Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-26
LANDS WITHOUT TITLES.
10000 or More Acres of Land in Cha
ham County Occupied by Parties witt


out Titles.
In the year 1929 an act was passed by
the General Assembly appointing
William It. williams, Robert W.
PoOler, William b. BullOch, Isaac
Minis and Alexander Telfair Commits
siopers 10 locate all the uDgranted lands
in Chatham county. and granting to the
Chatham Academy 5000 acres of these
lands, the remainder to 90 to the old Free
school of the city OF Savannah and the
Union Society in equal shares.
This act was amended and enlarged by
he Legislature in 1856, and George p.
Harrison, Thomas HOlcOmbe and Joseph
r. Warning were appointed TO fill vacan-
cies in the commission occasiOned by the
death of Messrs. BullOch. Minis and Tel
fair and giving the commissioners the
power to fill any vacancy thereafter Oc-
curing in the board by death, resignation
or otherwise. This act empowered the
surveyor appointed by the commissioners
in making his survey TO cross existing
lines, without being subject to the pains
and penalties in such cases provided by
law.
Both acts provide for the protection of
actual occupants of ungranted lands TO
the extent that il gives them the right to
purchase their settlements at a valuation
70 be agreed upon by arbitration.
1t is estimated that there are about
10000 acres of ungranted land in the
northern part of Chatham county, and
half as much more in small holdings in
other parts of the county, to say nothing
of the immense bodies of salt-marsh
land on the borders of the rivers. the
grant OF these lands by the State has pre-
vented them from being placed upon tn &
market, or. if sold, the defect in titles has
always injured the sale. Nearly all OF
the lands in the upper part of the county
has been occupied for nearly century
and generation after generation have been
born and have lived and died upon them
but still the cloud in the title hung over
the homestead, and all interested were
fully cOgniZant of that fact.
After the passage Of the act of 1856
the commission organized and endeavored
to act under the law, but before anything
was done the Confederate war came on,
and it's troubles and the disturbed state
of the country for years after, and
the death OF several members of the
commission, caused the matter to
remain in allegiance until recently. Some
months ago the Trustees of the Chatham
Academy took action looking to the car
rying out of the laws enacted for the bene-
tic of that institution. The surviving
commissioners. Gen. Harrison and Col.
HOlcOlmbe, held meeting, and, by virtue
of the authority vested in them under the
act of 1856, elected Messrs. Geo. A. Mer-
Ger, John Screyeu and J. II. Estill as
members Of the board to fill vacancies.
At subsequent meeting Gen. Harrison
was elected Chairman, and Capt. Geo. A.
Mercer, Secretary.
The first regular meeting was held yes
terday morning. The rights of the
grantees were fully explained, and, after
full discussion of the subject, Maj. j..
K. Tebeau, the Surveyor, who was pres
ent by invitation, was requested to give
an estimate of the probable cost of pre-
liminary survey of the ungranted lands in
the northern part of the county.
This survey should be made with as
little delay as possible, for it will be bene-
fetal to the occupants of such lands by
giving them an opportunity of securing a
title, and thus increase the value of the
property.
Capt. Mercer, and unanimously adopted ::
Res0Ired Jy tie Commissioners Of Warranted
Lnads IN Chatham County:
LIST. That II is the judgment of said commits
sjOncrs that a thorough survey and man, t0pO-
graphical and otherwise, of all the lands in
said county, showing the location OF roads.
water courses, bridges. ungranted lands. and
private holdings, and all Information required
Tor the efficient administration and taxation
OF said domain, are demanded by the best In
ter, SITS of said county.
I'd. That said Commissioners Of Ungranted
Lands respectfully urge upon the Commits
sioEers OF Chatham county, this board being
without funds to effect the said purpose, 10
adopt the necessary measures to secure such
survey and map as soon as practicable.