The Hon. Chas. Watkins, Of Grand

iïapids, has a good many repoblican rienda in western Michigan who would like to see hiin in the gubernalorial chair at Lansing next term. Ir we can judge correctly from such newspaper gossip as has come ander our notice, the Honorable Thomas Palmer, our present Minister to Spain, can not secure the republican nomination for governor, if that is what he ■wants. He would inake a good governor, but he already has a lanre share of the good thingsof this lile. The first election of Ihe Consolidated Saginaws occurred Monday, with majorities ranging from 750 to 1096 in favor of the democrats. The complexion of the new council is democratie 18, republican 12, with a democratie mayor. The Detroit News says " as they believe in the Jacksonian theory, to the victors belong the spoils, the loaves and fishes will be divided among the faithful, ■who, hungry mouthed, are waiting eagerly for all the plums and even the crutnbs that may come their way." The new city has a population of 55,000 to 60,000, a vast amount of wealth, and every prospect for a rapid growth and great prosperity. It is also one of the healthiest of Michigan cities. A correspondent of the Adrián Times says : "Now I am going to convey to Gov. Luce, at second hand, a little advice, as it was given me recently by a gentleman from Flint. "Gov. Luce,"he said, "ought to allow his name to be used as a Congressional candidate. He can beat Barnes out of his boots. There are plenty of men in the sixth district "whovould furnish all the capital that would be necessary. The district is almost wholly an agricultural one, and tne (jovernor would have an opportunity to be heard in Congress in defense of farmers and farmers' rights. Who could speak for the farmer better or more feelingly?" No one could conscientiously question the truth of the entleman's remarks; but men who have filled acceptably bo important an office as the governorship of Michigan, do not care, generally, to step down the ladder in this way. If the people elected senators, we could make a pretty safe prediction as to who would be the next senatorial nominee, but at present it is hardly safe for one to risk his all on a guess. Ann Arbok is bound to forge ahead beautifully in the next ten years, if no ïerious and unforseen difficulty arises to prevent. Especially in the Fourth ward, in the vioinity of the new hospital grounds and the beautitul park that will take the place of the old cemetery, will property 'advance rapidly in value, and great improvernents be made. This Central Park (why not cali it Central Park, Ann Arbor a future rival to that of the same name in our metropolis?) will beconnected with the Fifthward boulevard and with the Hamilton park at the south end of state street. From the latter park a boulevard will some day bemadeacross to the beautiful hills near the toll gate, and from there along the western limits of the second and third wards and on to connect with the'western end of the present Fifth wardboulevarj. When tliisis all completed, making one of the grandest drives in the world, and the other improvements of electric street car?, pa ved streets, fine roads in a'l directions out into the country, etc., people will come from all parts of the world to see the famous city, than whicli thpre will be none half go beautiful in all Michigan. At last the vexatious old cemetery question appears to be in a fair way for eettlement, and thesettleraont nowproposed does not in any way appear disadvantageous to the city. The sum of $1,300 is to be paid toMr. Whitman for a perfect title to one of the finest pieces of property in the city. Not one cent of this money is to be paid until Mr. Whitman has procured deeds from the various heirs or pretended heirs of mer owners, a deed from Ann tArbor township, and a decreeïrom the circuit court quieting the titleHo the city. To fight this case through the various courts would have cost thejcity several times the amount which ia to be paid Mr. Whitman, and when this was done the most that the city could hope for as the outcome would be to keep Mr. Whitman from gaining possession of the land. Even the attorneys 'Jor the city did not claim that theyould be able to give the city a title to the property, and a legal controversycould not bring any great benefit to the city. The legal proceedings have already cost nearly $250, and only a commencement was made, so that it can be readily seen that the council has adcpted the most economical as well as the most benejieial methodof digposing of the matter.