neglect of

quired of him by the provisions of this chapter, he shall Peualty for forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars duty by certo any person injured by each [case of] such neglect, but such sum shall not exceed the injury sustained.

tain town officers.

death of

or assignee.

Sec. 154. In all cases of sales of land for taxes, if the In case of purchaser or his assigns shall die before a deed shall be purchaser executed on such sale, the deed may be executed by the Auditor General to and in the name of such deceased person, if such person being still alive would be entitled to the same; which deed shall vest the tax title in the heirs or devisees of such deceased person in the same manner and liable to like claims of creditors and other persons as if the same had been executed to such deceased person immediately previous to his death; or the deed may issue to the assignee of said deceased person, [his] executors or administrators; and in like cases which have heretofore occurred, the same rules shall apply, and [to] all deeds heretofore issued in the name of any deceased person, who, if living at the time of the execution thereof, would have been entitled to said deed as above provided.

pri- school,

school, asy

and salt

to be re

Sec. 155. The supervisor of every township in which University, there shall be assessed the interest of any purchaser of St. building, university, primary school, State building, normal school, lum, swamp asylum, swamp or salt spring lands, as personal property, spring land shall, on or before the first day of November, in the year turned, &c. when the same was so assessed, transmit to the treasurer of his county a list of all such] lands, containing a full description thereof, together with the names of the persons to whom the same was so assessed.

ers to re

land office.

Sec. 156. That the several county treasurers shall at Co. treasur the same time and in the same manner they are now re- turn to St. quired to return to the office of the Auditor General, lands delinquent for taxes in their respective counties, return to the State land office a statement of all university, primary school, State building, normal school, asylum, swamp and

Improvements made

ers under

be paid for.

salt spring lands, upon which, from returns made to them by the township treasurer, it appears the taxes assessed have not been paid and cannot be collected.

Sec. 157. If any person dispossessed of lands purchased by purchas- in pursuance of the provisions of this act shall have made this act to valuable improvements thereon, he shall be entitled to receive what such improvements are reasonably worth, to be assessed on the trial of said cause, and the same so assessed shall be a lien on said land till paid.

Sec. 158. This act is ordered to take effect fifty days after its approval.

Approved February 4, 1858.

JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

[ No. 1. ]

JOINT RESOLUTION relative to an appropriation of a grant of land for the endowment of the Michigan Agricultural College.

Whereas, A memorial has been presented to Congress by the Board of Education, and the president and faculty of the "Michigan Agricultural College," praying for a grant of land as an endowment of said Michigan Agricultural College; and,

Whereas, We believe that the practical working of the Michigan Agricultural College fully vindicates the feasibility and correctness of the principles upon which it is founded; therefore,

Resolved, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives requested to use all honorable means to secure the passage of a law in accordance with the memorial.

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward copies of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Approved January 29, 1858.

[ No. 2.]

JOINT RESOLUTION relative to the protection and permanent security of the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal. Whereas, It appears by the report of the Superintendent of the St. Mary's Falls ship canal, that during the past sea

son, owing to the unavoidable action of frost upon the embankments, leaks have occurred in various portions of the same, and in two instances breaks of a serious and alarming character;

And whereas, It appears that some further expense is necessary in securing the said embankment, and in the erection of an additional set of gates to facilitate the navigation of said canal; therefore,

Resolved, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives in that body be requested to use all proper means, to secure by Congress, such appropriation as may be necessary to render the above work permanent and secure.

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to transmit copies of the foregoing preamble and resolution, together with copies of the report of the late Superintendent of the canal, to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved, January 30, 1858.

[ No. 3.]

JOINT RESOLUTION relative to a Northern Pacific Rail Road.

Whereas, an immense commerce has within a few years grown up on our Pacific coast, which is continually increasing in importance, and the benefits of which commerce is increasing and accruing to other countries, in consequence of the difficulties, delays and dangers attending travel and transportation to and from our eastern and western ocean ports, by the long, dangerous and fatiguing route of the oceans, gulfs and isthmus;

And whereas, A vast domain, lying between our western States and the Pacific, remains and must ever remain waste

and undeveloped, without some safe, easy and commodious means of conveyance through our western territories;

And whereas, Such means of conveyance would not only facilitate the settlement and cultivation of a region that can never be improved without it, but would open the heart of a continent to the poor but enterprising working men of the older States-substitute for worthless wilds, cultivated fields, the great source of all wealth, and open to us a commerce of the greatest magnitude;

And whereas, The cost of providing such means of conveyance would be more than returned by the increased value of our now waste and unproductive lands, and is scarcely worthy a moment's consideration in view of the immediate and lasting benefits which would necessarily accrue, upon furnishing such means of intercommunication from ocean to ocean through our entire domain which must ultimately revolutionize the commerce of the world and centralize the trade of Europe and Asia from opposite directions, with the productions of every clime, in the "New Republic" of America; therefore,

Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to urge the passage of a law granting public lands to aid in the construction of a railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, upon or near the line known as the "Stevens" or "Northern Pacific Railroad" route; and also for the passage of a law granting public lands in the State of Michigan to aid the construction of a railroad to aid in forming a connection between said Northern Pacific Railroad and the eastern States, on the line of the Grand Trunk and Great Western Railways, to commence at Port Huron, in the State of Michigan, and terminate at some point on the Montreal River, on the western boundary of the Upper Peninsula of the State of Michigan.

Resolved, That the Governor of this State be requested