1846. No. 16. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Detroit, February 27, 1846. S To the Senate: In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, requesting information as to what action, if any, has been had under the joint resolution authorizing the employment of an emigration agent in New York, approved March 24th, 1845, I have caused an examination to be made for the purpose of procuring the desired information. Under the authority of the resolution last mentioned, John Almy, Esq., was appointed by my predecessor, to the agency on the 19th of April, 1845. His employment in that capacity was restricted to two months, and his compensation to sixty dollars a month. He was also authorized to expend a sum not exceeding thirty dollars; in procuring certain printing to be done, with a view to extending information in connection with a pamphlet already prepared by Mr. Almy, relative to the lands and public works of this state, and the inducements presented to emigrants to select Michigan for their residence. He was also authorized to expend a small sum, if he found it necessary, for the employment of interpreters for the purpose of disseminating like information among immigrating foreigners who were not acquainted with the English language. Mr. Almy was directed to forward to the Executive office weekly statements of his proceedings in the agency. I find in the office only one communication, from Mr. Almy on the subject; and I herewith transmit a copy of such portion of the letter as relates to his action as such agent. No other information on the subject is found in this office. By reference to the books and files in the offices of the Auditor General and the State Treasurer, it appears that Mr. Almy received two hundred dollars in part payment for his services as such agent on the 14th of June last. This amount was drawn from the contingent fund agreeably to the provisions of the joint resolution and by direction of the Governor. Nothing more appears to have been expended under the joint resolution, ALPHEUS FELCH, Extract from a letter from John Almy to Governor Barry. John S. Barry, Gov. of the State of Michigan: SIR-Yours of the 19th, conferring upon me the appointment of State Agent, to reside at this place for the purpose of encouraging immigration to the State of Michigan, came to hand a few days since. The report, however, of the commissioner of the land office, did not arrive at the same time. After its reception, I proceeded immediately to make extracts from such portions of it, embracing the schedule of state lands and the quantity now in market, as in my judgment would form a suitable addition to the pamphlet already published, and which at a moderate expense, will be printed, and attached to a large edition, now on hand and ready for circulation. 1 am informed that the number of persons intending coming over from Europe the present season, for the purpose of settling in the United States, so far as advices have been received from foreign agencies, amounts to, or in the neighborhood of 140,000. Between 600 and 700 have arrived at this port within a few days past. fa The emigrants from Germany, Sweden and Denmark, are entirely under the control and direction of an organization now existing both here and abroad, This association have made such arrangements as enables them to afford to the persons emigrating, every cility for a cheap transit from certain ports in Europe to New York, and after their arrival, they are forwarded to their several points of destination by contract with some transporting company, and in most instances, an agent is sent along for the purpose of preventing any impositions being practiced upon them by steamboat runners and transporting agents at the different points of transhipment as heretofore. Hence it must appear evident that in order to make any diversion in favor of our state, it becomes absolutely necessary to secure the influence of the associations here, whose opinions and prejudices, for or against any state or territory, become the text and comment of those 'committed to their care and supervision; and to do this, such information should be placed in their hands, (authentic in its character) in regard to our state, its inducements to the settlers on the score of soil, climate, health and other advantages. The short time I have acted in the capacity of state agent, has been devoted to this object. I have lost no opportunity or time in becoming personally acquainted with associations and their mode of operating, with ship masters, agents and ship owners, to the end that every influence may be brought to bear in this matter-with this lever the mass can be moved. The visit of the Secretary of the Belgium Legation to our state the last season, although his time for examination and acquiring infor. mation was limited, still he saw enough to create in his mind impressions and opinions decidedly favorable to our soil, climate and health, and the report he is now making up, which will be transmitted to his government in due time, will do us justice as regards this matter. I saw him frequently during my stay at Washington, and furnished him with much information appertaining to our country and its advantages. He informed me that the emigration from Belgium will consist chiefly of farmers, with ample means to purchase land and capital sufficient to sustain themselves for at least one year, provided they should not reap any products from their labor during that time. SIR: In reply to your note of the 5th instant, covering a copy of the resolution of the Senate relative to the Geological, Mineralogical Zoological and Botanical department of the University of Michigan, in behalf of the executive committee of the board of regents, to whom your note is addressed, I can only state: The regents have never had in their charge and custody, any of the specimens in said departments collected for the State, except perhaps, one full suit in geology and minerálogy. These the regents have caused to be arranged, classified, properly labelled, and placed in suitable fixtures for the use of the students, and, under prescribed regulations, the inspection of visitors. The mass of these collections, have heretofore been under the exclusive control of the state geologist. The regents having cheerfully accorded to that officer the use of apartments in the university buildings, in which said collections are boxed, or otherwise stored. In collecting these specimens, I am advised it was the aim of the state geologist, as far as practicable, to comply with the provisions of the act constituting that department, that is, to collect sixteen suits in each department. Of many specimens, a much larger number, even fifty or one hundred specimens, with the view to exchanges, was obtained. It is understood that there were some four thousand specimens in each of the departments, zoology and botany, when his report for the second year was made by the state geologist, and that many were afterwards added. But these reports are not in my possession; I therefore speak only from recollection. In the geological department proper, the collections are also understood to be large and numerous, requiring some fifty to eighty casks and boxes to contain them. The contents of these, or number of specimens, are unknown to the executive committee, and have ne |