Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-08-17
County Tax Lands,


times. We fear an excessive demand,
for the contrary extreme is as sure t.
follow in due time. Large quantities Of
lands have been accommodating for years
in the name and right of the county by
forfeiture for non-payment Of taxes, and
for which, tax deeds are held by the
county. Three years after lands are
sold for non-payment of taxes, the coun.
ty is entitled to deeds for all such lands
unless they are redeemed within that
time.
Grant County also holds large guam
tity of certificates of sales for taxes on
lands for which deeds have not been
made out. Few of these certificates
have been sold to individuals, SO that
the county owns most of them. Indi-
viduals holding such certificates, by vir-
tue of purchases from the equity, are
entitled to 20 per cent. interest on them
from the owner of the lands and if no
owner appears to redeem them within
three years, then the holders of such
certificates are entitled to deeds from
the county. The county only charges Z
per cent. interest on certificates, and we
believe the county tax lands may be had
at auy time for cost, interest and official
charges-no advance for clear profit be-
ing required.
1t will be remembered by many that
the late County Board of Supervisors, at
their session in November, 1852, thought
of selling the county tax lands for ST.
500, but the highest sum offered was
$1,000, and it is said a majority of the
Board were in favor of selling out for
the sum offered. 1t was finally agreed
to advertise them for sale, but few or
no sales were made. The Treasurer
for tunately, postponed the sales indefi-
nitely, and it will be for the present
Board to decide what shall be done with
the order OF their predecessors.
Since the lst Of January of this year
including period Of about eight months,
the sales of county lands and tax certi-
ficates, Gas we learn from the Clerk Of
the Board, has reached the unexpected
sum Of 1880; while the amount re-
ceived, for the twelve preceding
months, was only about $1,000. Per-
haps not 10 per cent. of said $500 be-
longs to individuals-fortunately for the
county, there being few persons engaged
In the tax certificate speculation at this
time.
There has long been a doubt among
courts and jurists whether county has
the right and whether the Legislative
powers of the state has the constitution
al power under the Federal Government
to legalize the transfer, by county, of
lands sold for taxes after the usual man
ner. The question has never been
tried, we believe, by any court having
other than circuit powers, so that the
point remains unsettled. In order to
place this vexed question beyond doubt,
and legalize sach transfers hereafter to
be made, the late Legislature passed an
act which act took effect before the last
Treasures sales, to make the Treasu-
rers' certificate mortgage to all intents
and purposes, upon which foreclosure in
chancery may be had, and deeds order
ed upon advertising and sale, after The
expiration of three years. Such is the
law under which all tax certificates in
the state were made out last spring, and
we believe there are no doubts as to its
constitutionality.
IWe have carefully read in the Po-
tosi Republican the article under "Elec-
tive Judiciary vs. Executive Appoint
ment," written by the editor in reply to
what we said two weeks ago. His
method of treating the subject is by the
by facts and illustrations.
BY his method, any sort of system or
government may seem to turn the earth
into paradise and men into angels of
love by ours, the earth produces good
and bad fruit, men are corrupt at heart,
and their laws are but necessary evils.
The only difference between the Re-
publican and ourself is in the method to
adopt in arriving at the same end--a
sound judiciary. Neither of us expects
a perfect one-both desire the rights of
persons and property secure. We pre-
fer the well tried system of our demo-
cratic ancestors ; he is for the new and
less tried system that experienced men
generally oppose.
We cannot see that good would follow
a further discussion of this matter, else
we would introduce new points, and re-
ply to several Of his. We are under
the law he approves, and time only can
decide who is right.
Town LOAN TO THE PorosI R. R. BRANCH.
The Town Board of Supervisors of Potosi
have authorized vote to be taken in that town
on the oath inst, upon the question of taking
Town Stock in the proposed Railroad to the
amount of $4,000, payable in 20 years at 10
per cent. interest The order of tho Town