Washington telegraph., 1856-11-26
A New Swamp Land Bill.


mend themselves to the favorable consid-
Grafton of all who look to a radical re-
and reform of the pres ent |
profigate system, which is but little bet
ter than an extravagant waste of this lib
eral donation Should the Legislature
adopt it as presented, it will prove sa-
wing to the Swamp Land Fund of at least
twenty thousand dollars a year, besides
the advantages of the grant to
the several counties of the State In ad-
dition to the saving and equalization re-
ferred to, any of the Swamp and Over
flowed lands, Internal Improvement, Sem
mary or Saline Lands belonging to the
State, can be entered by the provisions of
this bill in the counties in which they lie,
so that those who desire to purchase, will
not be compelled to travel hundred or
two hundred miles to effect that object.
The present system for the disposition
and management of the Swamp Lands is
conducted at an expense of between thir-
ty and forty thousand dollars a year to the
fund, ene-half of which amount at least,
could be saved by the passage of the bill
now before the Senate
The present plan provides for the ser
vices of three Swamp Land Commission
ers, at an annual salary of
81 600 EACH $4,000
Each Commissioner has an En-
gineer, whose salary and ex-
penses for corps of assistants
etc., viii this year amountto
about s3 800 each. say, 10000
Clerk to Board of Commission
ers, salary, l,2Oo
Locating Agent in each coun-
ty, say 54 agents, whose pay
will average about $3.50 each
per annum. 1880
Five State Land Agents, salary
$500 each, 1000
Incidental expenses, printing,
etc 2,UUO
Total. s36,7OO
This is probably rather under the ac-
actual expenses.
The bill now pending abolishes the
Board of Swamp Land Commissioners,
and as a consequence their Engineers,
Clerks and the five District Land Agen-
cies. 1t provides that no scrip shall be
issued after the passage of the bill except
on existing contracts. The Clerk of the
Circuit Court in each county is made by
this bill the Agent for the sale of the
State Lands in each county, and the Treas
urer of the county the receiving and dis
bursting agent, and for their services the
bill provides that they receive certain
sum, (amount not stated,) probably so
cents from the purchaser for each certifi-
cate issued by them.
The County Surveyor is made the Lo-
eating Agent for each county, to receive
stipulated sum for each section of land,
in quantity, reported by him, after the
same has been confirmed to the State
The Judge of the County Court, the In
ternaI Improvement Commissioner and
the County Surveyor are constituted
Board of Swamp Land Commissioners
for each county, and it is made their duty
''to lay off and procure the construction
of such levees, drains or bitches as may
be required to reclaim the Swamp and
OverHowed lands and protect the country
from inundations by water in their re-
spective counties" Each member of this
board is to receive certain per diem for
every day he is actually engaged in the
duties of his Office. These are the only
Offices and expenses made necessary by
the provisions of this bill
The Plats will be furnished each coun-
ty from those already in the District
Swamp Land Offices as far as they extend,
and with new ones when necessary
Liberal provisions are made for pre-emp-
tors.
When it is necessary to make a contin-
uous levee, drain or ditch passing through
two or more counties, the boards of COM
missioners of the several counties NAV
confederate and jointly locate and let out
on contract such work, and pay for the
same out of the funds of the counties in
terested, each county contributing sum
bearing just proportion to the benefit de-
rived by it from the work.
We think the bill good one, and hope
it may be substituted for the present
wasteful and pro8igate system
Grand Lodge, I. o. o. r.
At the recent Annual Session of this
r. W. Grand Lodge, the following officers
ole &>1 g. Al