The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1848-01-15

presumed that the Company will organize al
ito distant day, and the fund shouldb & retained
IN good faith, and applied 10 the construction
Of the road whenever it can be done with id.
vantage to the public.
Whether it will be better to direct its imme-
diate application, or to delay until other means
can be obtained 10 assist in carving On the
work, is matter worthy Of the serious delibe.
rationof the Legislature. My own opinion is
IN favor Of the application. The road, if con
stFucied twenty miles beyond jackson, would
support itself and lay a small dividend on an
mvestmentof two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. Its advantages to the Eastern part OF
the State would be very great. Should the
Legislature deem the immediate application Of
the fund inadvisable, it ought at once to be put
at interest for the future benefit Of the road,
United States six per cent bonds offer the best
security, and its investment therein is most
respectfully recommended.
The whole amount Of lands registered on
account Of the 100000 acres, is 529,696 acres,
and about 10000 acres have been located BY
The Commissioners Of the State and not yet
registered. The reason for locating 50 large
an excess is to provide against reflections by
the Secretary Of the Treasury in consequence
Of presumption rights and other conflicting
claims. Thus far 354,034 acres have been ap-
proved by the Secretary Of the Treasury, and
for various reasons 1925 acres have been re-
%iected. One hundred and ninety-rour thou
sand and twenty-five acres have been register
cd to the credit Of the Chichasaw School Lands.
or this amount l23,642 acres have been APP
proved by the Secretary Of the Treasury, and
1868 acres rejected. It is not doubted that
enough has been secured by location and re-
gistration 70 cover both grants after every roa-
sonable deduction shall have been made
Should the lands be offered for sale, it must be
reeollected that the States title is not perfect
except to such parcels as have been approved
BY the Secretary Of the Treasury. As the re.
cord made by the Secretary of State Of the
lands Registered, is necessarily rendered moor
rect and uncertain by the numerous reflections
subsequently made at Washington, it will be
proper to require another record Of the lands
as approved. The corrected lists have beer
deposittd with the Secretary Of State. The
attention Of the Secretary Of the Treasury ha,
been called to the unapproved locations, anc
he has been requested to dispose Of them at al
early a day as possible. The multiplicity q
that officers engagements have prevented hi
compliance with the request up to this time.
In despite Of every reasonable precaution tt
preventit, locations have sometimes been mad,
on tracts in the actual occupancy of settlers
they having neglected to declare their inten
ton to remain, and thereby secure pte-emp
tons according to the act OF Congress. The
State had the legal right to make the location
yet she ought not to take advantage Of he
citizens Liberal Legislation in regard to thes
settlers is respectfully recommended.
The opinions advanced by me in my las
Communication on the subject Of disposing 0
these lands have undergone no ma etial chang
The five hundred thousand acres can be use
for no other than purposes Of Internal I'm
prove nent. OF such improvements the Stat
is in great need Tue levee on the Mississippi
and The navigation Of our interior rivers al
objects worthy Of LIBERAL appropriations in lane
or in money if the lands are cold. The bes
interest Of the State forbids the sale of III
lands at a price below their actual value. Tn
t five hundred thousand acres belong to III
whole State, and the school lands to the Chick
+ asaw counties. No one person has the RICH
therefore to appropriate any part to himse
+ without pa ing a fair equivalent to all tn
T others in interest. Should prescriptions b
A granted, il should be done with caution and
. a price not below the fair value of the land
I The Legislature ought in my opinion to fix III
/ minimum at eigh dollars the first year, seve
the second, and so down to. one dollar pei acr
The State holds the title to large %quantitit
Of land bought by her for taxes. The owneI
have manifested little or no disposition TO r.
y QBem II II WOuIu % we'll W uIltCl ne uu
t, tor or some other officer to sell 1t at private ell
try, giving a quit claim at a price sufficient
\ pay all arrearages for taxes.
d The buildings for the State University
! Oxford are progressing as rapidly as could /
anticipated. And 1t is expected that the il
%stitution will be opened for the reception
students some time during the present year,
i The location IS a healthy and pleasant one,
! the midst Of an intelligent and growing Popl
l%ation, and though not the most central til
! could have been selected, all things considore'
it presents as many advantages as any oth'
f point. In view Of the constantly i~ncreasiH
Il demand,for such an institution, il IS sincereI
g hoped that il will receive the support Of OF
! people, and the fostering care Of the Legisl'
ture. Long years Of neglect have dissipated
large portion Of it's once man fcent endoy
/! ment. but enough has been saved from Il