the work of contractors on the swamp roads, to examine into all trespasses on swamp lands of the State, and to prosecute therefor and collect damages for such trespasses. The Board of Commissioners are to report to the Board of Control, and in some respects are subordinate to

them.

Whenever any person dies without having made a will, and without any legal heirs, the property of such person is escheated to the State. Escheat means a thing fallen to. Thus, when there is no relative to take the property of one who dies, his property falls to the State, or is escheated to the State. The Auditor General, State Treasurer and Secretary of State, contitute a Board of Trustees to take charge and dispose of, for the State, all such property.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction appoints, every two years, two persons as a Board of Visitors whose duty it is to make personal examination into the state and condition of the University in all its departments and branches, at least once in each year, and to report the result to the Superintendent, suggesting such improvements as they may deem important.

The Board of Education appoint a similar Board, consisting of three persons, to examine into the affairs of the Normal School, and to report to the Superintendent.

A ship canal has been constructed across Keweenaw Point, in the Upper Peninsula, from Portage Lake to Lake Superior, known as the Portage Lake aud Lako Superior Ship Canal; and by law, the Governor, Auditor General, and State Treasurer, are constituted a Board of Control to establish and regulate tolls on the canal, and to make suitable rules and regulations regarding the care and improvement of the same, and to appoint a Superintendent to have charge of it.

The Board of Fish Commissioners consists of two persons appointed by the Governor. It is the duty of the Board to supervise generally the fishing interests, and secure the enforcement of all laws relating to the protection of fish and fisheries in the State. They are to establish a State fish-breeding establishment, for the artificial propagation and cultivation of fish; and to appoint a Superintendent to take charge of the raising of fish at the fishery.

The State Military Board consists of the Inspector General and two persons appointed by the Governor, who hold their office for two years. This board is an advisory body to the Commander-in-Chief. It is their duty to audit all claims of a military character against the State, and to make rules and regulations for the government of the State troops.

The Board of Trustees of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane, and als the Board of Trustees of the Michigan Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, consists of three persons each appointed by the Governor. These institutions and the property thereof, are under the con trol of these Trustees.

CHAPTER XVIII.

OF COUNTIES AND COUNTY OFFICERS.

As it would be impossible for the State officers whose duties we have considered, to transact all the public business necessary for the people, the State has been subdivided into smaller portions of territory, each of which has a government, not inconsistent with that of the State. Of these subdivisions, the largest, for the purposes of government, are counties. The counties usually embrace about sixteen townships each.

Most of the county officers are elected by the people, and consist of a Probate Judge, Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Prosecuting Attorney, County Surveyor, two Coroners, Superintendent of Schools, and Circuit Court Commissioners. In some of the larger counties, two Circuit Court Commissioners are elected. Three Superintendents of the Poor are elected by the Board of Supervisors. There may be elected in each county, inspectors of beef and pork, butter and lard, fish, flour and meal, leather, and pot and pearl ashes.

A Board of Supervisors is established in each county, consisting of one member from each township, and where there are cities within the county, such cities are entitled to as many Supervisors as may be prescribed by the Legislature.

The Probate Judge and Inspectors hold their offices for four years; Superintendent of the poor, for three years, and other county officers, for two years. Supervisors, who are properly township officers, hold their office for one year. In the county of Wayne there is a Board of Auditors, consisting of three persons, who hold their office for three years.

Each county has a county seat; that is, a place where the

public business of the county is transacted. A court-house, a jail and fire-proof offices are necessary at the county seat.

Supervisors are elected at the annual township meeting in April, in each township, and at the Spring election in cities. These supervisors, in addition to the duties they perform in their respective townships and cities, constitute a board to transact business in which all the people of the county are interested. They accordingly meet at the court house, at the county seat, on the second Monday of October, in each year, and at such other times as may be necessary. They have power to purchase land for the use of the county, or to authorize the sale of lands belonging to the county; to cause to be built necessary buildings for the use of the county; to borrow money, or raise by tax money for the use of the county in making improvements authorized by law; to prescribe and fix the compensation for all services rendered for, and adjust all claims against their respective counties; to provide for the raising of money to defray the current expenses of the county; to make such laws and regulations as they may deem necessary for the destruction of wild beasts, of thistles and other noxious weeds, within the several counties; to authorize townships to borrow or raise by tax any sum of money not exceeding one thousand dollars, in any township, in any one year, to build or repair any roads or bridges in such township or townships; to divide their county into representative districts equal to the number of representatives to which such county is by law entitled; to divide or alter in its bounds any township, and to erect new townships; to equalize and correct the assessment for taxes; to apportion the State and county taxes between the several townships, and to do many other things prescribed by law.

The Board of County Auditors of Wayne County have all

the powers of boards of Supervisors in the other counties, except in relation to taxes.

Questions-What are the largest subdivisions of the State, for the purposes of government? How many townships are usually embraced in a county? Name the county officers. What board is established in each county? For what length of time do county officers hold their terms of office? In addition to the Board of Supervisors, what board is established in the county of Wayne? What do we call the place where the public business of the county is transacted? What public buildings are required atthe county seat? At what times do the Board of Supervisors meet? Mention some of their powers and duties. What powers have the Board of County Auditors of Wayne County?

CHAPTER XIX.

OF COUNTY OFFICERS-COUNTY TREASURER-JUDGE OF PROPROSECUTING ATTORNEY

BATE

SHERIFFS.

COUNTY CLERK

It is the duty of the county Treasurer to receive all moneys belonging to the county; and to pay the same out in the manner provided by law. Some of the money received by him belongs to the State; this he pays over to the State Treasurer. Some of it is paid out to the county officers for their salary, and some of it to the officers and jurors who attend the courts. The moneys received by him for the use of the county, he pays out on the orders of the Board of Supervisors.

The Judge of Probate holds his court at the county seat. His duties will be noticed when considering the Judicial Department.

It is the duty of the Prosecuting Attorney to prosecute or defend all suits in the county, in which the State or county is a party. It is his duty to prosecute those who commit crimes within his county; to give opinions, where the State or county may be a party in interest, when required so to do by any of the civil officers in the discharge of their duties, relating to the interest of the State or county. The Board of Supervisors fix the salary of the Prosecuting Attorney.

The County Clerk is, by virtue of his office, clerk of the Circuit Court, and keeps the records of papers pertaining to that Court. He is also clerk of the Board of Supervisors and of the County and District Canvassers. In addition to many other duties, he is requested to keep a record of all the births, deaths and marriages in his county. Articles of association of the different corporations within his county, and certificates of the formation of religious societies are filed in his office and recorded by him. His salary is fixed by the Board of Supervisors, but in addition to this he receives fees fixed by law, for the discharge of most of the duties performed by him.

The Sheriff has the charge and custody of the jails in his county; and of the prisoners of the same. Of the many duties he has to perform, we may mention his duty to execute and serve writs and orders directed to him by the courts; to attend the Circuit Court and preserve order therein; and to keep the public peace. The Sheriff appoints an Under Sheriff and deputies to assist him in the discharge of his duties. His fees are fixed by law.

Where

Questions What are the duties of the County Treasurer? does the Judge of Probate hold his office? What are the duties of the Prosecuting Attorney? By whom is his salary fixed? What are the duties of the County Clerk¿ What are the duties of Sheriff ?