The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-01-14

HSNMS w hAelsk III tN-SSt A-YDTA% Duk W%WM HUW
sutfricd that sItl,ouh e. Rel tser d Me State
Lad Office an his& deputy have ajreaty - heavy
duties ~ they can well perform, this swamp land
business should be transacted in his Office under
the general supervision Of the Governor, and
that the Register should be authorized 10 employ
one or more competent persons ~ the necessi-
ties Of the case may require, whose time and L.
Dor should be given exclusively 70 this branch of
the public service, aud whatever amount the
State should be required to pay the agent or
agents thus employed could and ought 70 be re-
funded To the treasury out Of the moneys obtain
ca from the General Government for swamp
lands sold. This would hasten the final close and
settlement Of this troublesome business which Is
very much desired by the counties interested,
and the commencement Of which thus fairly made
has cost the Executive Department Of the State
unremitting labor aud attention.
There is, however, another obstacle To the
completion OF this service which should not
omit to mention. The four land grant railroads.
in this State claim the right to impeach the
Swamp Land selections 50 far ~ they complied
with their grant, notwithstanding near three
years ago, these selection, whether their charac-
ter we're swamp or dry, were by special act of
Congress confirmed to the State. This right,
upon application, was conceded to these Cotnpa
MES by the Commissioner of the General Land
Office with the consent Of the Secretary Of the
Interior, without giving the State hearing upon
the question. Hence the Swamp Land selections
found upon odd sections, falling within the des-
cripiion and limits of the railroad (being fifteen
miles either side Of each line,) have not been
with other swamp lands, certified to the State.
On being informed of these facts ! proceeded
to Washington and made an earnest appeal 10 the
Secretary Of the Interior for reversal of this de-
olson. for reasons which were named, but he de-
n ~
require the railroad companies to designate at
once the tracts claimed to be dry, and to submit
proof that should be equivalent to the evidence
furnished that they have swamp lands, other
wise they shall be certified to the State, and TO
this effect did he also instructive Commission
Still ! have heard OF no such designations--the
lands still remain uncettifed to the State.
have been unable to learn from the Commission
er what course he intends 70 pursue in reference
to the instruction of the Secretary Of the Interi-
or. And the question recurs where IL this mat
ter to end III the contest goes on, ii must ne
cessarily be prciracted and expensive to the peo-
pie Of the counties, whilst it will prove in the
end detrimental to the railroad companies them
selves. II il obviously their interest to propiti-
ate the favor rather than the hostility Of the peo-
pie, in pushing forward their several enterprises
The counties deeply feel the want Of railroads,
and many OF them would be willing to give or
subscribe their swamp lands to 20 desirable an OBJ
jet, but they are not thus willing to be depriv-
ed OF them, without their consent, or subjected
to the other alternative of proving them up
second time at great cost and trouble. The rail |
road grants were made to the State in trust for |
certain railroad companies. The State, a. I |
real the act, has already made declaration Of |
this trust in favor of the companies in question
subject, however, to the conditions and restrict |
ions contained in the act of Congress granting !
them One OF these conditions il, that the lands |
shall only be sold a. the constructions Of the |
roads progress, that is, after one hundred and
twenty sections have been sold another like guam
tity shall not be sold until the Governor az the
State shall certify to the Secretary Of the Inter
or that twenty continuous miles of said road |
have beea completed. Now. in order to put an |
End TO the unhappy controversy, which has been |
the source Of SO much complaint TO the State. | |
cannot but feel that it is my duty to recommend
The adoption Of joint resolution BY your bodies
nstructing the Goyernoe to sign no more ceF;if- |
Gates of the description spoken Of to any Of said
until they shall file in bis Office |
written REIMBURSEMENT OF their supposed right |
% contest the swamp land selections that NAV
all within the limits Of their grants, and con |
cent on their part that the Commissioner Of the |
General Land Office may proceed to patent them |
o the State as any other swamp lands. &c.
STATE PRISON.
