The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-16

COMPANY. NO such release has been Civ
y en-, nor hare any further lands been cer.i.
Is ted to said Company,
! There Is another conflict of title, be-
. tween the Des Moines Navigation Com
: Pany, claiming as grantee of the State.
+ and the Railroad Companies touching
which the Report of the Register will
9 afford you much valuable information
Il is very desirable that these conflicts
: should be settled, because 20 long az the
remain unsettled, the uncertainty of the
a title will prevent purchasers from either
OF the contesting parties, and the lands
. Will remain vacant.
The joint resolution of Congress. of
> date March Sd, 1861, and the Act of
Congress, Of date july l2th. 1862. con-
corning these lands have. IN my iudg-
ment, put il In the power Of the State TO
: DO something towards an anniacable and
, equitable adjustment Of this difficulty. and
| recommend that an effort be made to
J that enc. / further recommend that. If
such effort shall fail, the Attorney Cen
eral Of the State be directed to bling, or
cause to be brought, in the Courts Of the
| United States, ii il may be done, such
suit or suits as will procure from the SUI
| preme Court of the United States a final
decision of these yexed questions.
THE SWAMP LAND GRANT.
recommend the modification Of the
law approved April 9Th, 1862, providing
for the appointment OF agents in regard
to these lands, SO as to allow the appoint
ment of but single agent ON the part of
the State, and to prohibit the appointment
OF special agents by counties. / am we'll
satisfied that a single agent, appointed
by the State, will be able to effect more
towards speedy settlement of the Swamp
Land business o. toe State, at Washing
ton, than larger number will do
| The same reasons which render desir-
able the settlement of the conflicting
claims Of the Railroad Companies, and
the grantees Of the State, to portions of
the Des Moines River Grant, apply with
equal force to the conflict of title that has
arisen between certain counties and the
Railroad Companies as TO PORTIONS Of the
Swamp Lands. ] invite your careful ex-
animation OF the question, whether you
can do anything to bring about settle
ment OF these conflicting elaims.
The Swamp Lands ATE granted to the
State upon the condition, Z that the pro-
ceeds of said lands, whether from sale or
direct APPROPRIATION, in kind, shall be APP
piled, exclusively, as far as necessary, to
the purpose OF re-elaiming such lands,
By means of the leyces aud drains afore-
said" The State by accepting this Grant,
covenanted to perform this condition,
either directly, or BY those to whom she
granted the lands; and this obligation
still remains, and must continue TO re-
main until it shall have been done |
recommend careful examination Of the
legislation already had in regard to these
lands, Tor the purpose of ascertaining if
this point has been sufficiently secured,
and supplying additional legislation,
should it be found necessary.
| invite yonr special attention to that
portion OF the Report Of the Register
relating to the decision Of the Secretary
Of the Interior, changing the form and
substance Of the proof required, of the
swampy character Of the lands sold by
the United States, after the date Of the
| Swamp Land Grant. for which the Uni
ted States are to indemnify the State. and
the decision of that officer, cutting off all
claims for indemnity in counties VIII r.
the Swamp Land selections were made
after the Sd Of March, 1857; and | rec
ommend that you take the action sug-
gested by the Register on these points.
There can be no good reason why the
claims Of Iowa, under this Grant, shall
not be settled upon as liberal terms as the
claims Of other States: and il, b. want Of
county organizations in portion OF our
State, the proper steps were not taken TO
secure these lands, in those counties,
| within the time limited by law, | have no
doubt that Congress will, upon proper
presentation of the facts, extend the time
SO that it may yet be done.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE GRANT
| Under the Act Of Congress, approved
July I'd, l862. granting lands to the
States and Territories which may provide
Colleges for The beneft of agriculture and
the mechanic arts. this State 10 entitled
to receive 100000 acres of land, upon
the conditions contained in said Act.
These lands have been selected, and the
selections are now being examined ~
Washington.
Among the conditions contained in the
act making the grant, are the following
that "no portion of said fund, (meaning
the proceeds Of the sales Of the land grant
ed, nor the interest thereon shall be
applied, directly or indirectly, under any
pretense whatever, to the purchase, cree
ton, preservation or repair Of any build
ing or buildings and that "any State
which may take and claim the benefit Of
this Act, shall provide, within five years,
at least, no, less than one College, as de-
scri bed in the fourth section Of this Act,
or the grant 10 such State shall cease, and
said State shall be bound to pay to the
: United States the amount received for
any lands previously seld, sud that the
title to purchasers. under the State, shall
be valid
The foueth section Of the Act provides,
} that all the proceeds Of the lands granted,
8 (axeent one.tentb of the amount, which