The true Democrat., 1854-05-02
Swamp And Overaowed Lands.

A correspondent from Seyier county writes t( us for staristics in regard to the amount of scrll issued by the present board of commissioner for levee work done The most reliable infor nation we can obtain respecting the proceed lngs ot the commissioners we find n thelr tul annual report to the Auditor up to tne first Monday in April of the present year. It ap- pears from this report that from the period al which the former board ceased to be h office tC the first of April that the amount oi scrip is- sued during the same period for work done un- der old contracts and others under the late law
 including the salaries of officers pay of locat- ing agents, etc, will make the sum S557, ,5l9
 In this connection we may make some far. ther observations touching the operation of the laws regulating the disposal of these lands.- When the land agents were selected under an act of the last Legislature, their bonds filed and commissions issued to them, each agent proceeded at once, without maps or plats as the law required, to sell any Of tine lands known as swamp land lying within the district foI which he was elected. Such sales were in De- tober last declared by an ordinance of the board a nulity giving the purchaser no right what ever and TO bar to the purchase by others from the Swamp Land Commissioners, of the iden- tical entries suffered to be made bv the land agents. For the purpose, however, of protect ing innocent purchasers and to allay the anxie- fy-s I .a1,lv 4oi4 lzv-o olb ,-l,,
 the progress of the works already commenced the ordinance continued to set forth that the commissioners would legalize the sales 50 made by the land agents and adopt them as theil own, provided that an abstract of such sales be furnished to said commissioners, and that the scrip received be paid into the treasury of the State. This suggestion has been compiled with by the land agents, with one exception, where the agent overlooked the necessity ot making his return to the office of the Swamp Land Commissioners, and hence it could not form portion of the annual report recently made by the board to the Auditor
 1 It cannot be doubted that, as the system Of leveeing and draining progresses an incalcula- ble quantity of the richest soil in the State will be reclaimed, and soon made ''to blossom like the roSe,' while at the same time it will operate to protect incidentally thousands of settlers " ho have heretofore been subjected to an occas. .onal overflow, and render healthy whole districts of country, when relieved from the stagnant pools and marshy ground which have been terror to 50 many movers to this State. We do not believe that it will take half the land 10 which the State is entitled, under the get of Congress, to accomplish this great work; but were 1t even all consumed ii tne achievement of such q pur- pose, this fund will, if properly directed, pay back to the State its full value in increased rel venue, in wealth and ii greatness. The lines of levee already constructed prove this incon- testibly, aud the recent flood in the Mississippi has tested their strength and endurance Ii two CT three instances only have breaches been made, which at a small expense will ba apeeii- l iy repaired.
 ! We will resume this subject again so soon as our leisure will permit.