The Van Buren press., 1860-11-23

WsS COuSioctou 70 9s0f14ltsouS otu 1SUVt90ob
that each commissionsf was allowed asal-
ary Of two thousand dollars per annnm. |
besides contingent expenses.
By the reports Of the eommissioners. 1t |
appears that the whole amount Of levee and
ditch work constructed and paid for by their
orders, commencing IN the year 1851, and
ending in the year. 1856. embracing six
years. was 7.02S. .672 $4,000 cubic yards.
for the construction Of which the commits
sioners allowed and caused to be paid
81, ,435. .469 So. To the amount and cost
Of levee and ditch work constructed under
tho administration Of the commissioners.
add the amount and cost Of the levee aud
ditch work constructed under the direction
and csntrol Of the governor, and il will be
sosn thst the whole annount of levse and
ditsh work ever eoastxasted and paid for BY
the state. from the beginning of the work
in 1851, mp to the LIST day Of October,
1860. was thirteen millions. sixty-fonr
thousand. four hundred and sixty eight and
86-100 cubic yards; and that the whole
amount paid for the construction OF this
work was 82,538,957 q. The state has
no work under contract in the Helena dis
trict; and no new contracts can be made
for leves and ditch woak in that district. for
the reason that the pnsold land in the dis
trict. after satisfying the outstanding war;
rants and scrip, would not bs sufficient to
pay for snch works as are necessary in the
Helena district.
The estimated cost Of levee and ditch
work now under contract. and being con.
structed in the Batesvillc district, is $685.
972 81. 1t is believed that all this work
will be completed during the next twelve
months. For information in detail with
regard to the amount Of such work con-
struted in each district, you are respectfully
referred to the report Of the swamp land
secretary; and for information Of tine con-
firmed swamp and overaowel lands remain
ing unsold in each district. to the report Of
the auditor. As the swamp land interests
of the Stats of Arkansas have not yet been
fully adjusted at the general land Office Of
the United States. the amount OF money
and land to which this state will be enti.
tied, under the acts of Congress approved
March 81, 1855. and March Cd. 1857, in
lieu of swamp and overaowed lands dis
posed of by the United States, after they
had been granted to the State Of Arkansas
by the act of Congress of the 2Sth Septem-
ber. 1850, has not yet been ascertained.
Therefore. this state has not yet received
any money or land under either of the two
acts of Congress designated. Provision
by law shouli be made for obtaining from
the United States, the money. and for the
location of the lands during the next two
years. and also for the appropriation Of the
moneY and the disposition of the lands
when obtained under tho two acts Of Con-
gspSs referrol to.
1y the act of Congress of 18th March,
1850, the time within which this state N ust
complete the selections of swamp and over
| flowed lands granted to her by the act OF
2Sth Septem Der, 1850, has been limited
to two years from the adjournment Of the
present session of the General Assembly of
our State 1t is therefore recommended that
such legislation be had as is necessary to
insure the selection. within the limited time
OF all the remaining uncontirmel swamp
and overhowed lands, to which the state il
entitled. Under the present law, the select.
ing agents cannot be paid anything for theil
expenses or labor until after the authorities
of the United States shall have confirmed
to this state the lands selected by thcst
agents. Provision ought to be made tc
compensate the agents who rendered such
services to the state. and who have not YET
received any remuneration.
| Since the last session of the General
Assembly. the governor designated three
hundred and twenty acres of land. and
caused to be confirmed to the State of Ar.
kansas as an uncon6rmed portion of saline
land, which had remained due the state
under the compact between this state and
the United States.
Your attention is invited to the report O
the solicitor general Of the State Of Arkan
sas. dated Goth September. 1860, ON thu
subject Of five sections and nine-sixteenthl
Of q section of INDICATED seminary lant
sold by the governor in the year 1912. un
der "au act to authorize the governor t
dispose of the seminary lands" approved
December 25th, 1840. This act Of tn
General Assembly contemplated the loca
ton Of the INDICATED claims sold. in lega
subdivisions of not less than oss halt qnar
ter section. But the act of Congress o
March 2. 1927. prescribed that the seventy
two section of land granted by it for uni
versity, should be located in tracts Of NO
less than an entire section. eorrespondin,
with any legal division into which tn
public lands are authorized to be surveyed
The parties who purchased tho unlocate'
claims in the year 1e42. applied to tn
courts and. after many years OF litigation
succeeded in having the contracts annulled
and the state pcrpetually epjoined from tn
collection Of the purchase money. The fiv
sections and nine -sixteenths Of section Q
, indicated seminary land have therefore re
verted to the state. and amount to S,5S'
, acres yet to be located to complete the quan
tity Of seventy two sections granted ~ tn
, act Of Congress. approved March l, 1897
/ Your attention is respectfully invited to tn
suggestions OF the solicitor general in re
gard to the propriety Of applying to Con
} gress for the passage of an act to authori.
the location of these seminary lands IL
, ANAL subdivisions. . Id to autoraze the stat
. TO locate one hundred and sixty acres
! Hand TO couplete the quantity OF one thou
{ sand acrss granted to the late territory
: Arksnsas 81 the oct Of Congress Of 1Stl
Ju.e. 1882, for thssrectsoa OF eourt-hous
and ;ail at Little Rock bat Il appears tia
I the United Stasss had disposed Of ell th
! laad. % situated. except eight hundred an
a forty acrse, which leaves an unsstisfs
Z claim Of one hundred and sixty scrsss f.
/ which the State should b allowed sa s1ais
|, alsnt by the United States.
Yon, attention and considerntion Aro n