The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-01-22

transportation to New York in proportion to its val
Il much less than that of our pres ent staples
: great drawback upon the growing of wool is tn
large numbers of sheep annually killed by dos
therefore recommch d that tax be levied on ali, do
IN the state, and that proceeds of the tax be apple
paying to owners sheep killed by dogs the val,
, OF the sheep thus killed. / would go further Tbs
.ns- would exempt from taxation for period of fl
. an sheep not exceeding fifty, owned by any re
ioeht OF the state, and would also exempt from tax
non LOT the same time all capital invest cd In the Sta
III IN manufacture of wooden goods.
> am well satisfied that the cultivation of flax ca
be successfully and profit ably Introduced in or
state 10 Is yaluablcnot only for the seed but for IL
INT, which under cwprocess is converted into viii;
Is called tlax cotton. ain we'll assured that befo,
the commencement of tho rebellion a remunerst ;v
price could be paid in state for the flax stro
which has heretofore been an entire loss TO the ta
mer, the fibre separated from the wood and the to-
transported to Boston and manufactured into in
cotton which could fairly compete in price and use
,une's with the cotton OF the southern states In o,
der 10 stimulate our people to examine the question
carefully, and 1T possible introduce among us q ne,
ana profitable branch of industry, 1 recommend tina
au capital invested in the manufacture of linseed OF
or the conversion of flax straw nto lax cotton be ex
empted from taxation for five years.
III our industry were more diversified we woul sui
r ess from fluctuations of prices of particular arti
cies, ana II as necessity requires and opportunity
fers We become man as we'll as producers
we VIII increase our wealth and indepcn dencc.
The report of the secretary of tho agrcultur col
lege shows the action of the board of trustc sine
your last session. would gladly recommend liberia
appropriations for the erection of the necessary col
icSc anu othcr Dullungs II the condition of fpan
ces would allow, but cannot now do so. The build
ings and farm are in such condition that failure t.
make appropriations will not necessarily work njur,
to them. The only unfayorable result will be DELAY
and to that we must submit until our national diff
cultes are removed. l heartily approve of the polio,
adopted by the trustees of rcservng the lands dona
ca py the 81 ate and by individuals, and the bonds
story county to cndow the tiSn to the
herality of the state and individuals i'm NOR, pros
porous times for the erection OF the Necessary build
| ings. = -
LAM GRANT
Tt. report of the register Of the state land Office
shows the condition OF the aroAs grants of land
by the Congress of the United States to this state
Very serious and embarrassing questions have aris-
en- from the conflicting interests and claims of som q
the land grant railroad companies aud the Des Mones
navigation and railroad company. There have been
much VaScillaon and conflict OF opinion and action
among the heads of the department. of the nation in
regard to the extent the Des Moncs land
dat grant nus been held by one secretary to extend
only to the forks OF the river at Des Moines city by
another to the sources ofte river in Minnesota and
by another TO extend to the north BOUNDARY OF orr
state One or more of the secretaries certified the
state as part OF the river within the limits Of the state
and the state subsequently, sold and conveyed apy
of these lands to individuals Aftcrward the 1t on
traeteu with the pes Moines navigation and railroad
company 10 prosecute the work of improving the Des
Moines river, agreeing to convey to said company the
le OF the state to portions of the lands certified To
the state Tor That purpose, rapidly the work pro.
gresseu UDder this arrangement the title the stat
to many OF these lands conveyed to the Des ones
| navigation and railroad company. Subsequently, bv
| Navigation
road company the state conveyed to said copau the
title Of the state to the remainder the lands which
had been certified to the state by secretary of the
Interior, and at the same time conveyed to the Keo-
! kuk. Fl. Des Moines Il Minnesota railroad COMPANY
IS it'll to all the lands Of said grant which had not
been certified to the state by the secretary of the
ror, except $4,000 acres reserved for certain
The Dcs MONIES navigation and railroad COMPANY have
conveyed to individuals large bodies OF the lands thus
conveyed to them The lines three ofthe grant
railroads the Dubuque Sioux City. the Cedar Rap
IDS X thn Ntssts nj;
the Des Moines river above it's forks and hence arises
conflict between these companies and their grantees
and the grantees and the state who hold portions Of
those lands az part OF the original Dcs Niones river
grant. These railroad claim that the Des Moines r;v
or grant never extended above the forks of the at
Des MONIES. and that consequently all convey ances
made by the state of lands above that pont MS . as
Noincs river grants are valid, and that by virtue of
the railroad land grant they acquired title To ali
such lands ying within the limits Of their respective
grants.
