The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-09


1885, s29 81 and for the three years and half he ba.
bsd the Office his collections Of revenue improperly withheld
show total Of 800 303 81
LIQrTDAT1No LEyEE coNNrssIoSERs
Ia Ter Act Of the Legislature approved March g. 1882
the Lqudatng Lsyee Commissioners reported that sufficient
funds had been received pay of aud qae the entire eve
debt but that March 49, 1888 enjoned b the
Memphis and Veksburg Railroad Company from paving
any Of the money received from said company bonds
- the counties Of saquena Sbarkey Washington, Bolivar.
lunica Qlitman and Cpahoma amounting to s35 600 IS,
which suit Is pending in the Chancey Court Of Kinds
Without the said thus enoned hey had not sufficient
funds on the first Monday of January 1888 paw the
debt For these did make proclamation
qured under the Act above alluded have been
informed that sufficient funds in hands Of the Comms
ones paw OF the debt without enoned in their
hands and submit the 70 the Legislature for
such further directions as they may fit to make in the
premises.
COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION
highly the a5ors Of this department
and trust that the published report OF the Commissioner will
find is way int the hands Of thoughtful people It
has been the Of removing the false notions entertained
about SOIL climate and resourc and the and reli-
ou status Of people and has done much by publishing the
truth the world toward cementng the growing friendship
between the sections has secured thrifty immigrants
from the North and West who Introduce improved methods
and ne" Industries Tor the adoption Of our people, aud
become themselves most efficient agents for the advertisement Of
the State has secured large investments Of foreign capital
in State lands not for the purpose Of speculation sup
but with the view shown by published correspondence
Of developing and improving them
The efficient Commissioner has been indeatgable in his efforts
carrying the scheme Of legislature and unhesi-
atingy pronounce him thorough and efficient in all things
nece with his responsible position sustained as his
cause and aors deserve cherish the hone that very soon we
will bs brought realize by actual enjoyment the benefits
immigration that your deliberations upon this
et wise counsel and second thought may prevail and
that far from undong you will proper cordially adopt
and improve the work Of the Legislature Of 1882.
BY Of Congress, approved s,pem5er 25th 1885, the
granted all the swamp overowed lands
within their limits Under this act Mississippi has received
various times, nearly 100000 Of land During the
past years the Commissioner Of Swamp Lands has sold
about 1913 OBJ for which about s30 739 45 has been paid
into the treasury under the requirements of act of the Lg
,tu, apnrovd February "a S77 This does not the
sale Of lands claimed by the Pearl River Navigation
provement Company hereinafter referred There remains
unsod Of the lands patented the State prior june 1892
about 1900 The law requires this land be sold for
not less than p cents per but dcemng this price insult
fcen instructed the Commissioner in June 1882 SELL
aud no sales have been made since that date
Under act Of Congress- approved September t. 1871,
100000 of land granted Mississippi for purposes
Internal Improvement and by of the Legislature approved
March 1873 the price of this land fixed at 80 per
During tho past years, the Commissioner of Swamp
Lands a sold 40 90 acres OF this land and the Treasurer has
received s2 % therefor There now remains to BE- sold about
20, 900 acres.
On the llta day of january directed John NJ smyie
$50 to proceed to Washington City and to carry into effect
the requirements Of of the legislature approved Febru
AIRY d. 1880 by presenting the claim of the State for lands and
indemnity After verifying this claim By comparison with the
record the department has forwarded patents for about
109 900 and has appointed special agent and
anime the lands upon which indemnify was claimed by the State
and also receive the testimony of such the
Commissioner might produce Under the requirements of
aton suel by the Department Of the Interior, since that
time there has been egamned about sl7 600 Of indemnity
claims and the testimony establishing the claims has been
proved by and forwarded Washington City 1t mposs
bic estimate with accuracy the of these claims but
it very large, and under the regulations precrhed by the
Department of the Interior to perfect them will require time
] sbor and expense.
The Commissioner expended upon this ire work. while
in Washington City and in examining the lands for which in
demnity is claimed the Of S335G0 These expenditures
have been made with my approval provided by an act ap
proved February Dist. 1880
By of the Legislature entitled incorporate
the Pesr River Navigation and Improvement Company which
became law by operation Of the Constitution April s. 1871
sad company received grant of about 00J swamp
and over1wed lands lying the upeS bordering Pear
river The company paid dollar for these lands. The
purchasers through it have for years asserted their title
mpressed with the belief that the State has never been dvestet
of her title by the pretended sale years ago.
this corporation all inens and purposes a fraud 81
advised the Commissioner of Swamp and OerAowed Lands apt
he sale under my directions and has in
So 725 80 acres for which the received Sl3 43
From statement rendered by the Comptroller of the
Treasury of the and three percent funds part of which
has been paid into the treasury since June 30 89 wheI
received appears that about s25 ODD is du
the advised that this and all further
accrung from this fund will be credited the balance of
claim alleged be due from The State Of Mississippi th
United States Of direct imposed upon tn
several States by act OF Congress approved IN 1861, Whc
amounts to SAB OS credited by s62000 which has ub
accumulated to the state from different 1us Inc action
the Comptroller of the Treasury in Insisting on The seto
retaining this fund sin my opinion Illegal recommend tina
you take such steps will this money 10 be paid into tn
5 Treasury.
There has been made in the United States Land Office sine
january l. 1882 about 1898 Homestead entries embracn
some 29 900 acres 80 na proofs and 1898 cash entries
hracng $50 900 making total of about 900
disposed of by the General Government.
There have been purchased and redeemed through the Aud
tors Office during the past two years 46l3 of lane
heretofore sold for taxes for which the State has receive
$50 500 10, and the counties S5S04337 There remains
sold about 700 00O acres
Of the Chckasaw School Lands there for sale by til
Secretary of State dollars per acre. about "a 900
only 80 have been sold in the last years
fully the recommendation of my worthy predecesso
that the price of these lands be reduced and that they be
fered the office of Commissioner of Swamp Lands for sale
Since the admission the State into the Union many ant
have made their appearance from time time along the Gu
Cast 1t has been decided BY the Supreme Court othe Unite
that lands Of this description belong the States but
provision has been made for their disposition the Comm
sioner of Swamp Lands has been unable SELL
that provision be made for the survey and sale of these lands
a minimum price at public O1tery.
On the admission of Mississ pPl the Union thirt
sixth of the entire domain granted to the State tor scho
purposes. In instances where the townships frs
ona selection has bcen made and in other where
the sixteenth section had ed from the
individuals other lands have lieu there
provided by law. The Legislature should take steps ha
these selections made and confirmed to the State
EDUCATION.
II affords pleasure be able that the
education present receiving attention in Mssssp
than any former period of her history The evident des
to improve the public school system is unmstakable as
evinced by increase IN the levy for school purposes
of the Counties and desire extend the minimum
scbed BY the Constitution The average attendance
and 1888 largely of that previous years
the Inauguration of the system. Teaching public cho
has improved and this is due in pat TO the introduction
teachers institutes in many counties wherein teachers ha
pOhed by the knowledge and experience of Others Teaehi
becoming profession with us and hence more
paration is made tor the position Of teacher.
Great Interest being mantle ed Ia the State Teachers
sociaon which has been ganzed this State
meeting Of this body in this city largely attended by