The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-24

lnat The price oil these lands De reduced 10
the ordinary minimum and that they be thrown open to
pre-empon reservng, however TO the owners OF leases
which have not expired the right to enter all the lands
covered by their leases at the reduced minimum.
The report of the mineral agent very full and salts
factory, and shows that several of the mines which have
been worked have proved TO be valuable investments
lhs agency has not only supported ITSELF but has yielded
an actual revenue TO the government over and above all
expenses, OF nearly thousand dollars in the space
OF about two years As the sales progress, the business
of the agency of course decreases and as is expected
that most OF the lands which have been surveyed will be
brought into market next SUMMER / would respectfully
recommend that that agency be closed after the 3Oh June
next and the remaining duties any, be devoved upon
the land officers at Saut Ste Marie, with reasonable
compensation for additional duty.
NIL-PRE- EMPTIoN RIGHTS
| beg leave most respectfully 10 refer 10 the
mendaon IN my last annual report for the extension OF
the pre- empuon privilege to all actual settlers the
public lands, whether surveyed not to which the In
dian title has been eXtnguished This meritoFous class
OF our citizens Is entitled to special consideration 1t is
chiefly through their fundamentally that the fruitful
regions of the West have been opened up the
Prise and industry OF the millions who people them
When we compare the prosperity of those young and
iourlshing States with their condition thirty forty
years ago, and remember that chiefly by of
the labor the suierngs and toll OF the hardy pioneers
and Their descendants, that the wilderness has been
transformed into fruitful fields and cities and towns built
up where the beasts of the forest wont to range IT
certainly but small compensation that they should be
permitted to purchase their homes and farms at the price
fixed by the government, without competing with the
greedy Spectator for the fruits OF Their labor Ger
lanly the government cannot desire to increase It's
nues by the ptlance that might be obtained at public sale
for the improvements of such settlers and those inn
provements alone enhance the value of such lands, it
matter OF strict justice and equity that every settler should
be permitted 10 purchase his lands at the maximum
that they would yield they were not improved would
therefore recommend that the pre- -empon laws be
amended and that provision be made TO prevent the in
justice frequently suffered by settlers, under the act
OF 4th September, lSal, who may not have filed their
declarations within the time prescribed by that act and
consequently lose their Improvements by pre- emption
rIph self nd al
qulre the settlers upon lands subject to Prluate entry,
with the view OF procuring the right OF pre- empton un
der the 18th section of the act to file with the register of
the proper local land office, in lieu Of the decaratory
statement now required by law, and within the time
limited by that act affidavit that he has actually made
settlement upon the land claimed by personal resi-
dence thereon; that it his intention to purchase the
from the United States in good faith and that such
settlement and claim are made for his own benefit, and
not for the trust for another; the said affidavit
to DE accompanied by the coroboatng testimony OF two
credible Witnesses who shall also state in their alavits
the number composing the claimants family the nature
and extent OF his Improvement upon the land and that
he continued TO reside thereon.
This precaulon has become necessary from experience
in numerous cases. to prevent fraudulent declarations and
pretended settlements with view TO speculation only
where there apparent intention to purchase the land
from the government
XII.-ScHooL LANDS
1t has been the policy of Congress to promote educa
tiona purposes, by grant OF the sixteenth section
every township for the support OF schools and where
that section is neriered with, either in whole or in part
by private confirmed claims, donations Indian reserves
legal provision has further been made, emitting such
township fractional township to 4 selection for the
of schools, OF other lands in the disrct-the
quantity thus alowel TO each 10 depend upon the of
the township, IN the ratios specified in the act OF Con-
gess approved ooh May, 1896, entitled "An act to APP
popriae lands for the support of schools, in certain
townships and fractional townships not before provided
for" This laulabc purpose of national legislature
has, however often been defeated, has proved neect
i've, in consequence of the sixteenth section frequently
falling Gas in the alluval parts of Lousana) upon SIRE
,hi 1f,nr
lands unfit for cultivation and sometimes entirely value
less. As existing legislation makes provision for
of this category | recommend that Congress provide for
the by giving authority OF law to the proper State
officers select other public lands in lieu of worthless
school seconsthe selection TO be subject to the
approval OF the department. and the terms OF the enact
men to be SUCH that, upon the approval being given to
the new selection the original tract shall pso taco, re-
vert to the government.
This subject is advered to in resolutions of the legs-
atures of Louisiana and Florida, and also in memorial
of the State OF Louisiana, which presented at the
last session, and found IN Senate miscellaneous docu
mcnts Nos. AZ, 40, y, LIST session 3otb Congress.
The legislature of louisiana view of existing legal
limitations, the sale and disposal of the school lands,
have asked of Congress authority of law the State to
make a common school fund OF all the school lands TO
which Louisiana is entitled TO be expended the author
tiles of the State may direct without reference to the par
tcuar townships in which the lands may be situated
In consideration OF the provisions IN the constitution
the State OF Louisiana respect TO the establishment of
free schools throughout the State, referred TO IN the
memorial and for the reasons appearing IN that memo
rial recommend that authority of law be conferred
cordngly upon the legislature OF the State.
This office decided IN 1916, that the State OF Florida
entitled under existing laws to school lands, inI
lieu of what woXld have been the 10th sections within
the limits of the two confirmed claims, known as the
s'Fobes Purchase" and ''Auedondo Grant, the aggre
gate areas of which amount to ZIG 1885 acres.
This matter is adyered to in the Florida resolutions,
and authority oil law asked OF Congress for the loca
ton of an equivalent on other lands, which recon.
mend, but with the limitation that the selection be con-
fined to that State Indeed, would respectfully invite
the consideration of Congress 10 the proprety of en-
lagement OF the school Donation by additional appro
pation for each township there can be but opinion
TO the Importance of literally promoting general edu
cation wide spread republic, whose institutions
upon the intelligence and virtue of the people. In
this respect, beg leave TO suggest that the seal of the
general government the capital OF the country has here
tofore been overlooked.
Congress is the constitutional legislature of the Dis
ric and TO that body the citizens of this District natu
rally look for the extension Of that lberay which has
been generally manifested elsewhere in regard TO the
school system.
Notwithstanding the heavy taxation to which the cit
liens are subject for improving and identifying the
streets and thoroughaes OF the cities of the District and
with very limited revenue, they have endeavored, with
spirit worthy OF the CHEST commendailon 10 to
the rising generation the blessings of enlarged and
general system OF education Such endeavors, | am
sure will Ind avor with Congress, by whom special and
liberal grants have heretofore been made TOR bene VIOLENT
purposes, in dh OF the and some of the Cd States
therefore earnestly recommend that liberal grant OF
land be made to this District in addition all the vacant
lots in the city and county OF Washington which belong
to the government that fund may be created, the in
come from which will be sufficient 10 sustain, on per-
manent basis the common school system in this District
XlV.-GRADUATIoN AND REDUCTION THE PRICE OF
THE PUBLIC LANDS, DONATIONS OF SWAMP LANDS, &c