The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-14
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
The County solons-swamp Lana Moneys
Moneys other business.
MONDAYS SESSION.


the effect that a committee OF three be
appointed by the chair To look up the
swamp land money alleged to be lying
i'm the United States treasury TO the
credit of La Sale county, and report
whether or not the money is there,
and, il it Is, to suggest means OF re-
covering 1t.
Senator Rheinhart told me that
there was $4,000 Of the proceeds OF
the sale of La Sale county's swamp
lands lying in the United States treas,
ury," said Mr.. Trueman. "He said
that the sale of the land was matter
of record in the County Clerks Office,
in the State House and in the General
Land Ofice, and that the county
should have the money"
Visions of barrow loads OF gold,
wheeled from Washington TO ottawa,
at once tloated before the bewildered
gaze of the Board, TO whom Mr..
Trueman was apparently IA second
Moses, about to sew buttons upon the
busted treasury. Everyone but DOC"
Norton seemed surprised. DOC,
much to the Amusement OF Mr.. True
man, merely smiled. Doc was
loaded for bear, and, arising with all
of the dignity and brOom-corn hair at
his command, stood in a statuesque
attitude. But Mr.. Fades had cap
tured the eye OF the chair.
"This thing is all very we'll" re-
marked Mr.. Fades who also appeared
to be loaded, having seemingly given
the subject much thought in relation
to its bearings upon the county H.
nances, he being chairman OF the
Finance Committee, which has no
''fn."l eyes, it is all very well, but
from what gather from letters writ
ten by S. M. Stocksledger, Assistant
Land Commissioner and Congressman
Plumb, in 1886 the only way in which
the money, which | understand
amounts to a much less sum than the
gentleman has named, can be reached
is through the state. / understand
that it must first be applied for by the
state, and then, If recovered, the state
transmits it to the county. These
gentlemen write that it would do no
good to push the matter, as the Gen
eral Land Office will adjust 1t in good
season."
Mr.. Fades read the letters, which
contained advice as represented.
doc" Norton again arose, assumed
a statesqne pose, unbent, and pro-
ceeded to jump upon Mr.. Stocksledger,
Col. Plumb, Mr.. Fades and the United
States, all in one breath.
"What did anybody ever get from
the United States treasury without |
submitting proof? We have got to
prove up this land. We must send
proofs down to Washington, or we
won't get dollar. They know the
record of every soldier in the war.
Why don't they give every wounded
man pension? Don't every man
who gets pension have to prove his
claim"
A voice-"What's the matter with |
Senator Henderson? Did he submit
proofs?"
"Oh, that's d frerent matter. That
was a new administration"
Then the Doc, as usual, aired his |
honesty and jumped upon the hood
lers" and upon former county boards. |
"Why," remarked the Doc, Sin 1886
Samuel Wiley was given contract to
recover this swamp money. He was
to have so per cent. and then the board
went back on its agreement. This
money amounts to more than $4,000.
1t Is nearly 100000. am in commu-
nication with attorneys in Washing
ton, who have branch Office in Chi
cago, and they are willing to collect
the money for 1874 per cent. There is
a gentleman present who has been
upon this variety of claims,
and l would suggest that he be heard
Mr.. Furgeson desired to hear from
Geo. w. Armstrong, who had had the
matter in charge during 1865.
Mr.. Armstrong stated that the mat
ter had once been assigned to him and
that all he could find Of swamp lands
was a quarter section in Troy Grove,
an eighty in Eagle and a half section
IN Bruce. These had been sold by the
government. He had made full
report and found that something over
1 thousand dollars of the money had
been paid. He was unable, at that
time, to do anything further in the
natter.
Mr.. Trueman said that 20 per cent, as
in connection with the
hOrt-lived Wiley contract, was too
much. He thought there were plenty
If home attorneys who would do the
work for much less. He understood
hat some were opposed to looking the
natter up because 1t would disturb
titles. He was willing to have them
disturbed If the county could get its
money.
Green p. Corner, the gentleman
spoken Of by Doc Norton, then adj
dressed the board. Mr.. Corner blew
MS own horn with vigor that fairly
shook the building. He said that he
knew more about the swamp-land
business than any other man in Ameri-
"a. Indeed he was a walking cyclic
Dedia on swamp lands, from the soles
If his gum shoes to the bald place up
IN the apex OF his "think tank" He
vas also angular and i'll made, and his
ong arms played about him with a
Violence that caused men near the
loor to dodge in preference to being
wiped from the face Of the earth. He
aid, among other things, that $4,000
vas due this county and he could get
t for 90 per cent.-Sl0,000. He would
guarantee to produce il within year
lie made business Of it, and had 4;
money enough TO carry out the neces- '
AIRY proceedings and thousands
II