The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-11-17
STATUS OF THE HOUMAs LAND
CLAIM,


mas land claim, written for the col
umns of the Ascension Drapeau in
1868, and a brief statement of sub
sequent events connected with the
subject will serve to make the nara
tive complete up to the present time,
furnishing reliable and valuable in
| formation to those interested parties
who read our paper, and who have
not heretofore been familiar with this
vexed, long pending dispute ip all its
ramifcations.
On the 9th of August last the fol-
lowing statement was telegraphed
from Washington by the special cor
respondent of the New Orleans Plea
ytne:
A recent letter concerning the Houmas
grant from the Commissioner of the United
States General Land Office to the Surveyor
General of Louisiana, dated Jnne %, 1877,
decides that the act of June 81, 1860, repeal
this claim, operates as bar to the issue of
patents for the claim under said contirma-
tory act; also, that portion of the tract
claimed fronting on the Mississippi river,
and bounded on the west by the claim of
Daniel Clark, and on the southeast by the
claim of Simeon Lerearo, to the extent of
eighty arpents in depth, is covered by
complete patented Spanish grant, and is
protected by the treaty of April 80, 1903
apd thirdly, that the said act of June 81,
1860, is such final action by Congress upon
this claim, as embraced in tho Commission
cr's report, as was contemplated by the act
of March 3, 1911, and that all the land
claimed back of the double concession of
eighty arpents, not otherwise disposed of, is
public land and subject to disposal as such.
This decision of the Commissioners,
it will be seen, confirms in great
measure the position taken by Mr..
Bradford and so ably supported by
the argument 20 which we have ac-
corded such liberal space in our col
umns. The only discrepancy is rela-
tive to the extent Of the tract to
which the Houmas claimants hold a
legal title. Mr.. Bradford contended
that this title covers only a depth of
forty arpents from the Mississippi
river, while the Commissioner of the
government Land Office decides, as
above stated, that an extent of eighty
in depth 8" is covered by
complete patented Spanish grant, aud
is protected by the treaty Of April 30,
1902
Mr.. John Burnside, to whom the
lands included in the Houmas claim
We're transferred by private sale, in
1858, has appealed from the Commits
sieaer's decision, and the matter now
goes to the Secretary of the Interior
for final adjudication. Hon. j. M.
Lamare of New Orleans, formerly of
this parish, who investigated the mat
ter at the Surveyor Generals office,
by request of Felix Reynaud, ESQ.,,
publisher of the late Tigilant, wrote
to the latter gentleman that Mr.. Burn
sides appeal was taken through his
attorney, w. c. Hill, Esq, of Wash
ngton city, and that " notice of said
appeal was served on the Surveyor
General by the Commissioner of the
General Land Office under date of
August TO-" Mr.. Lamare continued:
Should the decision be confirmed it
will be well for the settlers of the
1oumas claim, who will thea be free
o enter their little homesteads but
f decided adversely, then, | suppose,
very thing will remain in stqtu quo"
This brings the subject down to
he present day and hour, when all
he interests involved in the celebra-
ed Houmas land claim are awaiting
he ruling of the official head of the
Interior Department. We are ignor-
pit Of the rules governing such cases,
nd know not what means may be
mployed to hasten or delay decis- !
Dn, but if our representatives in Con-
ress have any influence in the prem
'es, we call upon them to exert it at
nee to bring to speedy termination
his weary litigation, which so per-
iciously affects large and worthy {
lass of our people, rendering pain
lily uncertain the tenure by which |
ley hold the lands affording them {
leans of sustenance and the houses
hich give them protection from the |
|ements. l
The steamboat Era No. 10 ran