Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-15

hese required the application TO the act oil
1916, Of the principles governing the grant TO
the State of Indiana for canal purposes. The
Land Office, assuming these as It's guide,
determined, by liberal construction of all the
acts and the resolution, to give to Wisconsin
fire, instead Of three sections for the width OF
the grant, and the one half of the sum Of the
actual meanders Of both shores, and the canal,
the river, and the lakes, With all their sinu-
osities, including the large lake Winnebago, as
the length Of the grant. Thus was enlarged
to 6S4 ,269 acres being an increase of 423,S36
acres over the original grant. But the company,
which purports to have succeeded to the rights
of the State, not satisfied with the construction
given 10 the law by the Land Office, preferred
claim for the alternate sections on the
Wisconsin river, from where it enters the Missis
sppi to the portage, which would enlarge the
grant upwards of $4,000 acres, increasing it
from 260,433 acres to l,036,269 acres, and
probably much more, depending on the rule
that might be adopted.
The lands on the Wisconsin river having
never been embraced by any action of Congress,
but the grant being expressly restricted to the
For ricer, lakes and portage, the claim, after
full examination by the late Commissioner Of
| the Land Office, and review, on appeal, by me,
with every proper disposition to favor the
| State, was rejected, and the grant has been
confined to the enlarged limit before mentioned.
| The act of 29th June, 1854, proposed to
grant lands to the Territory of Minnesota,
amounting by estimate to l,l7l 200 acres, for
aiding in the construction Of railroad from
the northern boundary Of Iowa to the western
extremity of Lake Superior, and was uncondi-
tionally repealed by the act of 18th August,
1854. The lands, which have been withdrawn
| from sale in July Of the same year, as falling
within the probable limits of this proposed
grant, were accordingly restored to market,
and the law treated nullity, in all execu-
tive action, after its repeal
/ | must repeat my recommendation to prohibit
officers connected with the survey and sale OF
the public lands, from becoming purchasers.
The evils flowing from its permission are so
obvious, that it would only seem necessary to
draw attention to it, to induce its prohibition
1 Much difficulty has been experienced in the
execution of the laws granting the swamp and
overhowed lands to the several States in which
they lie. Some patents have been issued, while
others have been suspended for further inquiry
and investigation. Efforts are making to settle
and adjust all claims, and it is hoped this will
soon be done, to the mutual satisfaction of the
States interested and the Government. The
acts of Congress upon the subject are not free
/ iiOm tHcy lHOlCdte generous
policy toward the new States, and are entitled
to, and should receive liberal construction.
The commission to ascertain and settle the
private land claims in California will be able to
complete its labors within the period fixed by
law, and ! am happy to say, without making
further draft on the Treasury. It's conduct, in
the discharge of its duties, has been highly
creditable, and given universal satisfaction
Under the act of July 81, 1854, board o,
commissioners was appointed, and convened al
Vincennes, in the State of Indiana, to ascer
tain and adj ust the titles to lands in that State
under the several acts of Congress making ant
confirming grants to settlers; but the sixth
section required it to close its session on the
lst of September last. 1t was unable to finisl
the business confded to it, and it therefore
becomes necessary TO revive the old board, Oh
create new one. The latter is, perhaps, the
better course; and it is supposed that one com
missioner will be sufficient, who should be ap.
pointed for limited period, with authority tc
decide upon such claims as from any cause
have not been acted upon.
New land districts are frequently carved ont
of old ones, and the acts are made to take efrec
from their passage. The officers in the ole
districts cannot receive timely notice. so as Il
prevent sales at their Offices Of lands in tn,
new districts. To obviate this difficulty anc
not to withdraw unnecessarily from the marke
the lands in the new districts previous to their
thorough organization, it is proper to provide
by general law, that the new offices shall no,
go into operation for six months from the pas.
sage of the law establishing them, unless, in a
judgment Of the President, an earlier period i
necessary.
The affairs of the Pension Office have beer
conducted with great efficiency and signal abl
ity. 1rs business has largely increased, and
rendered the labors Of the Commissioner and
his subordinates arduous and severe. Most OF
the difficulties have been overcome and every
branch is up to date, except that having charge
of bounty lands granted by the recent act OF
Congress to certain officers and soldiers who
have been engaged in the military service OF
the United States. Strenuous and unremitting
efforts have been made promptly TO execute
this act Some complaint arose from the ap.
parent want of promptitude of the Pension
Office; but the facts, so lucidly stated in the
accompanying report of the head Of that bu
reau, clearly show there was not the slightest
foundation for it. The amount Of preparatory
labor was very great, TO perform which with
desirable dispatch was beyond the power oil
the force in the Pension Office and / had to
detail in aid Of il, many Of the clerks from the
Land Office. Such has been the Commits
sioner's success, that the law is being carried
into more efficient effect than any of like char
acter ever was before. The whole work will
be completed in less time than was anticipated
The number of applications to the 10th ulti-
mo was 225, 944; those examined number a..
500; Of which 1892 have been allowed, "a,
COG suspended or rejected, and the number OF
warrants issued, 55,9l7, covering 6,57e,32O
acres.
In the outset the department directed the
applications to be taken up for examination in
the order in which they were presented, so as
to protect those at distance who could neither
come nor employ agents here. The same rule
prevails in regard TO pensions.
The Commissioner Of Pensions, upon his
being satisfied Of the cessation Of the disability
Of an invalid pensioner, and after the latter
has had ample opportunity to show It's continu.
ance, and fails or neglects to do so, should
have the power to suspend the payment Of the
pension, or strike the pensioners name from
the roll No doubt can be entertained that
many whose claims are based upon this ground
are drawing their pensions semi-annually, al
though, since the allowance, they have entirely