The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1885-04-16
A NEW ERA
In Land Legislation Marked BY
the State General Assembly.
Al Compact Review and SYNOPSIS
Oh the Work Done and Acts
Passed,
With a Clear Statement of What
They are Proposed TO
Accomplish.
(Gazette.)

idno ot otSust . hSfS'S -
given below. The attention OF the
general assembly was called to mat
| tiers that needed remedy by the va
rious state officers. 1t is believed
that ali these laws will prove OF vast
benefit to the state in the future, and
| 1t marks new era almost in the
| history OF state land legislation. Per-
sons familiar with our land system
will see at glance what can be
reasonably accomplished. It's to be
regretted tnat tae Legislation did not
reach the confirmation Of tax titles
held by the state. A bill looking
towards the accomplishment of this
important end, passed the senate,
and failed to pass in the house at
the heels of the session. The same
regret is to be felt at the failure of
the timber bill to pass. 1t was rec
mended by the commissioner OF state
lands under instructions of both
branches of tie general assembly.
But so much was done that it can
Justly be said that more has been
accomplished than at any other time
in the Legislative history OF the
state. The following is a synopsis
of the legislation:
SYNOPSIS OF THE ACTS.
An act to better facilitate the set
Element of the differences between
Arkansas and the United States,
arising under the swamp land
grant.
There is vet due the state from
the United States government about
200, 600 Of new selections of land to
to satisfy this grant. There is also
due 100000 ceres in land warrants
and scrip, as indemnity for swamp
lands sold by the government after
the grant, which are locatable upon
any uuappropriated land in the pub
lie domain. There is further due
the state an indemnity on this &C
count about 100000 in cash. 1t is
expected that this act will adjust all
the differences that have arisen, for
the state agrees under the act to set
tie upon the basis of the field notes
of the United States survey, instead
of the expensive and now wholly i'm
possible plan Of endeayoring to be-
cure the testimony Of individuals
who knew the land at tue date of the
grant, now thirty four years ago. 1t
will also settle, for less than $4,000,
for what the states of Illinois, Iowa,
Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and
Florida have paid out in fees and
commissions from $25, 900 to $50, 900
each. Gov. Hughes has written to
the secretary of the interior asking
his consent to the plan proposed by
this act, and no objection on the part
of the United States is anticipated.
THE SIXTEENTH SECTION SCHOOL LANDS.
An act providing for the sale of
the 10th section school lands. Con-
gress gave the state every 10th sec
tion in every township of six miles
square. for the purpose of free
schools. This aggregated nearly
100000 acres. 1t has been the worst
managed grant the state has received
from the United States. Thousands
of acres have been lost to the state,
and out of the wreck the state hopes
to secure to the common school fund
the payment of over 100000 III notes
taken by her f.om purchasers of
these lands, some of them thirty
years old. The act requires all mon
ey derived from sales of these lands
hereafter and collections from these
old notes to be paid into the state
treasury and placed to the credit of
the school fund. The attorney gen
cral is to appear for the state IN all
suits. f
ACT PERFEcTIEG TITLES.
An act to authorize the commits
sioner of state lands to make deeds
and certificates in certain cases.
Heretofore the state has been in
the habit OF executing deeds for
swamp lands before she was able to
make fee simple title still being
without patent from the United
States government. This act pro-
hlbits the commissioner of state
lands frsm issuing any deeds to
swamp lands until the deed for the
same land is is executed by the
United States to the state. Persons
buying swamp lands in the future
can be assured of a perfect title.
The state has issued patents in years
gone by for thousands Of acres of
swamp lands to which she never had
nor never will have the fee simple
title from the United States govern
ment.
An act to provide for the sale of
lands escheated to the state, is an
act to require the proceeds of the
sale OF all such lands to be paid IN
to the state and county treasures
An act to compel persons engaged
in cutting timber to have it surveyed
where the lines of individual lands
are not plainly marked, prevents
timber depredations through mistake
or fraud.
An act to confirm and make valid
certain acts of the governor, treasur
err and land commissioner IN refer.
ence to the sale and redemption of
Real Estate bank lands. Certain
sections of Gantt's Digest providing