The Kanzas news., 1859-01-15

pointed under an act of the Territorial Leg
islature, passed February 23, 1857, to audit
all claims of public nature arising from
the enforcement of the laws of the Terrific
~, and also all claims of private nature
growing out of the difficulties occurring be-
tween the dates of the Territorial Organiza-
ton and the passage of the act. The Com
missioner, after giving due public notice.
held his sessions at seventeen different pla-
ces, for the convenience of claimants, and
has evidently given much time and great
labor to the performance of his duties
The claims presented for examination
amounted to S3O1 ,225 II. The amount
awarded by the Commissioner is 1884, ,279
90; of which $50. .949 90 were of the pub
lie class; and S215,311 38 of the private
class. These, with the accompanying tes-
timony, have been forwarded to Congress
and referred, upon presentation by the Del
egate from the Territory, to the Committee
on Claims, from which Committee it is
hoped favorable Report may be made.
AS Agriculture must always be the pre-
dominating interest in the Territory, I would
4 suggest law encouraging the organization
of County Agricultural Societies.
learn from the Comptroller. that the au-
dited debt of the Territory, on the 23d OF
December, 1853, was S19, 900; and the as
sets $33, ,946. The latter includes the as
sessments of FIVE counties for the year 858.
The Comptroller informs me, that he is un-
able to report the entire debt, as the Board
for Investigation of Election Frauds was
authorized to audit its own accounts, and
draw warrants upon the Treasury. Neither
are the Legislative expenses of the last Leg
! Iolo nd VT &c
Territorial Treasury was liable for-inclu-
ded in the estimate, as the Legislature pro-
vided for an Auditing Committee, compos-
ed of the Governor, President of the Coun-
ell and Speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives, whose duty it was to draw warrants
upon the Treasury. The custom, if it be
such, of authorizing different individuals to
draw warrants upon the Treasury, and thus
rendering the proper officer incompetent to
make true statement of the condition of
the Territorial fund, is not one sufficiently
commendable to follow as precedent.
The Comptroller estimates that the taxa
BILE property of the Territory, at this time,
estimate reasonable. It should be remem-
bered that in addition to this estimate very
large amount of the real estate of the Ter
ritory is held by pre-emptors. which, they
not having completed their titles, Is not
subject to assessment and taxation.
It is gratifying to state that most of the
organized counties, where peace prevails,
have entered upon the duties of assessment,
and are progressing in the collection of
their taxes. A number of new counties
have also lately organized aud begun in ear
nest the duties of civil government, and
by the proper industry will soon pc sur
rounded with all the comforts of home and
plenty-with convenient places for public
worship, and with schools for their children.
A great number of Indian Reservations
located within the Territory, many of which
were isolated, are now wholly surrounded
by the white settlers. In other instances,
the boundaries not being established, or not
distinctly marked, there has already diff
ference of opinion arisen, between the In
dians and the settlers, as to the right of oc-
cupancy of the soil. The interests of both
require the very early action of those hav-
| ing jurisdiction over the subject, as delay
will only multiply the troubles and render
| final disposition of them the more difficult.
1t is fortunate for Kansas that the Indian
Department is in the hands of one, not on
ly thoroughly versed in the Indian charac-
ter, and the general duties of his Office, but
personally known to the peculiar condition
of the Indian tribes of this Territory. In
doing Justice to the people of Kansas. by
opening their way to future power and wealth,
it is very important to the good understan-
ding between the whites and Indians, that
no injustice be done the latter. A speedy
determination of these conflicting interests,
by treaty with the Indian tribes within our
limits, will be highly conducive to harmo-
| nv between the two races.
have been kindly furnished by the Re
ceivers at the Kiekapoo and Lecompton Land
| Offices, with the amount of lands sold and
pre-empted up to December, 1853, in their
districts The Land Offices at Ogden and
Fort Scott I have not had time to commu
nicate with.
The number of acres of Public Lands
that have been sold and pre-empted IN the
Delaware Land District, are as follows:
| Iowa Trust Lands. 94450 26
Delaware Trust Lands at osawkee. 34ssIO!4
Public Lands pre-empted, N 'T236O
Lands sold IN Trust for Delaware In
dians (by Gen. Brindle,) lying IN
Leavenworth County, 269,i45-t9
Total acres sold in above District. l.l96 l29. Sc
The amount of Land sold and pre-empted
in this District (ofice at Lecompton, is:
Sold in Trust for the Peoria, Kaskas-
| kia, Piankeshaw and Wea confede-
embraced in Lykins County, 2O7, 1855
aCsh 'G ISL 70 Deeap@Ssr % fs u.s.
w with Land warrants rants 's' si6,sO5 65
Total acre. .o,d and pre-empted, 1 ,0s5, ,sl30s
| Do. do. do. in both Districts, 2,29l. .442-65
: 1t is reasonable to suppose that the mum
Der of acres sold and pre-empted IN the 9th
er two Land Districts would increase the
whole amount of acres sold and pre-emPteo
TO at least 9, 900, 600. There were also sold
] =. nd Dscem Der.