Congress for an appropriation for the improvement of the harbor at Alpena,

on Lake Huron.

FEBRUARY 8, 1875.-Referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed.

Whereas Alpena is a city of four thousand inhabitants, with a very large shipping and commercial interest, being the outlet for the productions of Alpena and Montmorency Counties and a portion of Alcona, Oscoda, Presque Isle, and Cheboygan Counties, with a daily line of mail-steamers, and three weekly lines of passenger-steamers, three weekly lines of steam-barges, together with an average of twenty other barges and sailing-vessels per week entering and clearing this port, importing supplies, provisions, merchandise, and laborers necessary for the production of one hundred million feet of lumber annually; together with a large quantity of shingles, lath, cedar posts, siding, and hemlock extract; also large exportations of fish;

Whereas the United States Government never has expended one dollar in the improvement of said harbor;

And whereas Congress has made, and continues to make, liberal appropriations of money for the improvement of rivers and harbors in different parts of the Union for the advancement of the general pros perity of the country;

Whereas the condition of the harbor is such as to debar the entrance and full loading of any vessels except those of small tonnage and light draught, therefore necessitating the extra expense of lightering a large quantity of the lumber and other products at an enormous expense, thereby greatly injuring the prosperity of the large extended territory depending on this harbor for an outlet;

Whereas a commodious harbor can be made at said Alpena by the construction of piers at the mouth of Thunder Bay River and dredging at a comparatively moderate expenditure, thereby greatly relieving and developing the commercial interests of the country:

Resolved, (the senate concurring,) That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to use their best endeavors to obtain an appropriation of money for the improvement of said harbor at Alpena,

and to begin the work as early in the spring as the season will permit, under the immediate directions of an officer of the United States Government, detailed from the proper department for that purpose.

Resolved, That the governor be, and is hereby, requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved February 2, 1875.

HENRY H. HOLT,

President of the Senate. JOHN P. HOYT,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JNO. J. BAGLEY.

Congress to pass a bill granting 160 acres of land to soldiers and sailors, without regard to occupation.

FEBRUARY 8, 1875.-Referred to the Committee on the Public Lands and ordered to be printed.

Resolved, (the senate concurring,) That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be, and are hereby, requested to introduce and urge the passage of a bill granting one hundred and sixty acres of Government land to the surviving soldiers and sailors of the war for the suppression of the rebellion, without any restrictions connected therewith, in regard to occupation.

Resolved, That the governor be requested to transmit copies of the foregoing resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved February 4, 1875.

HENRY H. HOLT,

President of the Senate. JOHN P. HOYT,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Congress to establish a United States judicial circuit in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

FEBRUARY 8, 1875.-Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be printed.

Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the State of Michigan, That whereas a bill has been introduced into the Congress of the United States, by Hon. Jay A. Hubbell, Congressman from the ninth district, for the establishment of a United States judicial circuit in the upper peninsula of Michigan: Now, therefore, the legislature of Michigan, by joint resolution, does hereby recommend the passage of said bill, and does hereby request all our Senators and Representatives in Congress to support said bill and to do their utmost to secure its passage, believing, as we do, that the passage of said bill will be for the interest of the General Government and the State of Michigan, and absolutely necessary that the people of the upper peninsula of Michigan may receive just and proper litigation.

Approved February 2, 1875.

HENRY H. HOLT,

President of the Senate. JOHN P. HOYT,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.