The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-01-17

I'm Ter an Act Of the Legislature approved
sion ers reported that suiicient funds had been
10y Yed 10 pay OF and liquidate the entire leyea
icy !, but that on March 10, 1858. they were eu-
lob ied by the Memphis aud Nlcksburg Railroad
20 mp;uy from paying out any OF the money re-
&c we'd from said Company for taxes ON bonds in
!, e counties Of Issaquena, Sharkey. Washing
IN. Bolivar, Tunlca, Qulrm and COahOma,
amounting TO so, 900 So which suit Is now pend
ing in the Chancery Court Of Kinds county.
Without the said sum thus enjoined they had
not sufficient finds on the first Monday oi Jan
uary, 1883, 90 pay OF the debt. For these rea-
sons did not make proclamation. rs required
under the act above alluded to- have recently
been informed that sufficient funds are In the
hands OF the Commissioners TO pay OF the debt
without the amount enioined In their hands
and now submit the matter 20 the Legislature
Tor such further directions as they may see NJ %
make IN the premises.
COMMISSIONER or IMMIGRATION.
this cSS Sg ssnd Sst that e SS
report Ot The Commissioner will find It's way in
10 the hends OF our most thoughtful people. 1t
t h s Gse Notions 6s means SSouE
our soil, climate and resources, aud the moral
and religious status Of our people, and has
toward cementing the growing friendship be
the sections. 10 has secured many thrifty immi-
grants from the North and West, who introduce
improved methods and new Industries for the
adoption of our people. and soon become them
selves mos. efficient agents for the advertise
ment OF the State 1t has secured large invest
the purpose Of speculation, rs some suppose, but
with the view, as shown by published CORE
spondence, of developing and Improving them.
The efficient Commissioner has been indefati-
gable in his efforts TO carrying out the scheme of
the Legislature, and unhesitatingly pronounce
him thorough and efficient In all things connect
ed with his responsible position. IL he is suS-
tanned, as his cause and labOrs deserve, cher
tSh the hope that very soon we will be brought
10 realize by actual enjoyment the benefits Of
immigration trust that Ia your deliberations
upon this subject, wise counsel and sober second
thought may prevail, and that so far from undo
ing you will see proper 10 cordially adopt and
improve the work Of the Legislature of 1882
LANDS.
by act of Congress approved September 18th,
1850, the several States were granted all the
swamp and oyertlOwed lands within their limits.
Under this act Mississippi has received at vari-
Gus times, nearly 5000 600 acres Of land During
the past two years the Commissioner Of Swamp
Lands has sold about 12303I acres, for which
about S3O,759 - has been paid into the treasury
under the requirements OF an act of the Lcgisla-
ture approved February I'd, 'S71. This does not
embrace the sale of lands claimed by the Pearl
hereinafter referred TO. There remains unSold
of the lands patented to the state,
prior TO to June ,,. 1882, ri. about 6 1000
cold for not less than q cents per acre, but
deeming this price insufficient, l instructed the
Commissioner in June 1881 MOTTO sell, and no
sales have been made since that date.
Under an act of Congress approved Septrm-
Der 1, 1871, 100000 acres Of land were granted to
Mississippi for purposes Of Internal Improve;
March 4, 1873, the price of this land was fixed at
30 cents per acre, During the past two years,
the Commissioner OF Swamp Lands has sold
received S22I 80 therefor. There now remains to
be sold about 10000 acres.
On the l1th day of january 1893, directed
john Nj. Smyiie, Esq, to proceed to Washing
ton City and to carry into effect the require.
ments of an act of the Legislature, approved
February q, lss0, by presenting the claim Of the
. 10 lands and Indemnity
this claim by comparison with the record, the
department has forwarded to me patents for
about 900 acres. and has appointed special
agent to visit and examine the lands upon which
indemnity was claimed by the State, and also 10
receive the testimony OF such witnesses as the
Commissioner might produce. Underi the re-
! ment of the Interior since that time there has
| been examined about $17 900 of indemnity claims
and the testimony establishing the claims has
been approved by me and forwarded 10 Wash
ingtOn City. IL is impossible to estimate with
accuracy the amount OF these claims, but il IS
very large. and under the regulations prescribed
by the department of the Interior, to perfect
them will require time, labor and expense.
