The Brookhaven leader., 1883-08-02
Concerning 'Eitie> 10 Certain
EaCds.

MCCALL's CREEK, July oath, 1888
To the iitor of the Bro1khlvsn. Leader:
| desire through your columns to say a
few words to the public in regard to lands
of this State commonly called Swamp Lands
1t is now known that many years ago Con-
yress donated to the State Of Mississippi a
large number of acres of inundated or sub
merged lands, and that by various acts of
the Legislature these lands have been PIT
upon the market and good deal sold.
While this has been done and the parties
purchasing the same have been quietly i'll
posscSsion; yet, through some carclessness
and neglect OF duty on the part of those
having in charge these lands, there APP
pears to be 10 record of a great many of
the entr .es, though the parties purchasing
the same hold evidences of their purchases
and in many eases hold patents issued by
the Secretary of State as required by law.
These lands, or part of them, have again
been offered for sale and actually sold the
second time and patented to the party
making last entry, thereby doing great in
Justice to the first purchasers; so much SO
that at the last session of the Legislature |
deemed it important to investigate the
matter, and finding il necessary that some
thing should be done for the relief of those
who had made the first purchases, pre-
for their benefit which was passed and be-
came law (see page Ii, acts Legislature,
1SS2), which if those interested in will
avail themselves of and the provisions of
the Law be carried ont, will forever set at
rest tn cir right and title to these lands and
secure to the last purchasers his right to
haye his money refunded.
Since the passage of this act, all these
lands, or at least those in Lincoln, Frank
lin and Adams, have been transferred by
the second purchasers to Philips, Marshall
and Evers, a company of capitalists who
have had their deeds properly recorded in
the counties where the lands lie and the
same assessed to them. Since the assess
ment, these parties have not paid the tax
es, at least in this (Franklin) county, but
have sit quietly by and let the lands be
sold to the State for the tax for the year
1882. Now it is safe to conclude that these
lands have been allowed to be sold to the
State in order that the moment the State
acquires title by reason of such sale and
offers the same for sake at the Auditors
office, this company can and perhaps will
step forward and purchase the same from
the State, thereby acquiring another link
in their title by a State deed. They GER
tainly must know that if the law above re-
ferred to is complied with, that their title
Land Office is invalid aud of not effect; at
least as far as relates to the land where
there is conflicting entry. So if they
can't hold under the purchase from the
Swamp Land Office they may hold under
the State deed from the Auditors Office.
Now do not wish to be construed as to
be meddling where have no business, and
will add in conclusion that as good many
of my constituents are interested in this
matter, / would suggest that they look up
their land papers and see if any of their
lands are involved In this middle, and if
80 avail themselves of the benefits of the
law above referred To; and by all means, if
any of their lands have been forfeited to
the State for taxes under the sale of lands
assessed to Philips, Marshall and Evers,
redeem the same before it is reported to
the Auditor, and hereafter keep the taxes
paid thereon. Respectfully,
I. A. MAGEE.