The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-10-22
ri,lss % Real E.,a,. in Iaxr. nee.

Titles 70 Real Es,ais in Lavre nee.
The prosperity of Lawrence has been
greatly retarded since its 6rst settlement
because Of its defective land titles.
In the summer of 1854, it was claimed
that the town site was selected for farm
claims, and as such was occupied from an
early period in the season. Then came
the thirty New EDglanders who selected
it, the last OF July or first of August, for
town site. A conflict soon arose between
the claimants and town company, which
was not ended until the spring of 1855,
when settlement was effected between
the parties. No sooner, however, was
the outside element quieted, than a new
element sprung up inside, and that has
been active down to the present.
When the settlement was effected, in
1856, with the town company and claim
ants, the latter, who became interested
with the former in the town property,
agreed to perfect the titles, and this they
attempted t. do by buying Wysndott
float, and locating it upon the town. Be-
fore doing this, property holders very
generally made out deeds of release for
such property as they had in the town,
and then took titles back from the trus-
tees. Some few did not execute deeds
of release, and these are the ones who
have made what trouble has followed,
though they have repeatedly shown their
acquiescence in the title by traficking in
real estate, the titles to which came from
the trustees of the town association.
If the surveys had been completed
when the float was laid upon the town, SO
its boundaries would have been known,
there would have been no difficulty but
what could have been easily overcome
Not SO, however, and hence the embar-
rassment. When the surveys were ef-
fected, the legal subdivisions were found
to be very different from those made by
the city surveyor. Numberless plans were
devised to save the original boundaries,
but it was impossible.
Various decisions have been made at
the land Office, at one time and another,
which have seriously affected US, the most
important of which, probably, was the one
declaring that the boundaries of an Indian
float must conform to government sur
veys.
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs
has recently made decision in regard to
the float laid upon the town site Of Law
renee, by which he has allowed it to be
located as follows:
In T. IL, R. 10 E., 9th prin. meridian
the S. E. u of S. E. sec. 25, &C
acres. In T. IL, R. 20 E-lot No. 2, in
S. W. d of fractional sec. 80, 37.05; loi
No. 8 in S. w. and 8. E. a frac. sec. 80
$3.50; N. w. fractional d of sec. 81
150.99; lot No. in N. E. fractional d
of sec. 81, 1885 lot No. 2 in N. E. frac'
tional u of sec. 81. 1850; S. W. ID o.
n. E. fractional quarter of sec. 81, 40
W. 4 of S. e. quarter of sec. 81, 80; S
w. frac. quarter of sec. 81, 1927. To.
tai, 62466 acres.
We are not sufficiently acquainted with
the boundaries to trace them on the city
plat. We understand. however, that i
throws out all the lands west of Louisani
street, save about 40 acres in the north.
west part of the town. South, the lines
are extended beyond the original limits
and East, along the river, it takes in thu
whole of John L. Speer's claim, while
large portion of the town in the south-eas
corner is left outside of the float Should
the Secretary of the Interior confirm thi
} decision, then the titles are perfected t,
} greater part Of the improved portion o
the town. The balance of the town sitt
} will in that case be entered by the city
incorporation for the benefit of claimants
so take the case in any shape we please
our titles can hardly be considered any
longer in dispute, and Lawrence is in {
condition which will enable her, hereaf
. ter, to hold out the greatest inducement!
) of any town in Kansas for capitalists te
settle among us.