The Commissioner has expended upon this
entire work while in Washington City, and in
eXamening the lands for which indemnity is
claimed, the sum Of $S25 90. These expenditures
have been made with my approval. as provided
by an act approved February 21St, 1880.
BY an act of the Legislature entitled An act
to incorporate the Pearl River Navigation and
/ Improvement Company which became law
/
said company received a grant of about 10000
acres of swamp and overlooked lands lying in
the counties Bordering on Pearl river. fhr
| company never paid dollar for these lands.
The purchasers through ii have for years assert
| ed their title / am impressed with the belief
that the state mas never been Invested OF her
title by the pretended sale twelve years ago. and
that this corporation was to all intentS and pur-
| poses a fraud. | so advised the Commissioner
! of Swamp and Overlooked Lands, and he offered
for sale under my directions. and has in fact
sold 5j,7255O acres, for which the state has re-
( ceived Sl3, 43l.l2.
| From statement rendered me by the Comp
! trOller of the Treasury of the two and three
| per cent. funds, no part of which has been paid
| into the treasury since June 80, 1879, when
s6,0i4.S0 was received. it appears that about
! SIS 900 is now due the state. | am advised that
| this amount and all further sums accruing from
! this fund will be credited on the balance of a
claim alleged TO be due from the State of MSsis-
sippi to the United States on account of direct
| tax imposed upon the several States by act of
! Congress approved in 1861. which amounts To
| S4l3.OS4 credited by So, 900 which has no doubt
accumulated to the state from different sources.
! The action of the Comptroller OF the Treasury
| in insisting on the set-off, and retaining this
| fund. is in my opinion illegal. l recommend
that you take such steps as will cause this money
| to be paid into the State Treasury:
There has been made in the United states
Land Office since January !, 1889, about 2.59S
Homestead entries; embracing some $1,000
acres $50 final proofs and 1,1S3 cash entries, EN-
bracng $4,000 acres, making total OF about
10000 acres disposed OF by the General Coy
eminent.
There have been purchased and redeemed
through the Auditors office during the past two
years 46l Il3 acres of land, heretofore sold for
taxes for which the State has received $40 500 10
and the counties Sos, 043.37. There remains I'M
sold about 900 acres.
Of the Chickasaw School Lands there remains
for sale by the Secretary OF state. at six dollars
per acre about 81 900 acres; only 80 acres have
been sold in the last two years. | respectfully
renew the recommendation OF my worthy pre-
decessOr that the price Of these lands be re
duced, and that they be transferred to the Office
Since the admission of the State into the
Union many islands have made their appear
ance from time to time along the Gulf Coast. 1t
has been decided by the Supreme Court of the
United States that lands OF this description be-
long to the States, but as no provision has been
made for their disposition the Commissioner of
swamp Lands has been unable to sell. L recon-
mend that provision be made for the survey and
sale of these lands at minimum price at pub
lie cutlery.
one thirty-sixth of the entire domain was
granted to the State for school purposes. In
many instances where the townships are frac-
tiOnal no selection has been made and il other
eases where the title to the 81 teenth section had
passed from the Government to individuals,
other lands have not been set apart in lieu there
of, as provided by law. The Legislature should
| take steps to have these selections made and
confirmed to the State.
EDUCATION
IL affords me pleasure TO be able TO state that
| the cause of education Is at present receiving
more att ntion in Mississippi than at any
former period of her history, The evident desire
| to improve the public school system Is unmis-
taxable as is evinced by an increase in the levy
for school purposes in most OF the counties, and
| a desire to extend the minimum term prescribed
| by the Constitution. The average attendance
for 1882 and 1888 was largely in excess OF that OF
any previous years since the inauguration OF the
| system Teaching in public schools has i'm
proved and this is due in part to the introduce
| tion of teachers Institutes in many counties,
wherein teachers have prOhted by the knowl-
| edge and experience of others. TIE aching IS
| becoming more of a profession with us, aud
| hence more preparation is made for the position
| of teacher.
Great interest is belng manifested in the State
Teachers Association, which has been organ
ICED IN this State, and the recent meeting OF this