The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-09-03
Land Commissioners French Urges
That HOmesteaders Must Not
Lose Tax Lands.
DUTY OF THE LEGISLATURE
That Legislation be Enacted to
Protect Honest
Settlers.

The fifty-sixth report of the state
land Office, which has just been issued
by Land Commissioner VIM. A.
French, deals quite extensively with
the subjects of tax, homesteads, su-
gar beets and forestry, beyond the
report of the regular business of the
department.
In reference to the tax homestead
lands the commissioner has con-
siderable to say about the home
stead law and also about the opinion
of the supreme court which mater
tally affected the title to numerous
parcels of land held by the state and
homesteaded. He says:
''The law was most beneficial
one in its operations. Not only
many deserving people were pro-
vided with homes and the means to
earn livelihood, but every tax
payer would have been directly
benefited.
"Some of the lands that come
within it's position can be made into
good farms and are rapidly being
settled upon by people who are not
afraid of work and privation and
who would be willing to bear their
share of the public burdens.
'The decision of the supreme
court in the case of the Connecticut
Mutual life insurance company VS..
Eugene B. Wood materially affected
the states title to some of the tax
homestead lands and caused wide
spread uneasiness among those who
had in good faith entered upon the
lands and were faithfully carrying
out their part of the contract with
the state. ~
Following the decision of the su-
preme court the issuing of certifi-
Gates was suspended, but every ef-
fort was made to reassure the home
steaders, as it was not believed by
the commissioner that the state
would permit any homesteader to
lose anything on account Of the
states title to the land not being a
valid one. After petitioning the gov
ernor and both branches of the
legislature during the extra session
law was enacted providing that no
proceedings could be commenced to
dispossess a homesteader until 80
days after the adjournment of the
next legislature.
''There can be no question as to
the duty of the legislature" says
Commissioner French. Every
homesteader who entered upon these
lands prior to the supreme courts
decision did SO in good faith. They
went onto the land to make home
of it, and they are entitled to that
privilege. If homesteader is eject
ed he cannot be properly recon-
pensed. Legislation should prompt
ly be enacted making it possible for
the state to guarantee every home
steader upon these lands that at the
end of five years residence deed
will be given and the home secured
to those who so richly deserve it.
There is no other honorable course
for the state to pursue and in the in
terest OF these people I earnestly
urge that you call the attention of
the legislature to this matter. f"
During the past year there has
licensed to settlers 81, lO7 acres of
tax homestead lands. Last year
there was reverted to the state 1857
acres of these tax homestead lands.
In reference to the beet sugar in
dustry in Michigan, which originated
when the legislature enacted a
bounty law, which operates through
the land Office, the report says in
brief: "For the first time in history,
beet sugar will be manufactured in
Michigan this year. The farmer
who raises beets may have the
pleasure of drinking the sugar
therefrom in his coffee, and know
that the entire process of manufac-
ture was carried on in his own state.
This has been possible for 20 years,
but encouragement was necessary.
A factory costing upwards Of $780,
600 has been erected near Bay City,
and will take care Of this year s crop