Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-04-13

u6Elanstsn Town Lots
It is Known 70 citizens generally, that
: memorial ws forwarded to Congress
some time u the Month q January last,
BY the city authorities, on the subject Of
the unrelinquished lots lying whiting the
city limits. This memorial was accom-
panied with the form Of bill, which it
was supposed would effect tho objects
sought to be accomplished BY our citizens,
and q the came time be unobjectioaable to
Congress in any Of its details. These pa
pers were received in due time BY our
Delegate and laid before the House; and
that body, upon motion, referred them to
the committee on public lands. A mem
Der Of this committee, {Mr. Collamcr, Of
Vermont, submitted the subject to the
Commissioner Of tie General Land Office
for his views; and that officer, in writ
ten reply now before US, states that .'thc
bill appears to be questionable in its main
feature, taking the business out Of the
hands Of government officers AMI placing
it under the control Of the local courts"
sc. After enumerating various objec-
tons the Commissioner says:-uI have
embodied my suggestions'in the form Of
the enclosed bill, which, it is believed,
meets all the difficulties to the removal Of
Which legislation appears indispensable"
Sc. The bill alluded to we publish be-
low, 50 that all interested may read it and
Judge for themselves whether it is such
an one as will enable them to perfect their
titles.
The foregoing information we derive
from communication from our Delegate at
Washington to the Mayor and Aldermen,
received-during the present week. 1t is
deemed important that some expression d
opinion in relation the bill Of the Com
missioner should be given at an early day;
and with this view . meeting Of the citi-
-zens has been called, to take place at the
fCourt House this evening. The call will
fbe found in another column. 1t is hoped
there will be general attendance, as il
is highly important that action Of some
kind should be speedily had.
An act supplemental 10 an act entitled, ssAn act
Tor laying OF the towns Of Fort Madison aud
Burlington, in the county Of Des MONIES, and
the towns Of Belleview, Dubuque and Peru, in
the county Of Dubuque, Territory OF Wiscon-
Gin, aud for ether purposes" ap roved the 2nd
| OF July, 1875, and the amendatory act thereto,
approved March Bird, 1881.
SEcroS fst. Be Il enacted BY the Sem
ate and House Of Representatives Of the
United States Ct America in Congress As
sembled; That claimants to pre-emp,ion
rights alleged under the act Of Ind Of July,
1886, 70 which this is supplementary, their
legal representatives or assigns, shall be
allowed until tho first day Of january next
to sdducc before the Register and Receiver
Of the Land Office Of the district in which
the towns are respectively situated (under
such regulations AZ may Be prescribed by
th~ vosaialssioacr " The GENERAL Land III
nee, any proof in support Of their claims
to lots, not heretofore cold at public sale or
reserved for the use ofthe respective towns
Procs,aNl, That no one shall Be permitted
to appear before the Register and Receiver
as claimants unless he, or the party under
whom 10 claims, shall heretofore have an.
rearcd in that capacity before The commits.
sioncrs appointed under the act Of srd
March, 1887, to which this Is supplement.
AIRY, and then addace proof in support d
Nhis claim.
/ SIC. End. That such Register and Re.
ceiver are hereby authorized and empow.
cred 10 hear evidence respecting all claims
10 lots arising under this acE and shall, al.
tier the first day of January aforesaid, for.
ward to the Commissioner Of the General
Land Office the proof adduccd, with their
opinion thereon, in each case; and il shall
be and hereby is made the duty Of said
Commissioner finally TO determine on the
validity Of such claims, and tc issue instruc.
tons to the aforesaid officers astowhom the
certificate Of entry shall in each case be is.
sued.
SEQ. Bird. When the claims shall al
have been determined, the COMMISSIONS,
Of the General Land Office shall notify The
land officers Of the result, and they shall
give public notice Of at least three week.
Of the decisions for or against each respec.
tive claim; and those persons whose claim.
shall have been approved, shall be allowed
until sixty days thereafter to pay into tn,
proper land office, the minimum price 70,
his lot or lots at the rates prescribed BY The
End section Of the net Ct 2nd July, 1886
PROVIDED, That no person shall be permit,
ted to enter, inclusive Of what he may have
entered by presumption under the act o
End Of July, 1886, more than one acre O
town lots or four acres Of out lots.
SEc. 4. That for the greater conven,
fence Of the claimants the Register ant
Receiver shall hold sessions of reasonabl.
terms under the direction OF the Commits.
sioner Of the General Land Office, in each
ofthe said towrs, situated within the bound.
Of their respective districts, for the adiudi.
cation Of claims, Of (which due previous rub.