New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-28

IoWs..'".'............... 2s,Sli.4S 6a,sOT.ss
4so.ss aos75,7ss
REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY CLAIMS AND THOSE
SERVICES IN The WAR OF 1872 WITH GREAT
BRITAIN.
The United States Revolutionary Bounty Land War
rants fled since last Ort covering ony oUO acres nave
been satisfied with scrip under the act OF 3Oh May,
1890
By the acts of 9th July 1892 and Feb 8, 1854, the
resolve of 10th September, l776, OF the Continental
Congress, and the act Of Congress OF 9th May 1872
the former making provision for granting lands TO the
officers and soldiers of the Revolution, and the latter
for the non-commissoned officers and soldiers in the
war of 1872 continued in force to the Doth june
1853 Since that date outstanding warrants OF either
class can be satisfied.
We have now on the files Of this Office "A warrants
covering 200 acres for services IN the war OF lSl2
u1my ailable the parties without further Legislation
Relief would be afforded to both classes Of claimants
by the revival of the aforesaid act of 1854 and its ex
tension to cover existing applications and en-
brace reasonable prospective period for the s'ulng
and location of warrants Under the PROVISIONS OF the
the Virginia Military District of Ohio surUeys may be
made and returned for pateDtlng to the General Land
Office up the Sd March 1857 for any sntr5 or loca-
ton of warrant made prior to lst January, loo2 but
even though the entry has been properly made in tme
no surrey thereof be made and returned after the
Sd March, 1857. There is reason for this lnterdc-
ton and therefore recommend that be removed by
law that parties justly entitled may obtain surveys
and patents for entries properly made.
There is residuum OF 40,OO0 acres owned by the
United States in this District consisting Of small ire
Rular parcels of land which if not donated for educa-
Sonal or other beneficial purposes, should be made
liable by law to tho location of Virginia Military
rar ts that who instead of exchanging their
warrants for scrip, may prefer particular localities in
the aforesaid District may be allowed in this way to
satisfy their claims.
By the act of Congress Of 3lst August, 1852, for
" the satisfaction of Virginia land warrants" it is
declared that all unsatsfed outstanding military
" land warrants, or parts OF warrants issued or allowed
prior to the LIST day of March, 1882 by the proper
" authorities of the Commonwealth Of Virginia for
military services performed by the officers, soldiers
&c. may be surrendered to the Secretary of the In
terror who when satisfied they have been fairly and
Justly Issued pursuance OF the laws OF said Common
wealth, shall issue scrip for the same.
Under the Attorney Generals opinion OF 3Oth May,
1867 and his two opinions of the 2Sth OF june 1852
sanctioned by the Secretary Of the INTERIOR stall claims
and unmpeaehed claims OF resigned officers,
allowed by the authorities of Virginia, convertible
into scrip, and authorize the Communication of warrants
of ths class, covering 81 ,943 acres.
But in bis opinion No. q dated 18th June, 1859, the
law does not sanction the Communication Of warrants
issued after LIST March, 1882 view OF the restrictive
words in the statne issued allowed prior TO lss
March, 1852"
warrants now before the Department, which, upon the
plain construction of the statute, nOn-converble
Firsf: class Of cases where allow ances had been
made prior March l. 1852, by the authorities OF Vlr
klnA, ana Llcn uuiJ sdLlsH6u DJ Uub III
which, aterthat date, the Register chose to open the
case and issue and additional ,nts upon the
ground that in bs opinion the acts OF his predecessor
had not given an adequate quota, although 6y such
act the claim had been adjudged and disposed OF.
The warrants of this character, covering 1894
acres are prohibited by the letter and spirit of the
law and rejected entirely destitute Of merit, and
others outstanding in the same category.
Second: But there is another class Of cases of a
very Deritorous character, in which claims had boon
duly preferred to- and actually allowed by the Virginia
authorities prior ~ March i, 1852, which for sub
santial services, untainted by fraud or perjury
and for which warrants from different causes, had not
been taken out by the claimants, covering 42,02lI
acres.
Although the words Of the statute according to the
opinion aforeead interdct their eonvertbility yet
t6ey have very strange equities legislation is recon-
mended, authorizing them to be satisfied, also any
other which may hereafter be filed OF similar char
acter
From the commencement Of operations under the
scrip of 1882 September 30 1852 there has been
Issued scrip 10 the amount of S05, ga acres.
The aggregate of all scrip claims of every de-
scrption, now pending before this office, 2Oi ,g%3
acfes
1t is estimated that, in addition 10 this quantity,
there will be 9j coo to be satisfied account Of
=" lands lost by interference in Kentucky and Ohio
duplicate warrants, and balances due upon claims filed
under of March 3, 1885, which have been satisfied
Only TO the extent of ninety per cent.
The extensive grants for railroad purposes to eight
States of the Union have claimed and received large
snare OF ine atlenuOn OF Lne DepLm heretofore,
and during the past year.
The adjustment OF the grant TO the State Of Iowa
for the roads contemplated by the act of May 5 1856
is nearly completed. twenty-five isti have been GER
tilted OF the lands enuriny 10 the State to aid in con-
strucng those roads embracing 3 43I 541 acres The
following exhibits the quantities actually certified 10
the State for the several roads:
IovG- emile limits l5-rnile Ems Total.
Dubuque and Pacific 4. R.. 1898 6E,555 LllT4sl
lows Central Air Line r. R.. 24s,7e9 4l6gT ssSGS
Mississippi and Nj souri 4. e. las,sss 228,08 3870o
Bur. and Missouri River R.R- 1916 li0,5l5 23o,gT3
Aazteg-te's 43l1
List Of all the lands free from interference enuring
TO Alabama, for the benefit Of the Alabama and Flor
ida Railroad, under the act Of May H. 1856 have been
approved for the State, embracing an aggregate of
39l ,5l3 acres.
Under the act Of 81 June, 1856, maps of the routes
OF 1--we roads, showing a length of 1851 miles,
have been fled and accepted, and their routes
and lateral limits laid down on tbs official
plats: For one of these, viz: The Alabama
ard Tennessee River Raioad seven lists, embracing
~, ,3I6 acre., have been certified to the State;
for the others the preliminary lists are in progress.
In regard TO two of the roads under ths act and hose
mentioned IN the grants of Aug. H. 1856, and March g.
1857 no returns designating actual locations OF the
same have yet been received.
The Atsustmest Of The grant By act Of May ". 1855.