The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-15
COMMUNISM IN
ILLINOIS LEASES
Land Grants in Kaskaskia Still
Held in Name of the
People.

sy over the leasing Of lands near Kas-
kaskia and threatened litigation which
may involve the state, have called at
tention to the fact that there still ex-
lists one of the old communistic institu-
tions brought to the new world by ear
ly French settlers. This is the "scom
mons' and owned and held in common
by residents of the pioneer villages for
farming purposes. There are several
such tracts in the southern part Of
the state, the most important and rich
est being located near the old state
capital.
How these commons came into exist
ence is an interesting chapter in Hi
nois history, beginning with the found
ing of the settlement at Kaskaskia by
the Jesuits and the first grant Of Louis
XIV. In the organization of the vii
lage grants of commons for the bene-
fit of the inhabitants Of the village
were made, supplemented by grants to
settlers, which, taken together, made
what was known as the common
feld.n H.
The origin original grant s vas ma made to ;, An =
Louis XIV, surrendered it to the crown
and the Company Of the West, headed
by John Law. This company was af-
terWard known as the East India COM
pany. When it surrendered its char
ter, in 1882, the crown appointed gov
errors, one of whom, in l743, issued a
proclamation confirming the title to the,
commons in the villagers of Kaskaskia.
Change in Owners. .-
The English took possession of the
settlement as one of the fruits Of the
French and Indian war, but later it fell
into the hands Of Virginia as a result
of the expedition led by General George
Rogers Clark. The house of delegates
of Virginia took jurisdiction over the
settlement in ITS and appointed
Colonel John Tod as its governor. 9th
er states protested against Virginia
holding the territory, and in 1871 she
coded it to the United States. Two
years later an act was passed confirm
ing the titles held by the French and
Canadian settlers, who had protested
themselves citizens Of Virginia.
Congress, by an act passed in 1910,
decided the boundaries of the commons
| upon a report made by commission
appointed for the purpose and con-
frmed the titles Of the holders of in
dividual tracts. When Illinois was adj
mitted . to the union, its constitution
was made to- provide that land held in
common should remain SO and should
not be "leased, sold or divided under
any pretense whatever
By 184S all thought Of using the com
months in the old communistic way had
been abandoned and provision was
made in the constitution for leasing
the lands, on petition Of a majority Of
the qualified voters interested in them.
Trustees Chosen.
An act was passed in 1851 creating a.
board Of trustees for the commons and
giving them authority to lease the land.
1t provided for the payment of rents
to trustees, who should use the same for
| the benefit Of the inhabitants of Kas-
kaskia for school and other purposes.
One section Of the act permitted the
use of a part of the money for religious
purposes and a part of the rental has
since gone to the Catholic church there,
almost all of the villagers interested
in the commons being members Of this
denomination. At present the salary Of
the priest, the janitor and incidental
expenses. amounting in all to about
81, 400 a year, are paid by the trustees
| OF the commons
AS the new constitution prohibits the
use of public money for religious pur-
poses, there is question as to the right
of the trustees to. make the payments,
but the people being of the same faith
there is no complaint over the practice,
and each year they sign petition ask
ing that the payment be made. The &C.
tion is defended on the ground that
the land was originally granted to the
Catholic church, and that is where the
are supported from the rentals of the
commons.
! Trouble Over Leases.
| The present trouble grows out of the
leasing Of the lands, which, under the
law, Should be done by public bidding
It is asserted that an arrangement was
made by which all outsiders were shut
out and the lands were leased to the
villagers at ridiculously low figures
They in turn released the land at higl
prices, and it is understood that sew
eral Of them are living off the lease
money they receive. This is defended
on the ground that the villagers have
a fee in the property and ought to have
the benefit of the rentals.
. According to some stories, however
the villagers have not been able to hol(
} tn leases, and spectators have com,
into possession Of them and are enrich
ing themselves. Those who were shu
out in the last bidding now threaten
to make trouble. They hold that tn
/ fair deal, and that the whole incom,
should go to the common fund insteat
of to individuals. 81.
Occupants of the lands are great,
disturbed. Few of them are resident
of the village, and the trustees having
I decided that they can lease the LAM
hereafter only to the villagers are a
! the mercy Of whoever gets control O
the leases. ,.-s--
Some have gone to Chester to consul
4 attorneys over the matter, only to lear
4 that almost all the thrifty practitioner
4 Of the county seat have some leases.
2 The occupants of the commons ar
: described as honest and industrious
The land which they occupy is rich an
valuable.
The villagers do not average so wei
e The community is poor one, and froI
!: the blight Of living in common place
!. upon it by the dreamers Of Louis XIV.
time is has never recovered.