The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-10
Maps--The Land Records
of the State.

Section 495 of the Revenue Law Gre
vised Code 1880 requires the supervis-
ors of each county to procure and keep
a land book, or book Of maps, of all the
townships and fractional townships, to
be deposited in the Office Of the Clerk,
and also to procure lists of lands owned
by the United States in their several
counties. Several inquiries and orders
having been recently addressed to this
office, we referred the matter to the
Swamp Land Commissioner, and received
from him the following, and publish the
same as matter Of general interest:
OrF1cE CoMMIssIoNEE OF SWAMI !
LANpe,
JACKSON, Jandary 6, 1858.
EDITORS CLARION; In answer to your
inquiries, | have to say, that the books
papers, field notes, maps, diagrams, etc,
of the old Suryeyor-GcncraFs Office
State Of Mississippi, are now part Of
the records OF the Office Of the Commits
sioncr Of Swamp Lands. The Commits
sioner ii the official custodian, and he
alone is authorized to certify to copies
of the record. The fees fixed by law
are the same az that Of Chancery Clerks
for work OF like character. Copies Of
the record, to be official, or used in evil
dence, must be certified under seal by
the Commissioner.
The record is in a condition which
renders its ultimate destruction but a
question of days, unless the Legislature
shall provide some means for its preser-
vation.
This matter is of vital importance to
the land owners Of our State. Destroy
the field notes, and there is not a land
line in the State which can be estab-
lished. Obliterate the lines, numbers,
etc, which define the boundary Of the
tract and you cast a shadow upon every
title in the State. When Congress, in
its wisdom, made this record part OF
the State records, it was with the view
and intention of having 1t preserved for
the use and benefit of the people OF
Mississippi; and when Mississippi accep.
ted the trust, she bound herself to carry
out that trust. The letters received by
you, which prompted your inquiry
should convince you of the necessity.
With the exception of some small frac
tions destroyed or obliterated by hand
ling and constant use, we have the rec
ord, South of the Oht Cisickasaw Bounddra
Line. North of thas line, there are NJ
maps, and the field notes are in a mutt
lated condition whole pages torn ou
and destroyed or misplaced. This wa
done by Federal troops during the war
and before the record was sent to tn,
Jackson Office, but the record had been
duplicated and copy is now on file IL
Washington City. The record south o
the Chickasaw line, or, a large part of It
was never duplicated; the only copy ex
tant, is here; hence the necessity of it
preservation.
BY reference to Section 495 of tn
Revised Code, YOU will observe that tn
same requires the Board of Supervisor
Of each county to procure a book o
maps, etc, for the use Of the county
The maps referred to are supposed to b
copies Of the originals on file in the Sun
) vcyor-G Generals Office, showing the SCI
UlOIlS anu tuelE SuD~dINl Nlaloita, toNhsiilP l.
q and ranges, with the area in acres o
each-the water courses, the distance O
lines in chains and links, the variation
I of the line, if there be any, marked S
y as to indicate the vacant United States
y State. and school lands, and such othe
information as will enable the Assesso
and Board of Supervisors to quickly dt
!, termine whether the land is or il nc
subject to taxation. 1t is needless fc
q me to say that many Of the countit
have not complied with the law. SUI
is pose they win do so at their pleasur
n The cost Of the maps vary from 800
! $500, dependent upon the labor require
to prepare them. They usually pay Il
: county four fold on the first assessmen
T. Very truly yours, etc,
Di JOHN M. SMYLIE,
., COMMISSIONER Lands