The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-12-16
roovERNoR's MESSAGE CONCLUDED I

4 Hb law Ol lne lUln n pTll, lOo0, no
graduate lands on which money is due and
unpaid to the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania," will expire by its own Limitation,
on the 10th of April next. The object of
this law was to encourage the patenting of
lands, by proportioning the purchase mon
ev payable to the State, to the actual value
of the land.-The end aimed at by the Le-
gislature in passing it, has been largely at
tail e !, as viii appear on comparing the a.
mount OfmOney brought INTO the Treasury
from this source, since its passage, with
that OF previous yeas. There are, with
out doubt, still many tracts similarly situa-
ted with those which have al, eady obtain
ed the benefit of the law. | would there
fore recommend its further extension, not
merely as an act of Justice, but as one
which will have good effect on the pub
lie revenue.
The lien Of the Commonwealth on the
land owned by John Nicholson and Peter
Baynton, has recently caused some excite
ment among the citizens claiming that prop-
erty. 1t has been the practice for many
years for the Governor to appoint agents
for the discovery of the Nicholson land
with the general powers described in the
act Of 1925 on the subject. Heretofore
the agents, though clothed with general
powers Of discovery, have confined their
researches TO few tracts; but latterlv, ow-
ing to the increasing value of land in the
coal and other regions, they have gone into
an investigation Of the titles Of whole sec
tions Of the State, and have thereby intro
duced general alarm and distrus. Under
these circumstances the Secretary Of the
Commonwealth, in whose Office the re-
ports Of Nichoson's agents are filed for the
final action of the Nicholson Board, has,
with my concurrence adopted more strict
course of proceeding than that heretofore
inlulged in. The report is now required
to set forth full description ofthe tracts
attempted 10 he charged with the lien, and
an explicit detai of the manner in which it
is intended to establish the claim Of the
State. so as to inform the adverse claimant
of the facts necessary to he disproved
This practice. together with the rule adopt
ed by the Nicholson Boarl, composed of
the Attorney General, Auditor General,
Surveyor General, and Secretary of the
Land Office, not to act on any case of the
kind hereafter, except at full Board, has
already checked much OF the loose proceed.
claimants. The matter is now referred to
the Legislature that such measures may he
taken as shall he consistent, not only with
the claim Of the State, but with the safety
of land titles, particularly in the coal re-
gions, matter of far greater importance TO
the State, than the collection Of the bal
ance of the lien. Should the Legislature
decline acting on the subject, and should
the excitement continue, i may become ne
cessarv to supercede the commission of the
agents as the only quieting measure in nv
power.
During the past season, the geological
survey of the state, commenced in the
spring of 1896, has been regularly and ra-
pidly progressing, in consequence of the
additional aid given by the legislature at its
last session. The field Of detailed opera
tons has heen chiefly confined to the por-
tion of the state lying between the south
mountain and the New York state line,
and the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.
Other portions of the state have also been
explored, in a general manner, preparatory
to more minnie survey. 1t will be per-
ceived, that the operations of the season
embrace all the anthracite coal beds, and
When the formation thus acquired by the
chief geoogist, shall be laid before the pub
lie, which will he as soon as fall certainty
Of results. and the general interests Of the
survey will admit, il will he heyoud doubt.
amply reward ilIe patience and support of
the friends of the measure.
No feature in the rich mineral formation
of this state is more remarkable, than the
vicinity 10 each other Of coal and iron.
Frequently, they form different strata of
the same hill. Admitted as they are by
all, to be the main elements Of our wealth,
II is at present hardly possible 10 estimate
the advantages which we shall derive from
the same union Of them in the arts, which
Providence has thus formed in their posi-
ZION. When the attempts now mailing in
'Clearfeld, Lycoming, Schuvlkil, and 9th
er counties. 10 smelt iron with mineral coal
shall be successful as they will be, rs GER
tainly as it is true, that American ingenuity
is equal to that of any other country, the
effect will he immensely advantageous over
the whole state. Mo- only will the hith-
erto barren hills and silent valleys Of orr