Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-01-15

more such labor is required, and | recon-
mend such legislation as is necessary to
perfect and preserve these records.
There are in Hancock county 30,-
40 SJ-100 acres of land granted in lieu
OF sixteenth section lands, in the Choc-
taw purchase, belonging to townships in
the counties of Amte, Adams, Bolivar,
Clarke, Clay, Copiah, Carroll, Coyington,
Coahoma, Claiborne. Franklin, Greene,
Hancock, Holmes, Harrison, Issaquena,
Jefferson, Jones, Jackson, Jasper, KEN
per, Lcflore, Lauderdale, Lawrence,
Lowndcs, Marion, Monroe, Newton, Nox
ubee, Neshoba, Perry. Quitman, Simp-
son, Sun6ower. Tallahatchie, Washing
ton, Warren, Winston, Wayne, Yazoo,
Sharkey and Smith. refer you TO an
act of congress, approved May 90, 1896,
cntitled AN act to appropriate lands for
the support Of schools in certain town
ships and fractional parts Of townships
not before provided for" and on act of
congress, approved February 2G, 1859, en-
titled AN act to authorize settlers upon
16 and 36 sections who settled before the
survey Of the public lands to pre-cmpt
their settlements"
Levccs.
When the overflow of the Mississippi
delta was threatened last year, the con-
victs, except those required to cultivate
the State farms not subject TO flood,
were put to work on the leyecs, for such
compensation as was TO be, and was
thereafter agreed between the board Of
control and the lcvee boards. 1t was
feared at the time that the overflow
would depreciae the property in the
flooded district, and rotard the growth Of
that section, but from the best informa-
tion | can obtain it made better crop
last year, after the inundation, than ever
before, and it is sought by investment as
if no overflow had occurred.
Properly understood, the experience of
last year teaches that the waters of the
river can be confined within the levees,
by Il reasonable outlay of money, and it
is hoped that the general government will
in the near future make appropriations
for the accomplishment Of this result
Congress feels that it is incumbent upon
the government TO eXpend money upon
the river to improve its navigation; that
the confinement Of the waters within the
levees dredges the channel of the river
and thus improves its navigation. If this
is SO the levee districts of this State
have expended more than thirteen mill
ions of dollars in improving the naviga-
ton Of tie rivera burden admitted by
congress to belong to the general gov
ernmcp-in the building of their evees
and I, is, in my opinion, but just that the
geperal government make some compen-
sAlion Especially is this so when it is
Remembered that the government has
bHilt levces on the other side of the river,
that raise the water against the levecs
an this side,
Education.
The elaborate report of the supcrin-
= tcndellt of education will put you in pos
session of the facts of the excellent ad-
lAinistration Vt this department of the
State g0Yernmcnn,
Asa yslEa ,siye Of In, appreciation Of any
Iegis ssts promotiyc Vi tho common
J sehGs4h suote from my message 8f
Atlil III 1871: ~i'he principle OF cgwmon
, scf6sIs for the edtication Of the chifd~nn
! of the State has reached place in the
system of our laws, and the doctrine has
taken such root in the hearts of the peo-
pie that the intention to perpetuatc these
schools is unqucstoncd. The principle is
not based upon the idea of charity, but
of public benefaction, in the preparation
of those upon whom devolves the duty,
as citizens, Of perpetuatlng free govern
ment for the intelligent and patriotic
discharge of such duty. For myself
can say that unless it be that which
goes in support of the eleemosynary in
stitutions. there is no tax which | pay
more cheerfully than that which goes in
support of the common schools"
Lnnd Grants.
On the 30th Of January, 1896, the sec
retary of the interior approved list of
21,912.6J acres of lands selected by my
predecessor, Gov Stone, for ;he Uni
versity of Mississippi, and in February
received certified transcript of said list
Of lands from the commissioner of the
general land office. in Washington, under
date of February 3, 1896, which is now
on file in the governors office. These
lands were selected under an act of
congress, approved June 90 1891. to sup
ply a deficiency in the grant of public
lands to the State of Mississippi for the
use Of the State University.
BY an act of congress, approved March
,, 1898, certain very valuable lands in
this State heretofore reserved for naval
purposes We're restored to the public do
Il, "a a. ta1 "A, 1,.J
in the certified list | have mentioned.
While the list of lands selected for the
university has been approved by the
secretary of the interior, long since, pat
ent has not been issued for said lands,
as required by the act of congress. |
have called the attention of the secretary
of the interior to this fact.
Patent, which is now on file in the
office of the land commissioner of this
State, was issued to the State on the
ID day of March, 1897, for 81, 22S.50 acres
for the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege for colored persons, under the act of
congress for the encouragement Of educa-
ton in the State of Mississippi, approved
February 20, 1898.
Under the same act of congress a list
of lands, containing 22.S09.S0 acres, was
selected for the Agricultural and Me
chancial College, was approved on the
10Th day of November, 1897, by the sec
retary of the interior and forwarded to
me from Washington the 9th of Novem-
Der, 1897, by the commissioner of the
general land office, with his promise of
thn nroua rn tion and tronsmissnu of n