The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-02

OF the l2ndss Inc inter Oee0n scribe /
recently called on the Hon, Isaac r., Hit,
States Agent. and was accorded an inter-
esting interview. DIR. Hit stated that il
would 'be we'll to note the pecnliarity of
the following table classifying the swamp
lands of the State.
ssieeted aa a 1Red
Patented landaH.- i,as4.<ss
The last two sets of figures are parts of
the first set.
You will observe. said the agent.
that this shows a very unsettled state OF
things. An explanation of the present |
| state and recent developments will
be of no considerable Import to the coun
ties interested
| t'Be kind enough to enlighten the pub
| lie. Mr. Hit. 81 aSs e. s9ssa i
| These 5000, 600 aud more acres of
swamp lands were granted to the Site by
CONGRESS- on the 28th of September. 1880. |
| MANY of the lands we're entered at the
local land office by mistake after the above
date. The attention of Congress was CALI
ed to the fact.
| s.On the cd Of March. 1855, Congress
passed the Indemnity Act By which the
State was to receive the money on all
cash interest of swamp lands and other
LANDS, acre for acFe,i lieu of swamp lands
entered with the land warrants. The
provisions of this act were extended By
the acts of March 8, 1857, as TO all inter
ests made up to the latter date The
Legislature of Illinois. under an act OF
June %. 1852, madeAthe several counties
Containing the swamp lands the bene-
icIaries of the several acts OF Congress
above referred TO. Under the act OF the
I20tb Of September. 1850, ]. Asa. 28S acres
have been patented to the State. Under
the acts of March 2, 1855, and March 3.
1857, 1851, 33, 70 of cash indemnity have
heen mid to the State. Fully l0l 1874
= acres of land indemnity have been adjusts
r ed and certificates issued to the State
therefor. There is no provisions, however
| for Locating the same on any government
LAND outside Of the State. The cash
indemnity due the state unao]n Isl VII,
amount to about $500 900. The Eland
. indemnity due the State will amount to
about 4oO. 600 acres
What has been done during the pre-
. year in regard to claims e
Il am engaged in arranging these claims,
\ but. owing to the decisions OF the departs
j, ment. promulgated many years sso. but
little progress has been made during the
4 last year. A cash indemnity has peen
q paid to to the counties oil Edgar, DE Calb,
and Cook Cash Indemnity Is DOW eeing
e adjusted at tho general land ONCE Ior me
Is btneft of the following counties: kanka
lkee. Will. Ford, Iroauois, Vermliiion,
lChnmnaigr, Lawrence. Livingston. AK.
te ander. and Pulaski. 1t Is anticipated
q that their claims will be adjusted within
10 the nsxt six months. There are some
twentv three other counties which are nov
nrensripg their claims tor REIMBURSEMENT.
THE COURSE TO PURSUE.
"How do counties proceed IN this mat
ter2"
In arranging these claims the State
Ia compelled to prove that each forty acr'
tract OF land claimed as swamp and over
n flowed was actually in that condition OF
II the goth of September. 1850, to the satis
II faction of the Secretary of the Interior
To make this proof it costs the counue
interested from 6 to 10 cents an ecr
lowing to the stringent rules adopted q
the Secretary of the Interior. During III
last three years Congress has made tire
sppropriat!ons-$3 900, $4,000, $4,000
and the last session SIS DOCTOR the pui
pose of paying the expenses OF the Unite
States special agent 10 visiting and exam
ST ming each forty acre tract OF land upo
om which the State claims the INGENUITY.
its w BIO will this second agent be
ent Colonel z. q Anthony, of Rock ord
us; Mr.. Hit further stated that this sui
les | ieet - Of 80 much interest to The count
,ers tina: he proposes TO present q iurth
nn u, detailed statement as to the adjustnee
SO being made and tho difficulties IN the W
a1I of the same. fee ~ 49, .E8
yrs. How much of the land is bow und
yre, cultivation z
, r.el Over two thirds Of it. fs.A
nful Can you supply some data On the 81
asif ject?"
Within the last Eve years the systs
ork of underground drainage with tiles
le bseu largely developed. There are
mauufacleries of tiles in this state tod
as against thirty six ten years ago. Iht
=. Thrush the III materials for drainage OF tht
~ Hands. so that our swamp lands are bcco
h. ling our best lands.
IA T. will yeu give values OF these lands
- The ramp lands as they exist
uorth an average of $5 per acre. WI
~ drained they are worth $25 per acre,
Il improved Is per cent more than
Es uplands.
How many seres were there origins
LOp uuder water In Cook county
Thirty three thousand acres. .ooo
which were patented TO the state tor
rater- If the county The iudemnlty on
balance on the remaining lands is paid
- part aad the remainder is COW oe
adins.ed. These lauds are BOW ali II