The Forrest City times., 1898-11-11
STATE LANDS.
'"r"'cr Commissioner Ritchie's Bi-cuniai Report shows :9o, ,5SG Acres Were
 Disposed Of.


 The biennial report of Hon. J. F. Ritchie, who retired from the office of land commission November 1, having served two terms, contains much valua- ble information. Since the last report deeds have been issued for 19, ,76s 93 acres of sixteenth-section land. The amount collected and paid into the state treasury by attorneys, under the pro- visions of act of March 31, 1885, regu- lating sale of sixteenth section lands, was $2,003.34, and collectors of the var ious counties paid in on account of sales made under the above act $3S, Al 40.
 The report shows that on Septem- Der 30, 1898, there appeared on the records of the offices, subject to sale. the following lands: Internal improve ment, 14,5S0.4s acres; seminary, 4s1. ss acres; saline, 9,s5s. II acres; real estate bank lands, 3,1O6.3O acres; lands for feited for taxes Subject to sale or dona- tion) i67, 120 acres; lands forfeited for taxes Subject to sale or donation) which did not pass through the overdue tax sale, 544.20O acres; approved swamp lands, fl 1855. 42 acres.
 The following exhibit shows the amount and kinds of lands sold and otherwise disposed of, and the amounts received therefor during Mir. Ritchie's administration:
 Swamp land, approved, S075,27 acres sold for s3,755.91
 Swamp land, unapproved. s4l43 acres sold for si2679
 Saline. 52s 70 acres sold for se6os7
 Internal improvement ,3s2 l6 acres sold for S1.72770
 Forfeited sold under act of April I. 1887, 26,7 43 acres for s33 4l072.
 Forfeited town and city lots sold for taxes penalty and costs g. 007.50.
 Forfeited town and city lots sold act Febru- ary 24. 1885, SIS 25
 Forfeited land redeemed by minors for taxes, penalty and costs, acts 1877 and 1879, l.267 g acres for si3i.95.
 Forfeited, redeemed under act of April Q, 1891, amended March 7, 1895, 43, f22 0s acres for &, ,952-g7.
 Forfeited relInquished. act February l5, 1887. l,f15 % acres.
 Forfeited donated, i3s, ,s547 acres.
 Forfeited donated and deeded to actual set- tiers 8, $50 9T acres.
 Real estate bank, 320 acres sold for S660
 Total amount fees. s17392. 10.
 Total. 296. .5S6 79 acres, s66. 40 59
 Upon the sale of forfeited lands, Mir. Ritchie makes the following sugges- ton:
 As to forfeited lands, it will be seen that by far the greater portion did not pass through the overdue tax sales, and a great portion of these lands were forfeited years ago, when, owing to the condition Of the revenue laws and imperfect execution of the same, the title of the state to these lands is very questionable
 When poor man. honest and hard working expends his money In purchasing CT donating land for home for his family. and, after im- proving it, finds upon investigation that his deed from the state Is really not worth the paper 1t is written on. and that the state will not refund his money or give him other land in lieu thereof, he feels that he has been robbed and if able to leave the state, doubtless would, in disgust. The impression has gone abroad that all the state lands are in the same condi- tion and that she cannot make good title 10 any lands. In my judgment. the policy pur- sued by the state in selling these lands, giving doubtful titles and refusing to refund the money where titles fail. would be considered unworthy and dishonest in an individual, and equally as much so in the state.
 l recommend the adoption of a law author izing the refunding of purchase money paid for lands erroneously forfeited for taxes, upon filing with the commissioner of state lands conclusive evidence that the state cannot make the purchaser title to the land
 I would also recommend the repeal of the act approved February 24 lss', An act for the sale of town lots forfeited for taxes