Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-02-13
STATE Resi.,er,s Report.


We are indebted to our friend and fellow
citizen, T. S. Parvin, Register of the State
Land Office, for a cory Of his report, submit
ted to the General Assembly according to
law. 1t is prepared in satisfactory and
business like manner, and will be read with
interest. We have room for only brief
summary:
The lands in which the State has an inter-
est are known as the $500, 900 acre grant $"
the Cloth section;' the university Lands;"
the sc Saline Lands - the +" Swamp Lands ;"
the &c Desmoines River Lands :" and the
sc other Sections Grant,"
The 100000 acres was originally granted
by Congress for the purpose of Internal Inn
provements, but was a terwards allowed to
be appropriated for the support of Public
Schools. Nine-tenths of this has been sold,
though patents have been issued for only
1926 acres because certificates of sale are
only sent upon the final payment being
made.
The 10th section refers to the grant by
Congress of the 10th section of land in ev-
cry township of the State for the use OF
schools. 1t is estimated that two ffths or
about 400 900 acres of this grant have been
sold.
| The University lands consists of two en-
tire townships, set apart and reserved from
sale by Congress, for the use and support Of
University. Two. thirds of this has been
Sold
The Saline lands, consisting of $4,000
acres, were granted to the State in fee sim,
pie, and appropriated for the purpose Of
founding and supporting an Insane Asylum
Upwards of one half of these lands have
been sold.
The Swamp lands were donated to the
State by Congress in 1850 The whole num-
Der Of acres Of these lands returned to date
is ,6l9, which have been reported by 81
counties. Much of this land has been entered
by settlers and spectators and paid for, and
located on warrants, and the Register rec
ommends that the State look to the General
Government for reimbursement
The Desmoines river lands were granted
by Congress for the purpose of aiding in thu
improvement of the navigation of the Des-
moines river. They consist of one-half Of
every alternate section of public land OF
each side of the river from its mouth to thu
Raccoon fork. These lands have been en-
trusted to the tender mercies of commission
e1s, of whose acts little is known and thu
report is blank on their present condition
1t is not improbable that they will be divert.
ed from their original purpose to that Of
constructing the Keokuk, Desmoines ant
Minnesota Railroad which is now compile
ted from Keokuk to Bentonsport, distance
of forty miles.
The Fifth section grant was made by Con
gress for the purpose of completing thu
public buildings of the State, or for tn
erection of public buildings at the seat O.
government. The grant consists of 1920
acres, which have been selected and remain
the property of the State.
In addition to the foregoing grants, tn
commissioners who relocated the seat Of
government at Desmoifes, have obtained
donation OF three valuable parcels of lane
in that city, for the purpose Of erecting
thereon public buildings. These are beau.
tifully situated, and the Register recon-
mends the State to spare the trees.
A CANDID ADMIssIoN?-The Dubuque Er
press and Herald, the most prominent Dem.
cratic paper in Iowa, makes the following
candid admission:
The Republicans charged upon US that the
Kansas Bill was intended as cheat and 6
fraud. They said if litearlly carried out il
would be all right; but Democrats would S,
interpret it, that the people wouh.ss De cheat
ed out OF the rights IL pretended to guaran
tee. We denied this. All Democrats de-
claimed against u as ''Republican Sian
DER" But wonderful to tell, men high in
power, who are called Democrats, are pur-
suing course which, if carried out, aoiu b.
literal fulfllment Of the prediction O ON
enemies. "Oh, consistency, whittier arr
thou fed? Oh, shame, where is thy blush9''