Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1856-10-11

lss--,-s-s,--, -.so open violation. On
the sales sheets used at the sale Of lands in
EOutagamie county, the name Of A. Nc
Naughton appears opposite the description
Iof one hundred and ninety-two lots, making
over seven thousand six hundred acres.
The act of March 9th, 1856, provides
that no lands should be entered by any
person, unless the applicant should file an
affidavit, stating among other things that
the said applicant does not own or hold in
his owr name, or in the name Of any other
person for him, any quantity Of school or
university lands, which together with these
he applies to purchase viii not exceed three
hundred and twenty acres. Immediately
previous to the passage of this law, and
while it was pending, large entries were
made in the name Of Howell by the clerks
in the Office and also by others; evident
ly done to evade the land, and prevent the
object the Legislature had in view from
being carried out. This object unques-
tionable was to keep these lands from 60
ing into the hands of the spectators, and
to afford the actual settlers every facility
to obtain them. More land was probably
entered between the frst sixth Of March,
1855, than at anyt time before within the
same period Of time. And the committee
regret 10, see among the names Of persons
who made these entries those OF some
members Of the Legislature in which the
bill was then pending; thus evincing dis
position to establish a just and equitable
measure Of public policy for the govern
ment Of others, but by which they Them
selves were unwilling to be governed.
Upon an examination Of the books and
papers in relation to the appraisal Of school
and university lands, the Committee find
that many of the appraisals have been
made contrary to law. Sec. 2, on page
763, R. g., requires that the appraisers
shall, before entering on the duties
of their office, be sworn, and that
the oath shall be annexed to the apprai-
sal, and returned to theSecretary Of State /;
and sec. I of the same act requires them
to make joint report in detail to theSec-
rotary Of State Of all they have DONE
Many of the appaisals returned to the Of
fee have neither oath, certificate, report,
or even the name of the appraisers attach
led to them, or detached from them. In
many instances, there is no evidence what
ever that the bokos or papers which pur-
port to be an appraisal, were made or IN
ter. led to be made for that purpose. The
whole amount Of money expended for the
appraisal and selection of School and Uni
versity Lands in the State See tables
married. L. and NJ amounts to the sum
lof thirty-fve thousand five hundred sixty
EIGHT and 47-1o0ths dollars 1885, 54S,47.)
It will appear that ample provision has
been made by the Legislature for the Sc
lection Of the 100000 acre tract (the a
mount for both appraisal and selection is
entered in gross on the books, andthe sep
arate items cannot be ascertained.) Not
withsanding this, much Of this land was
appraised at five, ten, fifteen twenty cents
per acre, showing either gross derilictlon q
duty on the part Of the appraisers or those
who were appointed to make selections
The average price per acre realized the
lschool fund from the sales OF 100000 acre
tract, which was supposed to be choice
and selected lands, is one dollar and forty
two cents, (1,42,) while the average price
per acre Of the 10th sections, which were
choice locations, has been two dollars and
seventy four cents, ($2,74.) 1t will be
lseen by the tables hereto annexed, mark
led b;
That the whole amount Of the 100000
ACRE tract sold is 476,79 55-10ths acres.
The amount unsold 2,l10 34-100ths a.
cres.
| Amount of 10th sections sold 5oa,717
acres.
The Committee did not deem it neces-
Isary to prosecute inquiry to any great ex-
[tent in relation to the manner 10 which