Tke value of foreign imports in 1874 was $2,353,786; of exports, $9,526,629; numbei of vessels which entered the ports of the state, 4,682--tonnage, 1,420,317; vessels cleared, 4,718-tonnage, 1,431,355. The foreign trade is almost entirely with Canada. The exports consist for the most part of grain, flotu•, hogs, lumber, beef, pork, tobacco, cot ton, and railroad cars. The vesseLs registered in the state in 1874 were: sailing, 368, of 52,907 tons; steamers, 358, of 68,239 tons; vessels built: steamers, 34, of 8,834 tons, sailing, 42, of 15,333 tons.
The railroad statistics for 1878 were as follows: Miles of traek, 3,5'64; capital stock paid in, $148,152,011; total debt, $161,373,748; cost of roads and equipment, $154,256,078. The railroad interests are represented by 41 distinct corporations, but the roads are actually managed by 27 companies. Of the 11,552 stockholders 4,550 reside in the state, holding $4,685,819 of the more than $147,000,000 of capital. But 5 of all the roads paid dividends in 1878, viz. : the Chicago and .Northwestern; Detroit Lansing and Northern; Lake Shore and Michigan Southern; Michigan Central; and Mineral Range. There is ship-canal about a mile lond around the falls of the St. Mary's at Sault Ste. 31arie, which is of great advantage infacilitating commerce between lakes Superior and Huron; and another, two miles lond, connecting Portage lake with lake Superior on the w. side of lieweenaw point. The first of these canals was opened in 18,55, the second in 1873.
In 1873 there were in 3lichigan 77 national banks, with Et capital of $9,802,200; and a circulation of $7,139,217. In 1879 there were 14 state and 14 savings-banks. The capital of the former was $874,400; resources of the latter, $7,958,675. The number of insurance companies authorized to transact business in Michigan in 1878 was 195, of which 50 were incorporated under the laws of the state. One of these was a life insur ance company, with assets amounting to over $900,000, and risks amounting to $11,641,000. Two stock fire companies had risks amounting to $22,000,000; 47 farmers' mutual fire companies, with 57,000 members, had at risk $107,000,000. From 1870 to 1877 the aggregate business of stock fire companies in the state was as follows: Risks, $1,210,261,365; premiums received, $17,071,744; losses, $9,817,689. During the same
period these companies paid to the state in taxes about $500,000. The number of life insurance companies of other states doing business in Michigan in 1878 was 28. The whole number of policies on the lives of citizens of the state was about 22,000, repre senting insurance to the amount of $42,000,000.
3Iichig,an takes a high rank in all matters pertaining to education. Tbe school statistics for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, were as follows: Number of school districts, 6,248; children of school age, 486,933; whole riumber attending school, 342,018; number -of teachers, 18,616; total wages of teachers, $1,880,945; average monthly wages of male teachers, $38.69; of female teachers, $23.48. Amount of moneys from preceding year, $729,744; received from two-mill tax, $494,011; from primary school fund ($2,743,519), $229,384; from district taxes, $2,049,755; from all other sources, $340,893-total receipts for the year, $3,843,790. Expenditures: Male teachers, $712,594; female teachers, $1,160,865; for building and rbpairs, $864,135; bonded indebtedness, $329,466; all other purposes, $497,576. The state normal school, opened in 1853, has graduated nearly 1000 teachers. It is well organized and efficiently managed, having four courses of instruction-common school, full English, ancient languages, and modern languages. Few states of the unioa have made more ample provision for the higher education of youth than Michigan. High schools or academies, supported by state funds and taxes, are established in all the larger cities and towns; the state university at Ann Arbor, one of the foremost of American colleges in respect both of its endowments and courses of instruction, went into operation in 1842, and is open to students of both sexes on equal terms. The state agricultural college, near Lansing, affords instruction for those who wish to fit themselves for agricultural pursuits. Besides these there are six other col leges under the patroname of different religious denominations, nearly all-of which are epen to students of botlisexes. There are for women several seminaries of a high grade. The professional schools equal the best elsewhere.