The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-06-05
Hen. Francis Z. Splnner, U. .. Hsass 81 Rep

Hsn. Francis z. splnnes, o. .. Hsass q Rep
sesentatives.
| 1DEAR Sn:-I notice that youShave 70
Gently called the attention Of the House and
the country, to the circumstances attending
the purchase of largo body Of land by the
Hon. jesse D. Bright and others 1t the
Land Office in this city, a. detailed in let
ter published in the Burlington Hawk-Eye,
and written by myself. From the proceed
ings of the House, thinkf the facts were
not clearly understood, and the real point OF
complaint in the matter was passed over
unnoticcd. 1 desire, therefore, to detail
the facts to you as they occurred, as have
learned them from the Registers and
Receivers Offices at this place, ~ they
were announced at the time of the oc-
currence. - sg yns
'sIt should be understood, at the outset,
that for four weeks after the Land Office in
this city was opened for private entry, on
the 23d of February, the number Of persons
desiring to enter lands was so great, that
the Register adopted rule requiring every
person wishing to enter land, to enter his
name on Q register kept for the purpose,
and each name was then called in its regular
tnrn or order. and each person was allowed
to enter one section, or GAO acres Of land
| only, when his name was thus reached. II
the applicant desired more land, he put his
name at the foot of the register, and then
waited three, four or even five days, before
it could be reached again. This rule work
ed hard upon those desiring to enter a large
quantity Of land, but, as it served all alike,
all cheerfully acquiesced in its continuance.
"The regular hour Of opening the Office of
the Register, in which the entries were made,
was O'Clock in the morning; but on the
morning of the 8th of March, the doors
were kept closed for nearly an hour after
that time, although the crowd Of applicants
in attendance was as large as ever, and all
felt surprised, and some indignant, that the
commencement of the days work should be
so long delayed. But finally, the doors
were opened and the crowd admitted, and
we were then told by the clerks, that they
had been busily engaged all the morning in
entering 5000 acres of land for the Hon.
Jesse D. Bright, by special order of the
Commissioners of the General Land Office,
received the evening before. rs... ~
"On further inquiry, it appears that the
orders of the Commissioner were to enter
the land for Mr.. Bright and Messrs. English
and Foley Immediately on the receipt of the
order, and the Register thereof felt himself
compelled to override the rule he had made,
and enter the lands in the manner l have
stated, with the doors locked, and without
giving others an opportunity to offer COM
peting applications.
The amount thus entered, was:
For Mr. Bright. ......................24o0 acres
For Mr. English. ....................22s $50 acres.
For Mr. Foley. ......................i'@4 acres.
Total ........................... 6,l2o acres
{" suppose Mr.. Bright and his friends had
the right to deposite their warrants or mon
ey with the Commissioner, and that it is
within the rules of that officer to order the
land to be entered On them; but at the same
time all who were engaged in doing bust
ness at the Land Office, felt that it was IN
Just to allow Messrs. Bright, English and
Foley to enter SO large quantity, while
all others were confined to single section,
and could only get that much as their names
were reached on the register. There may
have been no corruption in the matter, but
it looked to US here like piece of favorit-
ism which ought to be exposed, and for that
reason the article in the Hawk-Eye appear
ed.
"The facts above stated are undisputed
here, and you may rely upon their entire
correctness. As am personally a stranger
to you, would refer you to the Hon. S. r.
Curtis, the Representative from this district,
with whom | am acquainted. You may
make such use of this letter as you may
deem best. Yours, truly,
tsD. c. BLOOMER.''