Tenth division, between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.

Grubbing and clearing track, average per mile,

$125 08

And also from the known fact that there are not at this present time any very important public works progressing in any of the U. States; therefore labor can be obtained much more readily and at much lower rates than heretofore.

Your committee have had also under consideration a petition for an appropriation of land for the improvement of the Kalamazoo ri. ver, together with several others of a similar nature. Also a petition for an appropriation of land for the construction of a wagon road on the line of the Northern Railroad, and others of a like nature.

A majority of your committee can only say in relation to these applications, what they are compelled to say from investigation, that these improvements called for by the said petitioners would produce no revenue to the state.

Therefore report adverse to the prayer of the petitioners for reasons before set forth in this report.

A majority of your committee have instructed me to report the accompanying bills, and recommend their passage.

All which is respectfully submitted,

A. L. HAYS,

Chairman.

Report of Select Committee.

The select committee, to whom were refered the petition of sundry residents and also the resolution of the common council of the city of Detroit, in regard to an appropriation to aid in planking portions of Michigan Avenue and Woodward Avenue, in said city, have had the same under consideration, and have instructed me as their chairman to report :

That they have made enquiry into the justice and expediency of complying with the terms of said petition and resolution, and have ascertained that the freemen of the city of Detroit extended to the State the privilege of occupying a parcel of ground in said city for the purpose of erecting the buildings necessary for the depot of the Central Railroad, and also of using a part of Michigan Avenue for the road. This privilege was granted by the city, and has, since the construction of said road, been used by the State for the above purposes, free of all charge and expense on the part of the State. In consequence of the extension of the Central railroad, and the resulting increase of business, it has become necessary for the State to lay down additional tracks, and erect scaffolds for loading and unloading the cars at the terminus of the road on Michgan Avenue, so that more than half the width of the Avenue is now occupied by these tracks, and the thoroughfare of the Avenue greatly narrowed. On account of the situation of the depot, this Avenue is more used by carts, drays, and carriages than any other thoroghfare in the city, and in consequence thereof, during the spring and fall, becomes almost impassable. With regard to the planking of Woodward Avenue, in front of the buildings belonging to and occupied by the State, your committee would state that an assessment has been made on the property on the west side of Woodward Avenue for the purpose of planking the west half of the Avenue from the south line of Fort street downward, (which work it is proposed to complete early in the

spring,) and as the State occupies the property bordering on that Avenue from Fort street, upwards to the line of Michigan Avenue, it seems but just and equitable, that the State should contribute equally with the property holders of the city, for the improvement of the streets bordering on her buildings.

Your committee would further represent, that the contemplated improvement would be beneficial, not only to the citizens of Detroit, but also, in an almost equal degree, to all who are interested in the transportation of goods over the Central Rail Road. On the completion of the work, there would be a continuous plank road from the depot to the river; and the charges for cartage of goods from the depot, to and from the wharves, would be materially lessened; while the greater cleanliness of the streets adjacent to the depot, and the superior facilities for loading and unloading would prevent the frequent injury and depreciation in value to articles of merchandize.

Your committee, therefore, offer, and respectfully recommend the passage of the accompanying bill.

A. HARVIE, Ch'n.