Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-12-12
GENERAL LAND OFFcE,


SIR BY the act of Congress entitled 9 An act to
to enable the State of Arkansas and other States
claim the swamp lands within their limits approved
September p, 1850 it directed That to enable the
State OF Arkansas the necessary evceS and
drains reclaim the swamp and overflowed lands
therein. the whole of those swamp and overowed lands
made thereby unfit Cor cultivation, which shall remain
unsod at the passage of this act shall be and the
are hereby granted to said State"
1st By the 4th section of this act, directed that
the provisions Of shall be extended to and their bene
hts be conferred upon each Of the other States OF the
Union, in which such swamp and overfiowed lands may
be situated.
3D. And " that in making out list and plats of the
lands aforesaid all legal subdivisions the greater part
Of whichis wet and unfit for cultivation shall be ncu-
ded in said list and pats but when the greater part of
subdivision is not Of that character the whole OF 1t shall
be excluded therefrom"
This act clearly and unequivocally grants to the sew
era States, those lands which from being swampv
subject to overflow unfit for cutvaton in this class
is included also all lands which, though dry part Of the
year, subject inundation the planting, growing
or harvesting to destroy the CROP and there
fore unfit for cultivation taking the average OF the
seasons for reasonable number of years the rule Of
determination.
You will please make out a list of all the lands thus
granted the State, designating those which have been
sold otherwise disposed of since the passage of the
law and the price paid for them when purchased.
The only reliable data in your possession from which
these lists be made out, the field descriptive
noise Of The Surveys file in your office and the author
tiles OF the State willing adopt these the basis
oil those lists you will regard them. If not and those
authorities furnish you satisfactory evidence that any
lands Of the character embraced by the grant, you
will so report them.
The following general principles will govern you, in
making up these lists tO-wit:
Where the field notes are the basis and the inter-
sections of tho lines Of swamp overflow with thos, Of
the public surveys alone given, those intersections
may be connected by straight lines and all legal SUBJ
divisions the greater part of which shown by these
lnrs to be within the swamp overflow will be certified
70 the STAT the balance will remain the property of the
Government
Where the State authorities may conclude to have the
surveys made determine the boundaries of the swamp
or overowed lands those boundaries alone should be
sHrveed taking connection with the section
township corners
Where the swami or oyerhowed lands are on the Dor.
ders OF a stream lake, the lake could he
meondered and ordnates surveyed suitable intervals
from the borders Of the stream lake TO the margin OF
the swamp r overhowed lands and by connecting the
ends OF those Ornates, that margin by straight
aes, the boundaries Of the swamp overowed lands
can be ascertaned with sufficient accuracy In case
however should any such boundaries or ordinates he
marked in the field, as they may produce difficulty In
determining the lines and of the public surveys
hereafter, aud thus lead litigation The selections in
all these will be made before directed. Where
satisfactory evidence is produced that the whole Of
township any particular and specified part of
snip, the whole Of tract Of country bounded by spe
Cited surveyed. natural boundaries Of the charac-
ter embraced by the grant, you will report it. The
adjacent subdivisions however be subject the reg
uatons above given and in every under each rule
principle herein prescribed iOry acre lots or quarter
qurter sections will be srcgarded The legal subdiv
slons contemplated by the law
The af1davts Of the county surveyors and other
spectacle persons that they understand and have
med the lines, and that tho lands bounded by the lines
thus examined and particularly designated in the ada
WIT are Of the character embraced by the law should be
sufficient.
The line or boundary OF the overflow that renders the
land unfit for regular cultivation may be adopted that
which regulates the grant.
You viii make ont lists OF these lands early as
practicable according to the following FORM one copy
Of which will transmit the land officers and anoth
this Office The lands selected should BE reserved
from SALE and after those selections approved by the
Secretary of the Interior tho Register should all
the lands selected in his tract books granted
the State by act Of 18th September 1880 being swamp
overlooked lands, ;" and on the pIats each
" State 25th September, $780, Copies of the
approved lists will be sent TO the Registers for this pur
pose. Your early attention requested in this matter
that the grant may be disposed Of as speedily posi-
bic.
Very respectfully. your obedient servant.
ISIGSED1 j. BUTTERFIELD,
Commissioner
Il n ! M