Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-29

The Public Land Case Finally settled
Department Clerks-Reform school
Land Once investigation.

Land Once Investigation.
The Governor and Council and Hon. Noah
Woods, Superintendent of European & North
American Railroad Company, on Saturday.
made a anal and amcabe settlement tf
all the disputed questions between the
State and that road in relation to the title to pub
lie lands on substantially the basis proposed by the
State, and which we have heretofore published.
The company waive all claim to any and all of the
disputed land, except few scattered lots known
as Massachusetts lots which are surrendered to
the company. The company are to retain the
$1,000 stumpage collected by them on disputed
lands, and the State to have all sumpage paid the
| Land Agent or now due on these lands-the State
paying the company a small amount paid out by
them for bills of scalers This settlement gives the
State substantially all originally claimed by the
State authorities, amounting to about $4,000 acres
of land, and finally dsposes of a controversy which
has for several years nterfered with the DISPOSE
ton Of the public lands.
The committee of the council to inquire into the
various needs of the several departments to the
matter Of clerks, reported that the Secretary of
State employ, in addition to the Deputy Secreta-
ry Of State, two clerks-onc at salary not ex-
ceedng $1,000 per year, and the other at a salary
not exceeding $1,000 per year; and that he employ
the Messenger to the Governor and Council the
time he is not in the employ of the Governor and
Council; salary Of 500 per month to be paid.
The State Treasurer to employ a clerk in addition
to the office force he has, at a salary of $1,000
per annum. Land Agent to employ clerk until
otherwise ordered, at 500 per month. Adjutant
Coz tn fba 10 no has
Supt. of Common Schools to continue the clerk
he is now allowed; the Supt. of Public Buildings
to employ the usual force. The State Librarian
not authorized to employ clerk.
The report the committee was accepted by
the Council.
The Trustees of the Reform School have been
authorized TO purchase for the use of the nstitu-
ton, three acres Of land, adjoining the school in
the rear, at $500 per Ike land is to be used
as play ground for the boys instead of the mud
hole in which they are now compelled to wallow.
II cost the Stale 204 Tor the arrest by Detective
Workman of the supposed robbers of the county
treasury in Portland.
There having been reports Of errors in the state
ments made by the Land Agent Of moneys receiv-
| ed, the matter placed in the hands of Hon.
the following report, which has been accepted
The undersigned, a member of the standing
committee on accounts to whom was referred the
accounts of Hon. Parker ?. Burlegh Land Agent
has the honor to report, that have examined the
books Of account and the report of the Land Agent
for 1873, with special reference to certain correct
ing entries made in said books during that year
find that the entries were made for the purpose
of rectifylng certain errors which had arisen in
former years from transportation of the loca.
ton OF lands which had been set apart by authori
ty of acts ofthe legislature for the benefit of the
permanent school fund. The records of the Land
office relating to these lands had been much con-
fused prior TO the year 1869, and by reason Of the
loss OF certain part of said records the proceeds
of the sale of certain portions of them and of the
timber certain other portions of them has been
paid into the State treasury for the general Of
the State
In other monies received for sales of prop
erty not legally belonging to said school fund, had
been. through the same means, diverted from
cash" account proper, to the benefit CT said
school fund. find the entries correcting these er-
rors distinctly marked in the margin to attract at
tention and with proper reference to the original
errors in the books. | have made a careful and
critical examination of each of these entries in
detail and they all correctly made, each one
being carefully explained in itself: and they COM
pletely restore the accounts to their true and
proper condition. The financial portion of the
| report for the year 1873, is made in accordance
with correct principles, with scrupulous honesty,
| IN strict conformity with the facts represented
by the books of account, and with great de-
gree of clcarncss the somewhat complicated
circumstances of the case admit
CHARLES BUFFUM.
The Council adjourned Saturday forenoon, TO
meet again on the Goth of April.