The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-07-18
Dauwer HmpenAang Over sAe rreP
eray Of Oar Casiae2s.
uxsuRvEYED, UNCLAIMED AND INDICATED SPAN
nH GRANTS.
TALLAHAssEE. FLA, July II. 1889.

mH GRANTS
TALLAHASSEE, FLA, July II, 1853.
Elaor Fzoridian The report that the Lowe
grant for ten thousand acres was located IN
Alachua. near Gainesville, on examination oil tue
paleut proves to be untrue; but the scare Is only
transferred from one region to another, ana gives
good foundation for the tSunt, Your rloriua
titles are never safe" This state Of affairs - ex
ceeduely undesirable and exists only through
The negligence of the u s. Government Prompt
and vigorous action taken at once in the matter
would alay forever the fears caused BY these I'M
teniable uncertainties of Florida titles
There are grants for several thousand acres
which have been fully confirmed, the boundaries
and location of which have never been discov-
cred. The U. S. Surveyors have run their lines
across them, made their plats, and the lands have
been disposed of to parties who have been July
protected in their titles thereto, regardless oil the
fact that the Spanish plats, descriptions and notes
of the surveys of the grants were on file in the
proper place In the u. s. office.
The plea that the descriptions are so indefinite
that the locations cannot be found is insufficient
Professionally have been called upon to locate
some of the worst of them and have succeeded,
finding the actual boundaries made by the Span
ish SURVEYORS sixty or more years ago. -Four oil
these unclaimed grants have found in Alachua,
covering some of the richest lands in the county.
Finely improved places that the owners have
had in possession for thirty years lie subject TO
the call of claimants; and these claimants are
appearing. Between the Spanish claimants,
with means TO enforce their claims, and the
present occupants, there is no legal barrier The
Spanish title is supreme.
The surveyors plats and notes of survey OF
these claims were transferred TO the United
States, the land 10 be held in trust and intact,
for the claimants, without limit as To time IN
which the claims should be presented.
A large portion of these grants were resurveyed
and separated from the public domain, and were
So marked on the plais placed in the local land
offices, thus giving due and proper notice to in
tending settlers on, or purchasers of L. s. lands
A comparatively small number were not thus re-
surveyed, and complanants have not been able
to present their claims in proper form in conse-
quence thereof
Under the existing conditions the claimants
are obliged themselves TO undertake the location
of these unsurveyed grants This, if unable to
pay the costs OF a possibly extended search, they
are unable to do, and await developments, or
sell the claim to parties having the means to
push the search and complete the claim.
There appears here TO be breach of trust to-
wards the grantees, in that their claims have not
been separated from the public domain; and in
that other parties have been permitted to enter
upon, occupy, use and transfer the property, and
this under cover of title recognized and protected
| by the courts.
There further appears to be a breach of faith
in that citizens have been allowed TO obtain title
! TO enter upon and improve land which they are
liable at any time to be called upon to yield to a
superior claim, and this through the negligence
| of the United States Government to locate upon
the ground the lines indicating the limits of these
Spanish claims in accordance with the plats and
descriptions on file in the proper office.
| This action or non-action, of our General Gov
eminent works hardship TO the people of this
State, in that il clouds the titles by which they
hold their property.
Relief could be afforded and confidence be re-
| SOTcu ny CouplC'lnS vic WIN wv
that is by taking up every unsurveyed claim,
| locating and plating the same. Wherever il is
found that the land of the original survey is oc-
cupied like portion Of some naval or military
reserve OF similar quality might be set off for its
satisfaction, or land scrip for the quantity be
given in lieu thereof, the occupant retaining
possession.
This action would when complete, end forever
all uncertainty and fear that at some time, after
having spent years in improving a place, de-
mand may be made for the surrender of title,
without compensation for any improvement in
consequence of Spanish claim covering the
property.
This appears to be subject where delay is
dangerous, and calls for immediate action by
| our Representatives and Senators at Washing
ton so as to obtain The required acts of Congress
before its adjournment Very respectfully,
| JOSEPH VoYLE,
| Surveyor of Alachua county.