The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-10-21
Important Decision in the Land
ONCE
[From the Frankfort Yeoman. !

| the Land Omce, has made an important
decision, based upon an opiuon of the
Attorney General in regard to the entry
of vacant lands in this State. The lands
subject to entry lie chiefly 10 the moun~
tain counties, and have only a nominal
value, the portions fit for agriculture and
the best timbered and mineral lands
having long been taken up There still
remains, however, large amount Of Wild
lands subject to entry, which is being
steadily taken up at the minimum price
OF five cents per acre These lands were
originally eeded to the State Of Kentucky
by Virginia upon the formation of the
new State, aud in turn given to the re-
spective counties in which they lie, with
the right and power to dispose Of them
as provided by law, and to hold the pro-
ceeds in trust for county purposes. The
law which regulates their entry, approved
February 1lth, 1854, 2 Stanton, page
43D. provides in the 3rd section, as fol-
ANY person who wishes 10 approprt-
ate any vacant and unappropriated lands
may, on application % the County Court.
Of the county in which the same lies,
and paying such price as the court may
allow, not less than five dollars per hum
dred acres therefor, obtain an order Of
court authorizing Lin to enter and sur
vey any number of acres Of such land
in the county, not less than twenty FIVE
nor more than two hundred acres"
When the survey has been made and
properly certified to the Register Of the
Land Office, he issues a patent for the
land, which, being signed by the Cover
nor, vests the title in the patentee.
The construction Of this act has been
ever since its passage, simply to the effect
that no land warrant should Issue for
more than 200 acres without any restric-
ton as to the number Of warrants issua.
bic to the same person, and, under this
Interpretation Of the law, warrants to the
number of several hundred thousand
acres have been issued to the same par
ty. Since Major Grant came into Office,
one John II. Cheever, of New Y ork, has
filed certificates of entry and survey Of
two hundred thousand acres Of land in
Clay county, in lots of two hundred acres
each, and has applied for patents for the
same. The Register, however. inter
prets the thirl section quoted above to
entitle any one person to the entry of
but a single tract Of mot less than rwen-
ty FIVE nor more than two hundred acres -
In this decision he has been sustained
by the official opinion of the Attorney
General, to whom the question was sub
mitted, and has declined the issue Of
warrants. As number of persons are
engaged in the business Of entering and
and surveying these unapproprinted
lands, the decision has produced quite a
stir among the interested parties aud q
number have lately visited Frankfort in
regard to the subject. As a summary
method Of arriving at conclusive deci-
sion of the question, we learn that an
agreed case has been submitted to the
Court of Appeals. whose decision will
There Is stl teehng OF uneasness
In regard 20 the effect OF the fire at Chi
cago upon the business of the country.
Some have feared a general financial
panic as the result. Others have pre-
dicted general break up Of the insur-
ance companies throughout the country,
and many other dire effects
The disaster is fearful aud its imme-
diate results will be serious to a great
many persons all over the country. Not
only is the commerce Of the burned city
greatly crippled in fact for the nonee
DESTROYED but from Boston to New Or
leans. all over the country there are many
persons who have large investments IN
Chicago property, and whose losses will
be heavy. The insurance companies will
lose vast sums, and no doubt some of
them, especially the local companies,
will be forced to suspend.
M l., e. hn l..
culable. But we do not apprehend any
ruinous results upon the commerce OF
the country at large. The old and we'll
established insurance companies OF New
York and the East will be enabled to
meet their losses, though very heavy,
and thus to some extent mitigate the
calamity of property holders. Eight or
ten millions of dollars, assets OF compa-
nies which can not meet their losses IN
full. will also be distributed pro rata.
The creditors of the merchants and bu-
siness men will grant indulgence, and
few months of time will make all well.
The city of Chicago is not destroyed.
Her business houses are burned, and her
citizens are great sufferers, temporarily;
but the elements of greatness still inhere
in her. The causes which brought her
forth as if by magic few years since,
exist still, and have been greatly intensl-
fed. Whereas it took ten years to build
up that portion of the city which Is to-
day mass of ruins, twelve months from
this day will scarcely see lot vacant
within the district. The SHOWS and
winds of that northern region will not
be able to bind with ice chain the
Phoenix. Already We have word that
the work of reconstruction has begun,
aud as fast as bricks and lumber can be
supplied the workmen viii shape them
into buildings, to take the place Of those
destroyed by the frefend.
The lavish charity Of continent. in
fact, of two continents-for the cable
brings the gratifying intelligence that
they are sending help from beyond the
Atlantic-will go very far toward rehev-
ing the sufferings of the unfortunate. .
This confagration, though a great
calamity, will prove also great blessing.
1t furnishes an opportunity for the dis
play of the better phases Of human ua-
ture. 1t proves that man Is not the sell
fish. sordid, unfeeling creature We so
i often write him. 1t demonstrates that
bankers ana bIohetsi auu HSi 80
laborers have other purposes-than to
make money; that they can be touched
! by others woe, and, IN seasons OF calam-
ify, can and do exhibit somewhat of the
image of Divinity The alacrity and
Iiberality with which all classes of peo-
pIe in all sections of our country, and OF
! foreign countries, have displayed 10 the
matter of furnishing food and raiment
and homes for the victims of this mis-