This institution merits distinct notice. The
acts and suggestions contained in the reports Of /
he Board OF Inspectors and Warden should at
ract your special considerations Since the last L
'enerai Assembly, some eighty-tive have been
dded 10 the number of cunyicts On account
i this unexampled increase, the appropri ition
made Tor the general support Of the Prison pro
ed wholly inadequate. 1t did not hold out
gar. Inc price OF provisions kept up, and be-
and 4. /
ouid not be obtained on so long credit except
pom terms at once exhorbitant and inadrnissi-
e. An attempt on tue part.cf the inspectors to
liect loan OF maney for this purpose proved
unsuccessful. was forced to the necessity of
peiiihS the prison doors or furnishing the roui-
te supply. The latter alternative was adopted.
VI only accomplished through the co-operatiop
nd indulgence Of the Auditor and Treasurer of
ie state, Who permitted mo to take SOME six or
''sn thousand collars Of the revenue whilst in
aits8a from the county collectors TO the State !
feasury, upon my personal receipt 1t viii be
scessaiy Tor you to legalize this transaction / I
'prehend, and have the Treasury credited witb
= requisite amount, and this work NAV be dnne I
hereby oversight or misgalcuation the anpro !
iatioh mas iaiied TO meet an emergency OF this !
scflpuon. ! submit whether it would not he Q
~ 20 authorize the Census Board or some 9TH 9
agency OF power to supply the deficiency until =
sitting OF the ensuing General Assembly. / r
Siet " make known the fact that there has 7
en- some misunderstanding and disagreement q
lohg the officers of this institution and between \
en- ana Prison contractors which led to much 9
ita'ion, complaint and finally litigation Ii l. y
necessary Tor me to express my OPINION unon p
character OF these difficulties with view Of p
tefInimng where the blame les But il does W
pear to me that II the Warden was not de- b.
M ~ upon the Board Of Inspectors for the u
~ OF fis office, and the duties and powers Of
- were clearly defined by law, il would serve
eheek abuses, and tend to secure both hsrina- a
and independence Of aetian III
representations made to me last Nav touch. is
the discipline and condition of the Prison q
cunts, and OF abuses in the financial MANAGE ft
ny OF the same, satisfied me that the interests =
iiaiHied an investigation, with d view ar III u
tanning the condition of the one: and the man II
and system observedin conducting the other b
accordingly commissioned Thomas :. Esny IN
Deft ,. russell and Ii. q. Jennison, TO make "
examination OF the aftairs OF this Institution di
report y contemplated and required by An az
= alailofi1e me dovernor to appoint Com at
'siohers TO examine the accounts Of State az M
~ and define the duties Of the Governor ii.
tam cases The very thorough and satistac.
report made by these commissioners N snh III
teu % you, and should be considered in ron III
tion with that Of the Board Of inspectors "a
on VIII not fail to perceive from curafuI n. III
ction q their report that the affairs OF the IN. La
utioh nave been conducted careIessly ana s,
hout system. That the books Of aesonnt i,
= IN confused condition and could not ia Il. an
ed-that q, roo had been traced al i denosit ID
ne lands Of bankers and had been lost Holt v,
oy me officers, and would in all probability RI
lost TO the State but for this investigation 81 III
ih 81 this irregularity ami eontusicn n tbe | u,
cunts, undoubtedly is attributable "a Nm -
81 an incompetent book-keepcr-xhieh fu
1onstrates the Importance Of having 4 profas. @,
~ accountant to keep the books III an inst vi
ION Mherc large sums of money are to IA d;s. m
SEQ Tor various purposes under distinct on,,rr- w
atoms "PPiu- !.
. the report Of the commissioners i. amen, Il
general balance sheet, obtained oniy IN :. hi
Fnalizng the books, and correcting ,he error an
! supplying the omissions, and which come of
~ from the commencement az our Statr IN. di
'xa,ion 20 the lst Of june 1859, exhIbiting
following result:
@ DIR. - m
!. los, Gal 80 nc
is'fuetion.- -...g.. S69,Oi5 50 lie
leFM support. 35a7g t,3 | ar