The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-02-11
OUR CTTY.--TOWN LOTS.

OUR CITY.--TOWN LOTS.
The sales will probably close to day.
There are about one thousand lots in all,
and thus far we have heard Of no serious
difficulty. This speaks well for all con-
cerned. Since the citizens and owners
OF property in this city have now obtained
their titles, they doubtless feel that their
property will be enhanced in value. We
have heard of many lots changing hands
since the sale, and are glad to find that
they have been sold at such reasonable
prices as to make it advantageous 10 both
parties. This is as it should be. The
fact of holding property at an exorbitant
rate will do more to retard the growth of
such a place as Burlington than almost
any thing else. We are glad there is no
such disposition on the part of land own
ers here. We know of no town on the
Upper Mississippi whose prospects are
more fattering than those of Burlington.
A large number of buildings of stable
character will be erected in the spring;
and, judging from the plans, they will be
highly ornamental to the town. As the
proceeds of the present sales are to be ap.
propriated to the improvement of the
city, after paying all necessary expenses,
we hope the Mayor and Board of Alder
men will, in addition to making provis-
ion to improve the streets, make liber.
al appropriation for the erection of pub
lie school House, one that shall be a last
ing memorial Of their wisdom and liberal
ity and be an ornament to the town.
Many of our distant readers may not
know the tenure on which lots have
been held in this place. They may think
il somewhat anomalous when they are
informed that from the commencement,
until the present time, our citizens have
been living on land to which they had no
title. During that time buildings of the
most substantial character have been erect
ed, and Burlington has already become a
place Of considerable importance. In
1886 Congress appointed Commissioners
to lay out several towns, among which
were Burlington, Fort Madison and Du
Buque. 1t was evidently the intention of
Congress to give presumption of one
acre to any one who might settle in either
OF these towns, but those who came first
were not satisfied with this arrangement.
They claimed more than one acre. At
the time there was such rage for specu-
lation in town lots, every acre in these
towns was claimed and disposed of by the
first settlers, and these claims and these
sales were !aci,ly respected by all. In
this way all new corners were obliged to
pay, in some instances, high price for
single lots. The law required that these
lots should be improved in certain man
ner before certificates of pre-emption
could be issued-the commissioners wink
ed at an evasion of shis law and issued
certificates accordingly. The General
Land Office Department subsequently,
gave closer construction of the law than
did the commissioners, and it appeared
that the requirements Of the law had been
complied with in but very few instances.
In this state of things it was found that the
certificates Of the commissioners gave no
guarantee to the holders, except in very
few instances. The citizens had no 9th.
es resource than to throw up their certif.
Gates, reiinquish all legal claim to their
lots and trust in the honor of each other
10 secure their property. This was done.
The citizens appointed from their number
a Register, Bidder and committee Of
Arbitration. The Register recorded the
names of claimants opposite the number
of their respective Lots. All contested
claims--and there were but few--were