Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-10-31

tons being somewhat circuitous in lis
nature, it is difficult TO determine how
soon they will be approved. When re-
ported by me to the Register rs, If in their
opinion they conform to the instructions
of,he Commissioners, they are marked on
the pIats as "schooz lands" and reserved
from sale, and reported to the Depart
ment at Washington for the approval Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury. | have
requested the Registers to advise me Of
their rejection or approval as soon as
they are in possession Of such informa-
ton. rs they do so from time to time,
the Fund Commissioner through whose
office the selection was made, will immc-
diately be informed Of the fact. There
need DC no apprehension as to the final
approval Of these lands by the General
Government, if the selections arc made
in strict conformity with requirements Of
Of the Commissioner Of the General Land
Office. (See extract from the circular Of
August 9th, 1847, to the United States
Registers, page 6, Of my Instructions Of
June 25th, 1848.) Before | venturcd 10
take any steps relative to these sclcc-
tons, | forwarded TO the Registers Of the
Land Offices in this State, and also to the
Department at Washington, evidence Of
my authority to act as the Agent OF the
State, which was officially acknowledged
to be satisfactory. (See 18th and 18th
pages of my former circular.) In all
cases whore these selections are rejected
at the Land Office, will return them to
you for correction. To conform strictly
to the provisions Of the extract above re
lerrcd TO, the land must be selected in
compact haf sections. Quarter sections
from different sections may be selected,
provided they join each other by lines,
so as to form regular half section. In
few instances, where strict conform
ity was difficult, have allowed slight
departure from this rule, and while the
strong presumption is that such selections
will be approved, yet it is not positively
certain. The reasonable supposition is,
however, that all selections approved by
the Registers, will be confirmed by the
Secretary Of the Treasury. But to avoid
any uncertainty, hope you will as trict-
~ as possible with the requirements Of
the Commissioners. In some cases pre-
cmpted lands have been selected, which
the Registers, in obedience to their in
struct!ons, have rejected. You will please
avoid this in future. Great care should
also be taken in the selection Of fractions.
In case you deem it compatible with the
interests of the school fund to make such
selections, be careful to asce rtain the pre-
else quantity Of land they contain, and if
1t is less than a regular subdivision the
purchaser must take it for the full quan-
thy, as this is The condition upon which
the State has to receive it. You will
rccollect that they always occur, when
the survey is not inlcrlcrcd with by
streams or reserves, on the north and
accst side Of Townships. In some reports
the IN. W. half Of the N. w. quarter" or
the IN. E. half of the N. E. qa~ter,'
have been returned. As there are no
such descriptions Of land, you will please
avoid similar inaccuracies in future.
have received also number of Ger
tticates of purchase, and the reason why
the patents have not been issued for the
same is, that they have not been rccciv-
ed. There will necessarily DC some de-
lay attending their preparation, but IN
the meantime the certificate, as in similar
cases under the General Government,
renders the purchaser secure. rs soon
as they are completed, ! wi4his get them
executed and forward them to The proper
offices for distribution.
The question has repeatedly been pro-
pounded whether the portions orthc 10Th
section which remain unsold after it has
been offered at public sale, can be depos-
cd of at private sale? The law is not
explicit on the subject. though | infer
that they can, unless in the Judgment o.:
the Fund Commissioner a new allotment
or appraisement would effect the sale.
In case either or both is deemed cxped-
cnt, the land should be advertised and
offered at public sale as in the first in
stance. And would here remark, that
an attention in the allotment, and per-
hcps the appraisement, might frequently
enhance the value Of the land. In Meth
CT instance, however, should it be sold
below the appraised value.
have deemed it proper 20 append here
to circular to Inspector and Directors
II Is OF r1tal importance that they be put
in possession of it without delay. | trans
NIT herewith a sufficient number Of copies
for their use. You are respectfully and
urgently Immediately, and also to cooper
ate with these officers in carrying it into
effect: in order that the special reports
required in it may reach me in time. In
the accomplishment Of this desirable OBJ
Ject, must rely, to great extent, upon
your aid. Hope, therefore, tina. you will
give the matter your personal and prompt
attention, as a few days delay may
thwart the whole project. You will bear
in mind, that this is entirely separate and
distinct from your regular report on the
LIST Of November, and should not be in
cluded in it, even though you should re-
ceive the returns in time for it, and will
only embrace the report Of the Directors
and Inspectors, as required in the 9Th