Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-22
REpORr.
to morrow.

me committee on fubiic iands, 10 4pho,u
'sGs referred res7tuassl On the 26th aay
o. p'farcb, directing lhem 10 enguire ia!o
the cTkedeiacy Of al euch f,ar,, offhe Sc
per-f scts ilyooiaing for tie sales of tie
ts1tts Of he United S,stes, as auihortse q
ere0tf e'i acg fiari 81 he purchase, money
o. safd dands, feshcetuily s,i5mi. hejol.
tsTvieg
REfoR4-
ne public lands are now sold in sec.
tons, l'siS sections, and quarter sections :,
that ls, III lots OF six hundred and forty,
three hundred and twenly, and one hun
dFed ard SKY acres, AZ not less than two
dollars per acre, the purchaser paying
one fourth OF the purchase money before
ne can procure certificate descriptive of
the tract purchased, or be considered as.
purchaser, another fourth part in two
years, another fourth part in three years,
ard the remaining fourth part in four
Yfaes irsm the time of making the pur-
ensse' No interest is charged il the in-
staimenis are punetuaIly paid as they be-
come due; but in case of Failure in puoc-
'tualI.y OF payment, interest is calculated
FROM the time of sale. IF full and COM
pie;e payment is nor made for any traSt
IN one year after the last instalmens has
become due, such tract is to be sold by
The register of the land ofiIcs, a, public;
vehdue, for price sot lass than the
whole arrears, due herean, with the ex-
peuse OF sale, provided 1t will sell for so
ihuch but 1t 1t yTillDot, then the land is
to revert 10 The u. States, ard the pur-
chaser forfei,s all he may have paid.
By areterence 10 he 'rep1ri Of The Sc.
creiary ofthe treasury, rn AIDE on the 10Th
OF December last, appears that the ba-
lance due from purchasers of public lands
1.-THE state ofOhio, amounted, exclusives
ly OF interest,
Dolls
on the lst October, 1903, TO I,oo2 $40
on The lst October, 1904, to l.4s4aia
on. the lst October, 1905, 20 2,o9z.3os
From this statement ii appears, that
The debt In the course Of The TWO la,r
years has nearly doubled, and II nns, con-
t!nue 10 increase, not Only 10 proportion
TO the increase of sales, but from AN ac.
cumulsiIon Of arrears arisiog from failure
IN pcnctuaiily of payment.
10y lester and sfaienen ut received fror,
the secretary OF the treasury, ard which
are hcreunto annexed, and 70 be consi.
dered as part OF this repori, IL appears
'i'at Ihere was due on the lst day of Ia.
nuafy last, on account of purchases rnada
prior TO the lsl day Of January, 1901, Urn.
wards of 100000 dollars, which, accord.
ing TO law, be paid in the course of tbe
present year, or the lands be exposed IN
sale. This sum, ss appears by he secre-
tary's letter, IS due from three hundred
and zine persons. Although no SAILS
have yet taken place, there Is no donbt
put some mus, be made, or the lands re.
Verl to the United States, if the law is RI
gidly executed. A very large plovoriion
OF the debtors whose lands ale thus to he
Sold or torsvert, in The course Of The pres
sent year, are no doubt Inhabitants Of lie
state oil Ohio. j, appears doubtful who.
Their under these circumstances an o.
Temp 10 sell would be attended with snc-
cess. Judging from what has hapnened
IN similar cases in other states, s,ron,.
presumption arises, that sale or ,b.
lands cannol be effected so az IN r.;s. -
money Few rnen are wiling to incur
the rssen.mcnto Of their neighb1rs bv big.
a'hs Tor Their property al pu6lic ven,lae.
even when other neighbors are The cse.
ditors; aud when The pubic Is concs,n.
ed, scarcely man viii be found NJ,
enough TO 60 It. The lands wiz. ,b@r,
iors' ~ many instances revert e. Tie o..
SernmeD'' incumbsfel by The ooeunansv
OF a ten2nt, who ought 10 be evi.,rd -.
icre another sale should be n,sle.