Spec'l com'r. this act the Governor is hereby authorized to appoint a commissioner Powers and duties of com'r. Compensa'n ace'is &c. to make a selection of the land herein appropriated, and to report such selection to the Commissioner of the Land Office, who shall thereup on reserve the same from sale, issuing no certificate therefor except upon the order of said commissioner; said commissioner shall receive no compensation for making said selection. Sec. 3. The said commissioner shall have the control and management of the improvements in this act specified, and shall have power to let out by contract the opening and improving said road, in such parts or jobs as he may think best, to the lowest bidder, who shall execute to said commissioner a bond to be approved by him for the faithful performance of his contract: Provided, That before such letting the said commissioner shall advertise for proposals for contracting said work, for at least three successive weeks in the newspapers published in the counties of Lapeer and Saginaw. Sec. 4. Said special commissioner shall perform his said duties with of com'r. his proper dispatch and diligence, and shall receive for his services a sum not exceeding one dollar and fifty cents per day, and such compensation shall be audited and allowed by the Auditor General, upon a bill of such services sworn to be a true bill, and that all the services charged for therein were necessary and proper in the opinion of said commissioner. On allowing such bill the Auditor General shall issue his warrant to said commissioner payable in internal improvement lands for the amount so audited, at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, which warrant shall be received in the state land office in payment of any such lands as may be reserved by this act from sale. Payment of Sec. 5. Upon the completion of any job let in pursuance of this contractors. act, in payment of the amount stipulated in the contract there for, and also in payment for any labor procured or materials purchased by said commissioner for the purposes contemplated by this act, said commissioner may draw his orders upon the Auditor General for warrants payable in internal improvement lands reserved in pursuance of this act, which said warrants shall be received at the state land office in payment for any such lands. Sec. 6. Said commissioner before entering upon his said duties, shall Oath & bond take an oath faithfully to perform the same, and give a bond to be approved by the Auditor General, conditional for the faithful perform of com❜r. ance of all his said duties, which oath and bond shall be filed with the Auditor. In case of a vacancy in the office of said commissioner, the Governor may appoint a new commissioner, who shall take the same oath and give a like bond. Sec. 7. Said commissioner shall not draw orders for any more land than is appropriated and reserved hereby. Sec. 8. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. Vacancy. No. 295. AN ACT to aid in the construction of certain bridges in the county of Kent. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- Appropria'n. tives of the State of Michigan, That three thousand acres of internal improvement lands in the lower peninsula be and the same is hereby appropriated to aid in the construction and repairs of bridges in the county of Kent. How distri Sec. 2. Of the lands specified in the above section there shall be applied one thousand acres to aid in the construction of a bridge across buted. Grand River in the township of Plainfield; one thousand acres to aid in finishing the bridge across Grand River in the township of Ada, and four hundred acres for repairing the bridge across the Thornapple river near its mouth in township of Ada, and six hundred acres to aid in the construction of a bridge across the Thornapple river on the Cascade road, so called, in said township. Sec. 3. For the purpose of building and repairing the said bridges by the outlay of the above appropriations, the Governor is hereby au- Spe'l com'r. thorized to appoint a special commissioner, who shall take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, and shall file a bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the Auditor General, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duties as such commissioner. Powers and com'r. Sec. 4. The said special commissioner shall by virtue of his appointment have the control and management of the improvements contem- duties of plated by this act, and shall have power to let out by contract the working and improvement of said bridges to the lowest bidder, who shall execute and deliver to said commissioner a good and sufficient bond contractors & others. with sureties to be approved by him and conditioned for the faithful performance of the work stipulated in said contract: Provided, That before such letting of work the said commissioner shall advertise for proposals for opening and improving said bridges in separate sections or jobs, describing the same; such advertisement to be published at least four successive weeks in a newspaper published in Kent county. Sec. 5. Whenever any contractor, under the preceding section of Payment of this act shall have finished his job according to the terms and specifications of his contract, and the same shall have been accepted by said special commissioner, or any service shall have been rendered under the provisions of this act, it shall be the duty of said special commissioner to pay said contractor or contractors for any such services or work, by his order drawn on the Commissioner of the State Land Of fice, and which order shall be received at the land office in payment for any lands belonging to the state not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall authorize the Commissioner of the State Land Office to sell any of said lands at a price less than that now established by law, or in a less quantity in any one certificate than forty acres. Compensa'n of com'r, his Sec. 6. Said commissioner shall proceed in the outlay of the appro accounts &c. priation made by this act with all the diligence and dispatch that shall be compatible with proper economy and the best interest of the state; and shall receive for his services a sum not exceeding two dollars per day for for the time necessarily employed by him in the discharge of the duties devolved upon him by virtue of this act, payable pro rata from said appropriation hereinbefore made, and shall render to the Auditor General an account of all services by him thus rendered, verified by his oath. Sec. 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved April 3, 1848. Certain postage of mem charged to state. Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the post master at the capitol of Michigan be, and he is hereby authorized to charge the state of Michigan with red to all postage upon letters, papers or documents heretofore and hereafter received and to be received by the Senate and officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the officers during the present session thereof, and to charge to the state of Michigan the postage upon all papers and documents mailed by the members and officers of each branch of the legislature during the session thereof. This resolution shall be in force and take effect from and after its passage. Approved January 13, 1848. No. 2. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to an arrangement with the Post Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That a committee of one from the Senate and two from the House of Representatives be appointed to make arrangements with the post master in this village in relation to postage of members and officers of the legislature during the present session, and that they report as soon as practicable. Approved January 14, 1848. Committee on postage. Duties of No. 3. JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Secretary of State to furnish the members of each House, and the officers thereof one copy of the Revised Statutes, &c. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State sec of state. of Michigan, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby directed to furnish each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the officers of each House, one copy of the Revised Statutes of 1846, Session Laws of 1847, and the Journals and Documents of each House for the year 1847. Approved January 14, 1848. ered printed. No. 4. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to printing a Manual for the present Legislature. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State Manual ord of Michigan, That a sufficient number of copies of the Legislative Manual be ordered printed for the use of the Legislature, embracing the same kind of information as those in use during the last session of the Legislature, together with a Register for the present session; and that an extra number be printed, sufficient for the supply of one copy to each member of the next Legislature, and that such extra copies be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State. Approved January 14, 1848. No. 5. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to a settlement of the claim of Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State Settlement of Michigan, That the Board of State Auditors be and they are here. claim. by authorized and directed to make a just and equitable settlement of of certain all claims existing between the State and Henry B. Lathrop, growing out of a transaction at the State Prison at Jackson, and certify their proceedings to the Auditor General; and if the Board make an award in favor of said Lathrop, the Auditor General shall draw his warrant |