Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-07
l.sp AGENTS atpoar


Monday morning Lard Agent Oak leaves
for Boston On business connected with his
tensrtmens. Among the purposes of his
visit is to examine the Massachusetts, land
plans with reference to having the re-
mainaIcr that are of especial value To this
State copied for the Maine Office.
TIE work of copying the Massachusetts,
plans j. nearly completed, but about year
ago A large number Of other valuable ones
relating to Maine lands were found. These
latter the Maine officers had not known
we're in existence. The need of copies Of
the most valuable of these plans viii be
brouyh, up in the forthcoming report of
Land Agent Oak and he hopes tina, some
provision may be made for copying them.
Another important matter that his report
touches upon is the Madawaska settlers at
tituIe toward the lines that were drawn BY
the commission appointed by the State in
1889 for the purpose Of properly dividing
these settlers lands. These people had
settled so irreguiariy that the lines between
their lots were a Chinese puzzle. To
remedy this, the commission Strengthened
them, To do which they i'll some
instances took from one lot and added 10
another but in their opinion making just
compensation in some other part of the
lots. At first the settlers appeared satisfied
but later hogan to make trouble and MIR.
OAK wants the State TO make some pro-
vision whe reby these settlers shall be COM
peiled TO abide by the lines established by
the commission.
A sull more irpportan. matter that the
agent brings up IN his report Is the school
lands. 30 called. for which the State years
- Ian Z
office u very imperfect record of these lands
and in many eases no record whatever.
Owing 10 these imperfect records there
have been many lirigations between
the State and the prcprietors of adjoining
lands. and Mr.. Oak expresses the hope
that some provision may b. made by the
Legislature 50 that towns having no de-
scriptioa of reserved lots eau have them
located and so that complete record of all
the reserved lots shall he made by the State
and kept in the land office. In some towns
there is no record of location aud in many
others the record is very imperfect.
The lana agent mentions that when ho
took possession of the land office he found
the index OF the plans obscure and in many
places incorrect. The index of the deeds is
correct in the form in which it was made.
but he says it furnishes but little informa-
ton about when and TO whom the several
lands were sold. He adds that he found
the surveyors field notes in very disar-
ranged state, having no index whatever
He says that they should be preserved with
the greatest care, but it seemed that this
had not always been done. but when
or by whom they were taken from the
office is matter of conjecture
ouly. If there is any way in which they
can be returned to the office they would he
greatly appreciated by reason of their great
value in retracing lines and establishing
boundaries. lie says that of the ilt
volumes of these notes remaining in the
office there mad been made the past year m
inlex by which any data in the possession
of the office con easily be found.
Tho agent refers in his report to the
islands conveyed by Maine and Massachu-
sets aud includes in his report complete
list rs far as he has been able to trace H.,
records. He says there are numerous is
lands not included in this list which accord
ing to general opinion belong to the State
although there are pretended owners basins
| their title on the fact tina, they have beer
claimed by their family for wears. II.
agent, however takes the ground that whti
there has been no actual improvements on
the lanl or real occupancy he fails TO sec
how any valid claim can be set up.