The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-16

at one time, through its agents attempted Il
show, by examination and oral testimony, thai
! large quantity OF land sold by the gen
l eral govern IN mt should have gone 70 the STATE
| by virtue OF said acts. The procedure wac
/ abandoned on account of the great expense
/ that 1t would incur and of the almost imposSt
bility OF obtaining such evidence. On Sept. %
| 1855, / appointed William A. Meloy, of Wash,
lngton, d. C.. counsel and agent for the state
/ 10 assert, prosecute and adjust before the lane
! department Of the general government thu
/ rights aud claims OF the state 10 any and al
/ lands aud indemnity land claims arising undes
and by virtue Of said acts, and authorized him
TO adjust the claims of the state on the basis Of
! the evidence contained in the held notes and
! platS OF survey remaining of record and on ole
| IN the land department; and such other evt
| dence as he might be able TO present; he 70 re
| ceive from the state, as compensation, 10 per
cent OF all indemnify recovered, but to have
no authority to receive or receipt foI
/ any indemnity allowed. His appointment and
contract for compensation were made subject
/ 70 ratification by the legislature. Mr.. Meloy
has been di igent and successful and succeeded
IN having allowed the state. IN May, 1856, Sl0,'
! 1911; in March 1SSS, S6,S96I0, which amounts
have been PAN into the state treasury and
credlcted TO the swamp land fund Mr.. Meloy
reports that further indemnity OF upward oil
twenty thousand dollars can be recovered but
| on account OF tn clerical expense that must be
incurred in seeu ing the necessary evidence fos
the presentation OF the claims he has been pre-
vented from pro Iecuting the work, and that II
| per cent. OF the n mount recovered is not a suE
! hcent compensation for hls services Mr.. Meloy
| mas not receive any compe nsation for the
! amounts recovered or the state, and now con
/ eur IN his opinion that 10 per cent Is not SUI
hclent compensation.
Green River Island.
! There has existed for many years a contro-
| versy between Kentucky aud Indiana in rels-
/ ton to the boundary line between the states at
| what's known as Green River Island Oh the Ohio
/ river. Collisions between the citizens residing
| on and adjacent to the island have been fire
1 quently Imminent growing ont OF disputes sS
70 the location OF the boundary line. The
courts OF both states have at times taken juris-
diction over the territory in controversy,
/ thereby creating confusion and bad feeling be-
/ tween the landowners. Several OF my prede-
! cesSOrs ATTEMPTED 10 effect a settlement OF the
| controversy bat without success. Upon exam
! nation OF the question | became convinced
/ that the only proper and legal mode OF settling
| the controversy was by suit in chancery in the
/ l. :. supreme court, and ln accordance with
i the statute passed Feb. -, 1SS7. author
/ ling and directing the governor TO
/ institute and prosecute in the supreme court of
] the United States. Or other proper tribunal, in
! the name and on behalf of the state Of Indiana,
/ suit ia chanceTy or other appropriate pro-
! ceeding, against the state Of Kentucky for the
/ purpose OF determining and settling the bound
! airy OF the state OF Indiana, with relation to
/ Green River island, and 70 determine and put
| at rest the questions which now exist as 10
/ whether said island Is within the boundary and
! jurisdiction OF the stale OF Indiana or of the
state OF Kentucky" and appropriating 5000
! ito be expended under the direction OF the
! governor TO defrav the expenses, including
! reasonable attorneys fees OF such litigation"
| | employed as counsel the firm OF Mcdonald &
! Butler NOW Mcdonald Butler Sn0wl and
] in ON IN, Ia h
J l. ;. supreme court In the name Of the state Of
/ Indiana against the state OF Kentucky, on the
! Sth day of Aug, 1887, 20 determine the bou nd
/ airy between the states at and near Green
] River island. To the bill Of the state OF Indi-
ana the state Of Kentucky has fled q cross
! bill, claiming the boundary between the states
/ to be such to include within the boundary %
! Kentucky both the sOcalled Green River
| island and a tract OF land 10 the north OF it
the latter being claimed as an accretion to the
! island. In this suit the testimony has been
taken, and the case will be ready for suomis-
/ sion 10 the court within th next three months.
/ The testimony In behalf OF the state of Indi-
/ ana has been largely directed to prove that the
! Green River island. sO-called, has never, since
1854, when the deed OF cesSlon OF the north
| western territory was executed, been a true
1 island since it has not been surrounded with
/ water, except for q small portion OF the year,
/ when the water in the Ohio river was near its
highest point
II
| presented in behalf OF this state tending 10
| show the existence of dispute regarding this
sO-called island ever since the eeSsion OF the
Northwestern territory. The facts regarding
/ the line run by the commissioners IN 1915 have
also been fully presented in the evidence.
The evidence taken in behalf OF the state, il
| is believed, covers every material tact in its
! favor, and the facts proved tend strongly TO
/ sustain its claims. Il is now confidently eI-
/ pected that the supreme court will settle this
! troublesome question in favor OF the state Of
! Indiana.
1t may be that the present appropriation Is
not sufficient TO pay the expenses OF the suit
! and adequately compensate counsel. II, upon
/ a proper showing, you find the same TO be In
sufficient, it should be increased.
Conclusion.
Ny term as chief executive of the state viii
soon expire. In surrendering the important
trust confded to my care by a generous people,
| can say that it has been my constant en-
deavor to administer il with strict impartialily
toward all, and in such manner as | believed
would best subserve the interest Of the state
and promote the welfare of the people.
Trusting that your relations may be agreeable
and pleasant invoke the assistance and direc-
ton OF the Divine Ruler in your deliberations,
and ask His blessings upon US as a people and
a state.
Determined to save Dudley.
Evansville Courier
No reason for refusing 10 confirm Judge