The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-30
SWAMP LANDS.
OF Interest to Tax Payers.

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The following communication from Hon
j. q. Parlhurst, to the Decatur Republican
IS reproduced in our columns, because we
think il q matter OF general interest to the
taxpayers of our county.
AfR. EDITOR I'm Z communication 20 You tho
last OF January, which inserted In your issue OF
she sth Of February last, referred to q resolution
ogered BY myself. that requested from the Auditor
General statement showing the amount due to
each county Of the per cent interest upon the fund
which is denominated by our statute the swamp
land fund
Before the session OF the legislature and up to the
time referred to your representative had devoted
considerable time in looking up the swamp land
question, upon the assumption that there was some
needed legislation upon the subject, and more es-
pecialy because it seemed to me that with the large
area Of swamp lands within the borders of our
county that needed draining, there should be some
legitimate fund draw from in the contamination of
this desired object. At that time it was difficult to
premise the results OF that investigation so far as
il might bear upon any future legislation.
Nomember Of the house had given this subject
attention. except Arthur G. Case, the representative
from the Leelenaw district, and myself. : We had
up 70 this time, and did for time thereafter.
act in concert and nearly alone in this matter but
the subject has finally taken form and shape and,
as it seems to the writer, in very beneficial way
beg the indulgence once more Of yourself and read
in again referring TO it and in endeayoring to
give summary Of the present situation relative to
the fund.
Ia lSJO the general government granted to our
state al the swamp lands within her borders,
amounting to about six millions OF acres with a
proviso attached TO such grant in the following
words: provided, however, that the proceeds OF
said lands, whether by sale or direct appropriation
in kind, shall be applied exclusively so far as neces
sa-y TO the purpose Of retaining said lands by
means Of the levees and drains aforesaid" 9th L.
S. Statute at Large, sic.
In view OF this proviso AID no doubt for the pur-
pose Of carrying out the provisions Of the grant in
good faith, Legislature of 1855 passed the follow
ing law: All moneys heretofore received, and all
moneys hereafter received from the sales Of said
swamp lands donated by the aforesaid act OF con-
gress after deducting the expense of the sales atty
per cent shall be deRomina;ed a primary school
fund and the interest thereof, at five per cent per
annun, shall be appropriated and distributed in
like manner the primary school fund Of the state
land fund and the interest thereof at Ave per cent
shall be paid over annually TO the order Of the board
Of supervisors OF the several CSaties in the propo,
aon in which the is received from the sale In
said counties respectively to be used So ssu board
shall direct in draining and retaining swami, lands
in said county and all the moneys received on rEch
sales as aforesaid after deucting the expenses as
aforesaid, shall be used and applied to the payment
OF the outstanding Indebtedness Of the state In the
order In which the same shall fall due"
This seems TO the writer TO have been wise legi.a
tion all things considered ard In view Of the prior
grant. II win be seen, however, that the statute
does not provide for the appropriation to meet the
per cent, nor the fund from which IL shall be taken
and while the primary school fund was by subse-
quent legislation provided for, no provision was
ever further made before the present legislation.
Ny first resolution having failed 20 reach the In
formation elected to my second resolution passed
the iith Of February, the land Office responded, but
not until about the eiose Of the session. owing TO the
labor required to give the statement The report IL
somewhat elaborate, giving to every county in the
ststeis quota Of credit for the amount Of cash sales
II be smined by reference 70 the Legislative
journal beginning st page 1896.
The amount received from our county. including
the interest, Is $Stsio-ss. The Eve per cent PRO-
vded for by the statute Of IS, to SPEAK spproxi-
masely and not accurately, viii give our county, We
think. $4,000 MP 10 the present time. This sum
iudiciousiy managed by the board Of supervisors
can be made largely instrumental In retaining the
large area Of swamp lands in county, increasing
thereby the taxable property and possibly the popu-
isticn Of our county.
hope IL viii not seem arrogant in me to suggest
hat appropriation shoald be made except to aid