The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-07-16

'oZ3.o9 acres, dlllotHV ~ eeicooO" on"
reported prior to March 3, 1857, was l )
$50, 27l.5l; amount reported since March
3, 1857, $500 ,052.0S.
Bv the act OF Congress approved March
3. 1857 oil Stat, 25D selections OF swamp
and overhowed lands under the act Of'lS50
heretofore llade and reported to the Gen
eral Land Office so far as the lands remain
vacant and unappropriated and not inter
ferred with by actual settlement under
any existing law of the United States,
were confirmed to the States and the an
prevail and patenting of the same to the
several States was directed and required.
BY this act $3.50, 21l.5. acres of swamp
land selected and reported to the Com
missioner of the General Land Office prior
to March ,, 81, were confirmed to the
State of Florida, whether in fact swamp
lands or not. OF the $500, O52.0S acres
reported since March 3, lS57, there have
been approved by the Secretary OF the In
terror ), l3l, 94432 acres. OF the lands SO
approved there have been patented to the
State + ,953, 1880; and there are remain
ING unpatented of such selections 3,G75,-
7lS.5S acres. But a comparatively small
quantity Of lands have been approved or
patented to the State since Septemb>",
1879, and none have been approved o.
patented since June, 1885.
Among the witnesses examined before
the committee was Mr.. :. K. Edwards,
chief Of the swamp-land divisions in the
General Land Office. From his statement
it appears that III every case where the
lands selected by the State of Florida as
swamp and overilowed lands have not
passed beyond the control OF the General
Land Office, either by confirmation of the
prevail and patent OF selections since tia,
date, persons filing atlidavits alleging
that lands selected by the State are not
swamp or overlooked land within the
meaning OF the grant are allowed 20
contest the States claim to the Lands
and that in >uch contest for lands which
have not been patented the burden Of
proof of the character OF the land j. upon
the state. 1t appears also that Tie Sat.
makes no defense, but allows her claims
t. be rejected in such cases Withou, pro
test or objection. Before selected lands
are approved or patented 70 the SAFE
eminent appointed by the Secretary Of
the Interior, and are not approved to thc
State unless his report shows t}icln TO be
uacr this STATE of the Law and Of (hr
practice IN the Department, i; docs not
appear to the committee that any farther
legislation l. required to- secure To- set; Ter,
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bv AGENTS under The cmutovrneut Of his bn,r1
but the proof Of lhcir character i, made no, to
US u b"t 70 the Secretary OF The Interior OF the
' i,,'d 5' ~ NV ;'nT ~ ''i ","', causrs
and determines WHEELER crrnf ,h lands snnc,.i
swamp and overtlowcd
A serious question arises AZ ia The
power OF Congress in the premises
if it shall be proposed to authorize pro.
cecdngs to be instituted to Sc, aside
patents which have been issued to the
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