The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-28
IPuRLIc-No. gel

IPuBLIc-No. 39.1
AN ACT providing for the examination and settle
1nent OF claims for land at the Sault Ste. Marie,
in Michigan.
ss,latires Of the United States of 1iperica in Con-
gress assembled That the register and receiver of
the land office at the Saut Ste Marie be, and they
hereby, authorized 10 examine and report upon
claims lots at the Sault Ste. Marie, in tow nship
forty north, of ranges east and one west
in Michigan, according TO the provisions hereinaf
contained, and pursuant to such instructions as
may be given by the Commissioner of the General
Land Office.
SEC. ,. Ind be it further enacted, That the said
commissioner shall cause the register and receiver
10 be furnished with map, a large scale, of the
lines Of the public surveys at the Sault Ste Marie
and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to
direct the proper military officer, the applica
Ion OF the register and receiver, to designate, or
Gauge TO be designated, upon the map aforesaid,
the position and the extent Of lots necessary for
military purposes, as also the position and the ex
tent Of any other lot lots, which may be required
Ior ether public purposes, and also the position and
extent ci the Indian agency tract and Of the Indian
reserve.
SEC. 3. dnd be IL further enacted, That in the
case oi any person or persons, or the legal repre-
sentatves OF any person persons, who the pre-
sent bona fde claimants, under the original claims
which entered in book number seven OF the re-
port Of the Board of Commissioners, under the act
OF Congress approved twenty first February eigh-
hundred and twenty three, entitled IAN act
TO revive ard continue In force certain acts for the
sLLlJut OF land the oil Mich
igan," II shall and may be lawful for such person,
within year from the passage of this act TO
present sicoTH notice IN writing to the register
and receiver, setting forth the nature Of his claim
with the front and depth necessary to embrace his
settlement and improvements and its position
and limits, as accurately as practicable, the
public surveys; also the length Of time it has
been settled by the present claimant, and the
estimated value the time his right origin
ated, and the estimated value at the present
time, exclusive Of improvements; and it shall be
the duty OF the register and receiver receive and
consider testimony " hch may be presented in each
case, and TO call Tor such further testimony they
may deem necessary, IN order to enable them 10
determine the precise nature of each claim title
and ascertain under whom the same originated
and 10 fix its position and extent the public
yeys and its present value, exclusive OF improve
Inents; and also ascertain the value Of the inn
provcments, and further 70 ascertain whether II
interieres with any adverse claim, and the extent
Of and nature Of, such interference; and, for the
purposes aforesaid, the register and receiver are
hereby authorized each to administer oaths, or af-
hrniaiOns, and IL shall also be the duty Of those Of
hcers 10 record all notices and testimony in sup
port Of each claim and for administering oaths
they shall be allowed fee Of twelve-and "a half
cent?, and like sum for every hundred words Of
testimony which they may record, 10 be paid by
the claimants, and equally divided between the Of
SEC I. Ind be IL further enacted, That, in the
CAGE Of any bona hde claimant who has no right
under an original claim, entered In the aforesaid
book number seven, but who, the first day Of
January in the year Of our Lord eighteen hundred
and forty nine, had reduced lot into possession,
and is actual and bona 6de settler thereon or
occupant thereof, II shall and may be lawful for
him 70 file a sDorn notice, stating how long he has
been ia the actual possession Of the lot the nature
OF his improvements the extent Of front and depth
requisite 20 embrace his actual settlement and I'M
prOvemcnts the estima ted value Of the lot at the
time OF his settlement, and its present value escu-
sye Of Improvements, also the value Of such i'm.
provemen,s, and alec designating, az accurately a
practicable, lie position upon the public surveys;
and u shall and may be lawful for the aforesaid Of.
hcers, ALEC, 70 take all necessary testimony in this
class Of case, In like manner, and perform similar
duties required in the foregoing section and 20
receive any notice and evidence Ofany missionary
claim from any party authorized 10 act both as 20
the nature and extent Of the same and the grounds
on which it may be entitled 10 equitable oonsiders
ton.
SIC s. Ind be u further srlaefsd, That Il shall
also be the duty Of the land officers to examine and
arrange the notices and testimony in all filed
under this act; and the contem plated by the
third section, which they may confirm shall be
placed IN abstract A, fret class. and tho.e under
that section which may be rejected by them, shall
be placed in abstract A, second class; and in all
cases contemplated by the fourth section Of this
act, the confirmation Of the commissioners shall be
placed in abstract b. FIRST class, and their reflections
in abstract B, second class.
SIC. g. indie hJtui.or suaoted, Thatin the afore.
said abstracts, the register and shall desig.
nate the number Of each claim, name Of present
and Of original claimant, present value Of the
lot, exclusive Of improvements, and the amount,
which, ia their opinion, IL would be just TO require
az payment for the same 10 the Government; and
the said officers shall designate on the aforesaid
map Of the public surveys the location Of each claim
ne near az u be ascertaned from the testimony
with the estimated actual value, and the as.ossment
thereon Of the which, ia their judgment,
should be paid for the same TO the Government.
SEC. Z. Ind be Il further enaoted, That the eur.
veyOr general al Detroit, being notified Of the
completion BY The land officers Of the Aforesaid ab
stracis and map shall despatch a skilful deputy 20
the sault Ste Marie, Who shall file in the land Of
fec At that place biz affidavit faithfully and Impair
tally 10 discharge his duty; and thereupon there
shall be delivered To him the said abstract, and
map, and be shall then proceed forthwith 10 lay on
and survey the village Of Sault Ste. Marie into
town lots, streets, avenues, public squares out lots
having regard to the lot, and streets already &C
tUally surveyed, cristing established, md hav.
Of the iOts, and 20 the existing limit. snd extent Of
the lots covered by the claims which shall have
been adudicstod by The register and receiver; and
sf,of such surveys shall have been completed, the
Aforesaid deputy shall prepare plat eph biting, in
cOnncIiOn with the lines Of the public surveys, the
exterior lines Of the whole village also the squares
individual ots, and the public Tote, and ALEC the
out lots designating the ots reserved for military
other purposes, according 70 the extent and linn
its Of the came, fixed by the proper military Of
6cers, pursuant to the requirements Of the second
section Of this act, and specifying the Ct each
claimant Of the individual lot, and whether con
frned rejected, the assessed by the register
and receiver ss a payment which should be made
in each case by the party, and also designating the
aoonf in los and out lots the former Of which shall
be subdivided into lots not 10 exceed each quarter
of acre, and the latter not 10 exceed two acres
esch and IL sball be the duty Of the said deputy.
from the best in formation be obtain, and after
conference with the land officers, TO specify the
survey Of each vacant lot, the actual present est
mated value, and IL shall be the duty OF the sfJre
ssid deputy 10 return to the register and receiver
their abstracts and map, and 20 submit 70 them his
plat the actual surveys and fbey shall be satisfied
that il Ia in accordance with their sdjudicstions,
they shsll append certificate 10 that effect, and
The said deputy shall then transmit the said plat