The Tombstone epitaph., 1882-04-17
Proceedings of the City Council.

| The common council met last evening at o'clock; Mayor Carr in the chair.
 A special message was presented by the
 mayor, which was read and filed. The
 message is as follows:
 GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
 In my message delivered 10 your honora
 ble body January 1Gth, 1882, said that "it seemed clear to me that the law never intended to give to Mayor Randall, or any other official, the right or power to sell or give to a company of speculators the homes of our people," Gentlemen, la conse- quencc of the vast amount of business which has crowded upon you for consider atlon since you have been in office, which had to be attended to, refrained from calling your attention to thls matter, which is of vital importance to our city and the citizens thereof, until the present time. Gentlemen of the council, 1 would recom- mend to your honorable body the necessity of taking some immediate action in the matter, and see, If possible, what the city's rights are in the case, and if possible, quiet the titles to the property within the city's limits. II IS indeed great drawback to the prosperity of this city. The unset. tied state of the titles, no man knows whom to buy from, or when he is safe in buying or making improvements. There are generally three or four claimants for every lot within the city limits, namely the mines, the Townsite company and the city. In my judgment if the proper steps had been taken by the city at an early day, when the patent was granted to Mayor Randall, all this trouble about titles would have been ended then and there. To me it seems that the law is very plain in the matter, a..d that it has in no case been sus- tanned or complied with. Whether it is now too late or not to rectify the mistakes of former mayors and councils cannot say, and would recommend close investi- gation into all details concerning the mat ter. It is, gentlemen, my opinion that if the requirements of the law had been fully carried out, every foot of ground within the city limits would now belong to the city, for the benefit of the city and the in habitants thereof Until this much veXed question is settled, we need not look for much permanent improvement.
 Gentlemen of the Council, I would re- commend to your honorable body that ap- priation from the city treasury be made to try what the city's rights are in the matter, II di Cqual diiouui bC pldCcu ou ucpOSit by the citizens, to test the case before proper courts and forever settle the ques- tion, as far as the city is interested. In my judgment it will require from four to five thousand dollars ts properly test the case. There is no doubt in my mind that if the city commences a suit for the re covery of the property, and setting aside. Mayor Randall's deed, it will go 10 the Supreme court of the United States. But, gentlemen of the council, whatever your opinions may be- would recommend 10 you calm and cool deliberation of this subject, doing nothing hastily, but give to both sides of the question your serious consideration, and if, in your judgment, the city has been deprived of any of her property or rights under the law, you will have my hearty cooperation to restore those rights, against all and every person whomsoever. JOHN CARR, Mayor
 On motion, 1t was ordered that special meeting be held on Friday evening for the consideration of the message, and J. s. Clark was invited to be present at that time to submit to the council lis patent to the townsite for inspection.