PREFACE. We desire to call attention to the system of numbering each of the acts of the legislature referred to and published in this book. The purpose of so numbering them is to provide a convenient system of citing these laws. By citing them by number much time and confusion will be saved. This method of numbering the statutes has been followed in several of the eastern states, and has resulted in great simplicity and certainty in referring to them. It could be adopted in this state with advantage both to the legislatures and those making use of the published statutes. The editors have been greatly assisted in the compilation of this work by the very able and exhaustive report on the statutes in force by Messrs. A. C. Freeman, W. C. Van Fleet, and George J. Denis, the commissioners for the revision and reform of the law. Much of the historical matter and a large number of the notes contained in it have been taken from this report. It is regarded as so valuable and of such great practical utility that it is incorporated in this work in the Appendix. |