The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-08-12


Lands was concluded on Thursday last,
all the lands advertised having been
offered in the order by counties as pub
lished. There were "a, 1913 $4,000 acres
sold, amounting in the aggregate to
$S1, 515. s9-s24,sl2.s9 of which have
been paid into the treasury. This
makes over u, 900 acres of these lands
which have already been sold since the
passage of the Swamp Land act, the
most of which haze been taken by
actual settlers. The lands remaining
unsold are now in market, and can be
taken by private entry at the minimum
price of Sl.25 per acre, one quarter the
purchase money only being required
down, and the balance i'll ten years, at
the option of the purchaser, with I per
cent interest, payable yearly.
Taking into consideration the strin-
gency of money matters, the sales have
been quite as large as the most SAN
guine could have expected. 1t being
made obligatory upon those desiring to
settle upon these lands to appear before
the Commissioner in person and make
affidavit to that effect, has also proba-
bly, been the means of preventing many
from attending these sales. tits to be
regretted that such was the intention
of the act, but such being the case the
Commissioner was obliged to act ac-
cordingly. To overcome this difficulty,
and give all who may desire to pur-
chase any of these lands, and who do
not really feel able to 60 to Lansing to
make the affidavit required, Mr.. Tread
well submits the following proposition,
which evinces spirit of liberality
characteristic of the man, and is vol
untary act upon his part:
In reply to number of inquiries
from different parts of the State
whether any way could be provided by
which persons desiring to settle upon
any of the State Swamp Lands by pay
ing but one-fourth down, could make
their affidavits as required by the law,
short of coming to Lansing, permit me
to say that during the public Offering
of these lands l can see no way i'm
which the presence of the actual bid
oers for purchase could have been dis
pensed with and still carry out the wise
design as well as the letter of the law,
as according to section four of the act
all bidders are strictly required under
penalty for failure to promptly redeem
their bids at the time of sale, to prevent
frauds. But after the public offering
shall have been completed, [ can see
no necessity for the requirement in sec
ton s of the act, that all purchasers of
these lands for settlement when but the
one-fourth payment is made down,
should make their affidavits "Jefore the
Commissioner in person. But as the
law is explicit in this respect and of
course cannot be changed till the next
session of the Legislature, could | be
satisfied after finishing the public offer
ing, that a considerable number desir-
ing to cifter iarl9s . sefSie upon, and
to pay but one-fourth down, would at
some future time after the close of the
public offering assemble at different
convenient points about the State, /
would meet at such times and places as
l might find hereafter would be practi-
cable for me, consistent with the proper
discharge of other indispensable official
duties, to take their affidavits to save
them travel and expense in complying
with the law, to obtain the lands they
may desire to settle upon. One day
only in place would be necessary, as
a number of hundred might be taken in
at that time. Af1idavits so taken could
be filed in the. Land Office, and the
many descriptions of the land wanted,
if subsequently sent to the State Treas
urer to make the one-fourth payment
down at any time before the land should
be sold, would answer all purposes to
secure the title.5e 4 80
The public sales having been COM
pleted, we have no doubt but the people
of the northern counties will respond
to this judicious proposition of the Com
missioner, and that he will soon visit
that portion of the State for the pur-
pose of carrying out the desired object.
The spirit manifested by Mr.. Tread
well, ever since his connection with the
Land Office, to faithfully discharge the
duties pertaining to his office, and to
labor to the utmost of his ability for the
interests of the people of the State at
large, should truly commend itself to
every lover of true and trusty public
servant. The duties devolving upon
the Commissioner have been nearly
double what they have been heretofore
during the past year; he has had to
perform delicate and perplexing duties,
still he comes out of the trying ordeal
through which he has passed unscathed,
and we hear but one sentiment in re-
gard to his conduct, and that is, well
done good and faithful servant" Mr..
Treadwell has shown and fully proven
himself to be an honest man, and true