The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-16

years ago, principally In large tracts
some containing fifty thousand acres
Quite a number Of these land owner
failed to keep their taxes paid, and the
land was patented BY others, az Also a
great part Of these large surveys were
settled BY squatters who imagined because
they had settled on the land Il belonged
TO them, and do not know really but
what they had the best right 10 1t. After
some time to make matters worse o lew
OF those who owned these large surveys
were granted the privilege Of paying their
back tax, thus perfecting their titles and
giving them the oldest right, and BY
these processes some times there would
DC three claimants Tor the same land.
believe, as q general thing, the large land
owners did their part concerning these
difficulties, and II tho other parties had
done theirs Wetzel County would have
been as far advanced In material wealth
as her sister counties, II not farther
Some Of these land owners offered their
land for twenty-five cents per acre, and
while thousands Of acres could have been
purchased for that pititul sum, those who
were on the land weredoing all In their
power to prevent proper investigation, by
o6literHting corners, frightening agents
who were sent 10 compromise, and driv-
Ing away surveyors. Notwithstanding
all their trouble, q great many Lost their
land and had 10 repurchase when the
land was worth something.
A MISSING WALNUT TREE. es
To show their Jolly in this matter, o
certain line called Tor walnut tree, The
finding OF which would have settled sew
eral disputed points; and while this tree
waSkn0wn TO a great many Of the citizens,
none OF the exploring parties sent out by
the land owners could find 1t. Now i
would have been better for the settlers 10
have shown the tree and also given every
other legal advantage, for they lost the
land anyhow.
Some of the settlers compromised with
tho land owners and got their land for
little or nothing.
A swINDL1NG CHAIN CARRIER,
One who agreed to compromise was
notified 10 furnish q chain carrier to helm
survey 100 acres OF compromise prices
Said he, II did not know any one who
would suit me for that business 80 l con. |
cluded to furnish myself. 30 on the day |
appointed we started around the tract, I |
having. the rear end Of the chain. II
would lot the front chain carrier 20 till |
hls patience would be exhausted before l |
would tell him 10 stick, and in that way
l got 2GO acres while the agent was
along" Another man wanted so acres
70 square up his farm, and the agent asked
him five dollars an acre, thinking that
chase.
Several days after that occurred the
agent informed the man that according to
their surveys he had fifty acres which be.
longed TO them, and II he would not give
possession or compromise they would
nave to bring suit. Tho agent also inform.
ed him that he could get the land Of the
compromise price, ona dollar per acre.
The man asked the agent II he could have
The fifty acres he had wanted to purchase
At the compromise price? "Yes, said the
agent, five hundred acres il you want
hem" SO he saved his own land and
got the other fifty acres one hundred and
1tty dollars cheaper Ibesides escaping q
aw suit that might have cost him thous-
lnds.
But these old troubles have all been
lettled, or nearly SO, and it will not DO
olg till our county will present a differ
INT appearance. ( \
would like to write Of our present i'm.
'rovement and pressing necessities, but
will reserve them for future letter.
V.D.M.