The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-04-23

been manifested by our trends at Fort
Madison iii relation to the tenure by
which they hold their property in that
place, and as we thought it might be in
terestihg to our fellow-citizens in Burr
lingtoh to know something about the
same matter, we obtained permission 10
copy the following letter from the Com
missioner at Washington, which was re.
Gently received at the Land Office in this
place. That there was occasion for such
communication, many who ought to
have obtained pre.emption right to a
full acre, but who have been compelled to
pay TO spectators several hundred dol
lars for single lot of one sixth of an
acre, can testify. The town authorities
will doubtless take the proper steps to
secure their rights. Among the instruc-
tons we perceive that the commission
ers are obliged to forward certificates
showing that the time occupied by them
was necessarily employed in granting
certificates, &c. We understand that ow-
ing to press of other business in the
Land Office, the Lots will hardly be offer
ed for sale before next September.
"Gen. Land Office, Feb. 81, 1910.
"Gentlemen,-It has been reported to
this Office that the commissioners for lay
ing oft six towns in Iowa and Wis
consin Territories under the provision Of
the acts Of Congress, approved July 2,
1896, and March 3, 1887 have granted
certificates that are in violation of the law
and Instructions issued to the Surveyor
General by my predecessor and refused
by myself TO them.'
You will act in accordance with the
principles of these instructions (alluding
to documents which accompanied this let.
ter) and the report in permitting pre-
emption entries in town lots in the town
of Burlington and of Fort Madison stu
ated within your land district.
You will permit no one person to en-
ter over an acre of land unless the lot be
an outlot larger than an acre.
For the purpose Of ascertaining that
the certificates which have been issued
are legal, it will be your duty 10 make
careful examination of the proof filed,
and if it appears that the Board ex.
ceeded their jurisdiction, or by assign
ment, or powers of attorney, or any other
means whatever have issued certificates
in violation of the law as explained in
the instructions, you will reject the
claim.
"On the reception of these instructions
you will give public notice in the nearest
newspapers to the respective towns not
entered by pre.emption before the -
day of -- 1910 following reasona-
bic time) will then be advertised to be
sold at public auction to the highest bid
der, and on said day you will advertise
for sale in accordance with the provisions
of the act of the Sd March, 1887, all lots
which shall not then be entered under said
act and these instructions, with list of
all claims rejected by you; but you will
not offer at public sale any lot included in
any such claims or lots contested, unless
the claimant in such rejected claim shall
by himself or his agent duly authorized,
file in your Office previous to the public
sale, REIMBURSEMENT of all claim, or all
parties interested in each contested claim
shall file similar REIMBURSEMENT
81 have likewise 10 request that you
will make no payments of the money re-
celved by you on account of the towns,
either to the Commissioners for expenses
incidental to the surveys, &c. or to the
Trustees of the towns until further orders.
(SigneG JAS. WHITCOMB,
Commissioner