The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-19
THE SEA ISLAND LANDS.
The Difficulties In. the way of their Re-
demption by thoir former Owners.

demption by their former Owners.
From the Beaufort Republican,
On Saturday last, the 7th of December, the
time expired In which army and navy purcha.
sers of lands from the United States tax COM
missloners could pay the balance due and &C.
ouire title. There were very few, compare
lively, who avalled themselves of the prlvi-
lege, and consequently q very large amount
of property Is now open to redemption by
the former owners. They may now take their
property by proving title and paying the taxes
and interest.
It would seem almost certain, then, that the
Interest of the government on these Islands
would soon be reduced to the ownership Of
the cemetery, a few tracts for army and navy
purposes aud lighthouse sites. But the diff
cultIes In the way OF this most desirable event
are many. By = mixture of imbecillty and
design, the tax commissioners succeeded In
80 compllcatlng matters that 1t will be impos.
slble for the government TO get entirely rid Of
the property except by q sale. Plantations
have been 80 cut up by the arbitrary system Of
surveying, suitable only to Western wild
lands, sold out here a piece and there a bit,
that the former owner will hesitate before
even paying taxes on what Ia lett to them.
In no instance is q plantation entire; In hun
dreds of cases there are bits of land OF frac-
tional parts OF an acre unsold, surrounded by
ten.acre lots In the possession of purchasers.
In the Town of Beaufort things are not quite
30 bad, although here too Brisbane surveying
has produced difficulties. There are some
valuable lots now open TO redemption by the
former owners. OF the one hundred and
sixty.eight blocks and lots Into which the
town is divided probably oAe.half are open to
redemption.
The school farm reservations never having
passed out OF the possession OF the govern
| ment are not subject to redemption by their
z-.o, Tbaoa trooI uor In oira frNnn afOhfu
| to one hundred and sixty acres. Some OF
/ them contain the plantation houses, and are
| mainly cleared, arabic lands. OF the number
| the Frank Pritohard place and Webb place are
| on st. Helena; the Bythewood, Orange Grove
or Pope Grove, Joseph Chaplin, Springfield,
| johnson near Pleasant Point, and Ben Capers
places are on Lady's Island; the Cottage, Oak
Mulllgan, Middleton Stuart, Grey's Hill, Halt
Way House, Swamp, Laurel Bay, and Little
| Baynard places are on Port Royal Island; and
| one place on Parls's Island.
All lands on Hilton Head, except possibly q
| few tracts for army, navy an. lighthouse pur-
poses; all on Dawfuskle and Bull Island are
| open TO redemption.
We shall, from time to time, furnish our
readers with every item of Information. OBJ.
tainabie IDOL this subject. A certain degree
| of reticence is made incumbent by regulations
upon Mr.. G. q. Wright, the agent oil the
United States In this matter, but we are as
sured that all proper Information Will be given
In the future, as 10 the past.
The same paper, In another column, says:
snow that the State Is solicited for aid In re-.
building Charleston, we think similar aid
oughtto be granted TO those who are just now
permitted to redeem their lands from the
United States. No people In the South have
suffered by THE war In the same proportion as
the former owners OF these Islands. Many lost
all their property; all were exlles for years
ana the lew who are now granted the poor
privilege OF redemption find their property &c
destroyed as to be almost valueless. The
State ought to remit their taxes for ter
years."