The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-03-16
The Survey of Lowry Island

The following report was submitted IN
the House II Representatives on Saturday
/ last.
Mg SrEAKFR Pursuant 10 resolution
oil February "a, your committee beg leave
10 make the following report That by
chap. ~, acts Of 1884, sec. ], il became the
duty o:the Commissioner of Swamp lands,
upon the recommendation Of the Governor
with the concurrence Of the Attorney
General and Secretary 81 State, to make
survey Of all the tidal and overilowed
marsh lands lying between East aud West
Pasengolla River aud the Chill II Mex
leo, together with other lands mentioned
in said act. These lands are now known as
Lowry Island.
Your committee fud by the evidence
taken by them, that there was no written
recommendation made by the Governor
aud conourred in by the Attorney. General
and Secretary Of State, recommending that
these lands should be surveyed, but that
on conference between these officers il
was agreed that the survey should he
made, which was communicated to +. NJ.
Doherty, Swamp Land Commissioner, by
Gov. Robert Lowry
That the swamp Land Commissioner,
on the 18th Of June, 1884, appointed j,
NJ. I. Hamilton 10 make tie survey Of
these Iands now known rs Lowry Island.
Your committee find from the evidence
that n. ID. Cnmeran claimed 10 act and
did act for the State In making contracts
for the services Of Surveyors, Assistant
Surveyors and In buying or caused 10 be
bought supplies, tools and other things on
the credit Of the State Of Mississippi; that
this action on the part OF II. d. Cameron
was without right or authority OF law, and
a plain violation OF law That no one
had right 10 make any contracts with the
surveyors 20 survey these lands except the
Swamp Land Commissioner, aud lie only
by Implication Of law. See section l.,
chapter II, Acts 1884. Your committee
lind that there were large expenditures Of
money made for the survey Of these lands
under the supervision Of II. y. Cameron
the first account il contained IN voucher
1860 on Gle in the Auditors office. This
voucher IL composed ef vouchers A. b, g,
u, Il, 4, and g.
Voucher A il the payroll and expense
account OF the survey for two months
ending August Is, and September is, 1884
Voucher Il is the account Of n. w Nor
rell, one of the puryeyers, amounting to
$4,000.
Voucher q Is small printers account,
amounting TO S625,
Voucher D il number OF accounts due
to hands, aggregating $l77,
Voucher Il IN an order on ii. ID. Cam
eron for two lahorers, by Il W Morrell,
for $l2
Voucher L is an order on J. NJ, I, Ham.
ilton, 10y NJ. l.. Massey, 50.
Voucher q i an Attorneys fee ior an
abstract Of title, reeeipted to II. y. Came
ron. IS.
Your committee find from tie evidence
that J. NJ. 7 Hamilton received 5000 per
month for making the survey, and $500 for
himself and assistant in making the map
of Lowry Island, so that he received for
his part OF the work $500, and his expenses
paid. 1t is impossible TO determine what
the expenses were. Your committee find
that there is conflict Of evidence IA TO
what MIR. Hamilton was to receive. Mr..
Cameron states that he was to receive $3.50,
and pay his own expenses, while he states
that he was to receive 5000, and his ex-
penses were to be paid. Mr.. T.. W. Morrell
says il was his understanding ut the time
from Mr.. Cameron, that Mr., Hamilton
was to receive $3.50 per month. Your
committee find that in all controversies az
TO wages the State was always charged and
finally paid the largest amounts and some
times paid them twice. They fnd that
the contract of Cameron If considered at
all was for $3.50 aud that this charge of
500 per month is excessive, and that II.
d, Cameron, who drew this money from
the State, is due the State 800 on that
account.
The item Of $4,000 on the expense ao.
count, Exhibit "A" your committee find
from the evidence OF ]. NJ, I. Hamilton,
should have been credited to the State
instead OF charged to the State, and that
this would make difference of Sl2l 20 in
lavor OF the State, which is due by III. ID.
Cameron, he having drawn the money from
the Treasury Of the State. As to the
items
Transportation ~ W
Transportation boats As 50
Transportation party "a IS
ro,ai.......,..........u..............n..,l 25 y
Your committee find no proper vouchers
for them. The testimony tends 10 show
that the first item $2S.00, was for hauling
laborers to their work in a spring wagon !;
az TO the SIS. so the testimony is vague and
uncertain; as to the $54.75, your commit
tee fad il was u double charge as to $50. rs
Of Il on exhibit A, aud is again charged as
to $3.50 OF it ia exhibit Il, showing il to
have heeen collected three times. Voucher
ID for $lT7.0O was collected twice by ii. d.
Cameron, once in voucher A, and once in
voucher d, both Of which were paid by the
State, and II. d. Cameron certainly owes
the State that amount he having drawn
the money.
4 A 4