for the purpose, and are all arranged in the most convenient order and with the neatest taste.

STATE FISHERIES.

Very naturally, the denser population of the white race, as it took possession of this wild country, consumed what they found already abundant long before they commenced to renew the stock. It was so with the forests; it was so with the fish. An abundance of good variety of fish was found in all our rivers and little lakes by the early settlers, but the abundance was gradually reduced until these waters were entirely robbed of their useful inhabitants. Scarcely a thought of restocking the inland waters of this State was entertained until the Spring of 1873, when a board of fish commissioners was authorized by law; and while the people generally still shook their heads in skepticism, the board went on with its duty until these same people are made glad with the results. Under the efficient superintendency of Geo. H. Jerome, of Niles, nearly all the lakes and streams within the lower peninsula have been more or less stocked with shad, white-fish, salmon or lake trout, land-locked or native salmon, eel, etc., and special efforts are also made to propagate that beautiful and useful fish, the grayling, whose home is in the Manistee and Muskegon rivers. Much more is hoped for, however, than is yet realized. Like every other great innovation, many failures must be suffered before the brilliant crown of final success is won.

The value of all the property employed in fish propagation in the State is but a little over $4,000, and the total expenses of conducting the business from December 1, 1876, to July 1, 1877, were $14,000. The principal hatcheries are at Detroit and Pokagon.

CHAPTER VIII.

STATE SOCIETIES.

Organization is the first great means necessary to the accomplishment of any project. In this respect Michigan is peculiarly fortunate. Every class seems to have its organization, and to observe the rules adopted. Among the first bodies of the State the Pioneer Society of Michigan holds, perhaps, the highest place. The officers of the society retain all that energy of character which marked their earlier years; members, generally, take a deep interest in the government of the body, and thus a promise is given of the continued existence of a noble organization.

THE PIONEER SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN

Was organized in 1875. Its roll of members contains 408 names, each of which is referred to in the following table:

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