Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP,
BosH.-The Pennsytranian can effect little
by the publication of such paragraphs as the
following:

ACCIDENT TO THE STEAM FRIGATE MIME
soTA:-We learn from the Washington Union
that the cylinder heads of the steam frigate Min.
nesota have been blown out, or broken during
some trial of her machinery, at Norfolk and new
ones nave been ordered from New York. 1t is a
curious fact and should be suggestive to the Navy
Department, that some kind of mishap has occur
red TO all the six new steam ffigates, except the
wabash. which was built at the Philadelp hia
Navy Yard. The Merrimac, owing to the con-
struction Of her boilers, had them burnt out and
disabled during her trip from Boston to Wash.
ington. The Minnesota steamed from this port
with every appearance of being a good and reli.
able steamer, yet we find that some radical defect
must have existed to cause such serious acc tent
as the blowing out of her cylinder heads, in so
superiority of Philadelphia mechanics and ma
chinists, and should induce more work to he al.
lotted to our Navy Yard
Now, the truth is, on the arrival of the Min
nesota at Norfolk, the customary close examin-
alton Of her machinery disclosed a shrinkape
check" in some Of the ribs of one of her cylin-
der heads, which (head) it was judged advisable
to replace ere she started on her East Indies
cruise. 1t showed no evidence of weakness on
her trial trip, and would have probably an
swered to have made her long cruise to the
East. But there &as possibility that it might
not have answered so it was replaced rs we
explain above. This shrinkage is common to
all castings, and neither science nor care can
possibly obviate it in all cases.
We need hardly add that the work of the
mechanics employed in every other u S. con-
structing navy yard proves equally as good in
all respects as that done in the PHILADELPHIA
yard, the intimation of the Penusylraa,an to
the contrary notwithstanding The Minnesota's
machinery win vie with that of any other steam
hni IL.
spects. Such a defect as the one mentioned
above, is beyond the control of science and
skill, and occurs as often in connection with
work of the Philadelphia yard as of any other.
The machinery of the Minnesota was constructed
under the eye Of Engineer Chief Martin.
which fact is of itself a guarantee that the ma
chlnery of no other steamship afoat is better
built
SELLING LAND TO THE GOvERNMEyT-The
United States are just now buying sites for
public buildings in all directions, and as our
country progresses more such purchases must
necessarily be made. Questions concerning
titles to such property offered to the Govern.
ment are so constantly arising as, evidently, to
require the devotion of much of the time of the
Attorney General to their elucidation. To
simplify and expediate this business as much
as possible, Attorney General Black has recetitlv
sent out the following lucid comprehensive and
business-lke circular, that must do much TO-
wards efiecting his object ...
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFrcE,)
June 4, 1857.
The following regulations have been nrenaIed
for the convenience of those who NAV have occa
sion 10 draw conveyances, make abstracts or
collect evidence OF title to lands in cases where
u may he the duty Of this office to certify con-
corning the validity q title. strict observance
OF them Will greatly facilitate the examination AZ
well as tend to correct conclusions
1. The deed from the vendor to the United
STATES and their assigns must be acknowledged
according to the laws of the state District or
Territory where the land lies
2 plot or draft of the land should be furn
ished, showing the boundary lines their courses
and distances, and the adjoining owners streets
rivers, or other waters.
3. Where the property proposed to be sold con-
sre Oh more IMAM one piece the titles to which
Ing lines must be traced on the draft, and the
separate pieces distinctly marked
l. Ii Is necessary to have an accurate and full
apstract OF the title, showing its transmission
from the original source to the vendor. with each
transfer noted In the proper order Of time the
name OF each grantoT and grantee written At
length, with dates showing when the several
conveyances were executed, acknowledged and
recorded. This abstract must note eyery fact on
which the validity of the title depends. whetbrr
u DE proved by matter Of record, by deed or en-
pats. .
5. The abstract must be verified bv bein, ar
cOInpanied, either with the original documents il
refers to, or else with copies legally authenti-
Gated.
o. The title papers must all be marked with
numbers corresponding to the numbers under
which they are arranged In the abstract.
men , an estate In the land has passed by
devise, the will and the probate must be shown,
and the devisee is named, proof of his identity
will be required. '
g. Where it has descended from an interstate
ancestor to his heirs satisfactory proof of the
condition and number OF the descendant,, f,niIv
must be given. ''
D. If the estate has passed by a judicial sale. or
ny sale under the order of any lur or if II has
been divided by proceedings in partition, the
regularity OF the sale or partition must be shown
by copy of the record
10. The foreclosure Of mortgage can he shown
only by an authentic copy Of the proceedings had
II. When the wife of a grantor has not Joined
In ueeo, Some evidence must be given that he
was unmarried at the time, or that his wife is
since d. ad. Ae 20
H. II the granto- be woman, Il must be shown
that she was unmarried at the date of the deed
from her. eN
is. When deed is executed by the heirs of a
person within twenty one years after his death
evidence will be required TO show that they were
OF iuiI age at the time Of the grant
IA. When tue title has passed through a corn, .
Id.9 Dody, the charter must be produced and the
authority OF the officer who granted away the es-
4
10. w hen the estate has been conditional II
VIII pe necessary to furnish clear proof that the
condhlons nave been fulfilled or lawfully excused
10. When the title depends on statute law. Other
than ihe Pno.ic laws Of the United States upon a
local law d1nering from the general rule Of the
common law; upon public document. or anon
history, the books relied to establish n sbopd
be accurately referred to, and the paoe noted
II. Presumption arising from Iaf,se ~ fine
will be allowed the weight given to them Inv fhe
Judicial tribunals Of the State where the land lies
An apparent defect in an old deed need NOT he sy
planned IL the possession of the property has
been according to such deed for thirty wears or
| upwards. -
re. A title offered to the United States will NOT
be regarded as invalid on accofnt Of an outstand
ing title which has been barred by a legal limta-
ton But i'm all where time IL relied on to
extinguish an outstanding title the party must
show by clear proof not only an adverse posse>.
sion for the fif period bat also that there no
perso ns who have rights that may be saved by
exceptions to the statute.
~ Before sending the papers to this ofdce for
examination, they should be submitted to the at
torney Of the United States for the district In