The state having only convc;cd what title II had IN
these Lands may not be legally liable to make good anv
loss that may result to Others from failure of that
title but certainly is morally bound at tn. least To
do what raay be reasonably and fairly done to rr,oct
the rights and interests OF those threatened with nh
loss When the state granted to the railroad comma
MES the lands granted to the state by Congress or
railroad purposes 1t was not contemplated by the mar
ties, cert ainly it was not contemplated by tho STATE
that was granting to these companies land preyiou
y conveyed by the state to Others and IL since th
making of these grants the companies who are to re
ceve the benefit of them have dscoy cred that bv
legal construction they entitled more than was
contemplated, either by themselves or by the st ate
and disposed to enforce strictly these legal rights
to the injury of innocent purchasers from the state
the state may, and think should hold these comma
MES to n strict compliance with the terms Of granite
made to them. II these companies are now in do
fault, and ask the indulgence and elemency of the
State. it seems to me the State may very properlv
before extending such indulgence and cenency these
companies will extend to the unfortunate holders NJ
these lands and make for the one with the otbar
such terms and conditions as may be equitable and
Just to all. ...s.
In selecting the laws for the 500 900 acre Grant so
called, by some mistake the agents of the stats az.
lected and the officers of the General Government
certified to the State several thousand acres more
than were covered by the terms OF the grant This
mistake being discovered. application was made t NV
immediate predecessor by the Commissioners of the
u s. General Land Cice to convey to the II 8 tla
excess of land. Upon Summation it was found that
part of the land had been already sold and cony.yna
by the state, so that all could not be re-conveyei
Under those circumstances il was agreed between Gov
Lowe and the Commissioner OF the General Land or
flee that the ungold portion OF this cess of land
should be re-conveycd, and that the u s. should re-
tain OF the per cent fund coming to this state
cpough TO pay for such of said lands could not he
re conveyed by reason of Their sale, the rate Of
S',2b PER acre Unfortunately, at the time this agree
ment made, the then unsod portion of the lands
was not withdrawn from market, and since then still
other portions have tcea sold. Gov. Lowe bv J.,tar
relna used the title OF the State ia these lands hnt
quite recently the commissioner Of the General Ton1
Office has applied TO me for formal decd of convey
ancc. at once caused the remaining uns old nort;o,
and NIL
ut once have feconveyed them but have serious doubt
whether the Executive Cap without Your authority
dyest the State OF title to land which has been opca
vested in the state whether by mitakc otherwise
rccomaend that authority be conferred to settle
and adjust this matter the terms proposed by Coy
Lowe, and also to reconv TO the q. s. any portion
of said excess of lands yet remaining unsold
The swamp land grant is being slowly adm with
the General Land Office at Washington City BY the
terms OF the law making this grant this state will be
entitled to receive from the u. S. in lieu of swami
wi md
scrip emitting the state to locate "quantity Of like
amount upon any OF the public lands subject to en-
try at 81. rs per acre or less.''
The Commissioner of the U. s. General Land OfHc.
construed tins law as to require the State to select
the lands to which it hiay be entitled thereunder |
from the lands of the u ST. subject to entry at a. o.
IN acre, lying within this State The law win NOT in
my opinion, bear this construction, and am endeay
orng to have it set aside, to allow the selection
Of the lands t. which he State may be entitled to bc
made in this any other State or Territory where
pubic lands may be found subject to entry, at ST. rs
per acre. E
1t Will be necessary that an Agent or AGENTS bo ~,
pointed to make these selections. and you should |
make some provision TOR such appointment The
ands thus to be selected will, by the laws Of this
tatc belong to the counties within which the lands
II lieu OF which they may be selected were originally
ocated. The o. 3. however recognize only the State
$ the recipient Of the grant and will probably rccor
ze only the Agent or Agents of the State in mokinr
hcse selections but the benefits of the selections
nurc to the counties, it would be just aud proper
hat the counties should bear refund to the State
he expense Of tho agency. |
have thus endeavored to place before you the con-
iton OF the state, so tar. in nay judgment, your
ction Is needed for les Improvement. Your wisdom |
I'LL doubtless discover some, perhaps many particu.
irs in which lcgislat ion will be necessary, that have
cen overlooked by me.
The year which has just closed has brought to our
eople new experience, trials, responsible
es, ana new duties. Let us continue to meet them
S we have thus far met them, with neither an over.
ecninS confidence in and reliance upon our strength
or unmaniy fear for ourselves or of the
ardshics We may endure before we win by deserving
access, but with patience, calmncss unt1inching
ourage, and an abiding faith in God.
SAMUEL J. HARDWOOD.