Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-01-26
THE STATE.
TITLES TO SWAMP LANDS,
An Interview With GOV. Luce About
the Matter.

An Interview With GOV. Luce About
the Matter.
Tho reporter for the Michigan associat-
ed press interviewed Gov. Luce a few
days ago to ascertain what grain of truth
was. contained in the recent press
reports upon the position of state officers
in granting patents upon lands where the
title was IN dispute. 1t is given below;
"Governor, what is there in this news.
paper talk about a writ of mandamus to
compel you TO sign patents to state lands
Shere the title is in question:
There is not pa tlcle of foundation
FOR the rumor. tnln ~ originated Win
some oYer-zealous newspaper reporter or
publisher. Toe story would he narmess,
except that 1t adds 10 the uneasIness te.t
by purchasers OF and settlers upon lands
bought OF the railroad companies
Can you give me brief statement OF
your own views of the natter
nave do desire 80 enter into any ais
CusSiOu Of the question OF the ownership
oil those lands In dispute, as tnat Is In pro-
60, o. sett ement by the courts. but gen
tlcueu waO have given much attention TO
the mater believe that the state Will
ma nJain It's claims TO the lands plated
To IL as swamp land in lo,O. IL thls Is SO
the state officials Will not Da heu Dlalne'
less II they do not use ali honorable e1ortS
ing legal proceedings TO settle rival claims
TO these lands, it required but little rehec-
ton To convince me that law, practice
and sound policy indicated that none OIL
these lands should be patented by the
state. The law requires all state swamp
lands to be first offered mt public SALE This
has not been done and cannot he done TO adj
vantage until we mold an undlsputed title.
Some OF these lands are valuable, ana IL
would be wrong to permit individuals to
worth from 80 TO so per acre Tor 81 70
The views of tho land commissioner and
my own are in perfect harmony upon TINS
Question
"Does the suit brought by the Attorney
General affect those VINO have heretofore
bought of the rallroa-JP'
81 understand that 1t does NO.
Have you refused to sign patenv4 50
any of the state lands where proper our
tihcates have been presented
"Oh, no, and do not expect TO. fss
Governors duties in the matter are purely
ministerial. lie Is furnished with no platS
abstracts nor records, Hc deeds upon
Certificates issued by the land olhce
When it became known that IA suit was
about to be- commenced u mistaken notion
prevailed in relation to ITS scope ana eX'
tent. Some thought 1T might Affect the
title to all swamp lands, whether bought
N the state or OF the land grant railroad
Companies. Purchasers or these lands
find tho Governors signature TO their
p ltents and write this Office for informa-
lion. / nave done wnat / could to allay
gpprehe lsion, Some fear that Spectator
eau now step in and buy their lands away
from them. In reply to these communities
tions 1 have given assurance that no pat
ants would be signed where the question
81 title is involved in the injunction suit
if know il, until the question OF title Is
settled. Out of this has grown the silly
talk of mandamus. Purchasers OF any
q those lands haYe no cause for alarm.
The commissioner of the LAM Office is just
as averse TO selling settlers and purchasers
out OF land and home as | am, and they
may rest CONTENT