Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-21

claims preferred by presumption and other
wise, to several alleged fractions of public
lands, in the ST. Louis district.
The history of this said land is this: 1t is
embraced within the outer boundaries of the
Grand Prairie Common Field as surveyed in
1917, under the act of 18th June, 1872 By
survey made in 1910, four of the lots in the
Grand Prairie, were extended from west to
cast nine arpents and thirty feet. leaving
between their western boundary, and the
western boundary Of the Grand Prairie, as
surveyed in 1918, the vacant land in dispute,
and which is represented on the official plats
Of the survey Of 1910. To this alleged pub
lie land, claim by presumption was prefer
red. under the law Of 1888, by Nathaniel P.
Taylor, which was repealed in the year 1s47
The same land was afterwards claimed under
the presumption law of 1S41 by Clay Taylor,
and has likewise been located by the State of
Missouri, under the act Of September, 1881,
granting 100000 acres for internal improve
ments, the State having disposed of her said
location to Mr.. Albert Todd.
Under the Ist section of the act of july 4.
1886, the executive duties prescribed by law,
appertaining to the survey and sale of the
public lands &C., ere subject to the super
vision and control of the Commissioner of the
General Land Office, under the direction of
the President; and the removal east of the
Grand Prairie lots mentioned, has never been
sanctioned by that Office; and the land, being
as stated, within the outer boundary of the
Grand Prairie Common Fields, as surveyed in
ls1S-is expressly reserved by the last provi-
go to the 10th section Of the act of March g.
1911, "till after The decision of Congress there
on, which has not yet been had. Moreover
being within those limits, it may be subject
to the community interest granted by the act
Of 1872, if the removal east of the four lots
herein mentioned be finally santioned.
For the foregoing, with other reasons, the
Commissioner has expressed the opinion that
the land referred tn, is not subject to SALE en-
try, or location of any kind.
The HOUSE PACIFIC RAILROAD SPECIAL,
CoNMIrrEE-It will be perceived from the list
Of this committee published in the Star yester-
day, that it is very strong one, Intellectually
all its members ranking among the able men
of the House. We find it so constituted as to
embrace six gentlemen from slaveholding and
six from non-slaveholding States-that is. east
OF the Rocky Mountains-and one from Cali
fornia. We find also, that the Speaker seems
to have sought to avoid the trouble that might
have arisen from the conflicting interests of the
various Mississippi Valley border States, as tc
the location Of the eastern point of departure
of the proposed road, had representatives from
them or either of them been placed on thi.
committee. We can rest under no other i'm
preston, from perceiving that he has named
none such upon It, than that In constructing i
he sought to insure that its labors should lool
to National ends only, eschewing those Of Bun
combe. While we have not the least idea that
any serious steps will be taken at the present
session, to initiate the construction of railroad
to the Pacific by the General Government, VIC
nevertheless are satisfied that two such special
committees as have been selected in the Senate
and House to consider the subject cannot labor
upon it for considerable time, without she'd
ding flood of useful information on the many
questions involved in this important PROPOSE
ton.
CLERICAL REMOVALS AND APPOINTMENT
L. ID. Fendall, Of Virginia, I'd class Clerk in
Sixth Auditors Office, removed
A. +. Shriver, of Maryland, I'd class Clerl
in Second Auditors Office removed
James s. Douglass, of Virginia, appointed tc
LIST class Clerkship in Sixth Auditors Office
This appointment has just taken place. 1t was
not made some time since, as announced in
some of the newspapers.
NAVY OFFICERS ORDERED AND DETACHED
Lieut.. Edward Middleton ordered to the sloop.
of-war Decatur.
Lieut.. George Colyocoressis ordered to the
receiving ship at New York
Lieut.. John G. Carter ordered to the rem.
devious at New York, vice Lieut.. James II
Rowan detached, and awaiting orders.
TIE CURRENT OPERATIONS OF THE TRx.,upv
DEPARrMESr.--On yesterday, the Goth of Jan.
uary, there were of Treasury Warrants en-
tered on the books Of the Departments
Fer the redemption of stocks..... $24,97I II
For Treasury Department, exclu-
sive of stocks. ,..,,,........... 5,7S7 OF
FOR the Customs ....n......,... IL, 332 IL
Covered into the Treasury from
miscellaneous sources. ......... 1855 Is
For the War Department. ........ 1882 Os
For re- paying for the War Depart
ment .....,,,............. $50 SO
For the Navy Department. ...... 1905 30
For the Interior Department. go. I,7Sl ~
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
In The HougE, yesterday, after we went to
press Mr.. Cutting concluded his speech upon