Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-02
THE WILD LANDS
CONTINUED from Page Six.)

| nearly all the States remaining land
| to the European and North American
Railroad rendered it no longer neces-
sary. In response To this sentiment
the legislature of 1875 passed. by the
necessary two thirds vote, the follow
ing resolve:
| Resolved, That the following amend
ment to the constitution Of this state
be proposed for the action Of the legal
voters of this state, in the manner re
/ CURED by the constitution. to wit:
4 Abolishing land agency.
Il Section ton Of article nine of the
II amendments, is hereby amended by
1 striking out the words land agent
1 and"
This resolve was approved by Gov
ernor Dingley, February "a 1876.
II 1t was submitted 10 the voters of the
II STATE at the September election in 1878
and carried by an overwhelming major
lily the vote standing 1892 yes, $3.50
II nol-t fact which very clearly SHOW Z
Il what the public sentiment Of the Stat,
| was on the subject III that time.
Mr. bennett says that the act Of
II March t. 1874, was a piece of, SLY
| crafty legislation" but it Will scarcely
| be claimed that there was anything 50
i very sly" or "crifty" about tbs
| amendment Of 1873 which was carried
50 strongly by the voters Of the state.
and which accomplished. in a legal
manner precisely the same result which
the act Of March 4, 1874 undertook to
accomplish.
II Referring to this subject Governor
Set.en Conner, in his Inaugural address
Of January 6, 1876, said:
The office Of Land Agent has been
abolished as constitutional Office by
an amendment to the constitution
which took effect the first day Of the
Il present month. Its revival by law and
continuance as a separate department
of the State, would seem TO entail I'M
| necessary expense. For prudentlal
reasons, it is advisable that the title
be retained and conferred upon the
| Treasurer or other officer to whom YOU
shall assign the duties Of the office.
| In his report for 1873 the Land Agent
Hon. Parker p. Burleigh, presented the
reasons why he felt that it would not
be wise to abolish his office al that
| time. he said:
"The recent amendment of the Con
stitution making the Land Agent q
| Legislative and not a Constitutional
officer Of the government and the sale
| Of the lands already effected, as stated
| in this report. naturally raise the qucs-
ton, what remains to be done before
cIosin., the office. and Of what use i
Its continuance These questions
would also seem to require an answer
under the provisions Of the act of 1915
chapter &c, section 3. During the time
/. which has expired. since the passage 81
that act. the Land Agent has 10 repor
. that under the direction Of the Cover
nor and Council he has brought to
termination all unsettled business con
Injected with the office and relating t,
TIE lands belonging TO the State. to tn
best of his ability but there still re
: mains, iInuch.if for, he office TO. perform
and which demands future action to :
greater or less extent.
l1-SETTLERS AND SETTLING
LANDS.
after sitting out from the lands i
| the several townships set apart 70
| settlement, those lots adjudged uni
| for that purpose, about 34,1Sl23 acre
remain to be disposed of to settlers
| These impose a duty To be performed
| A list of lots thus left to be dispose
Of will be found in Schedule i, an
| nexud % this report.
/ an addition TO these, the state stil
holds the title If a.. 061 go acres more
which have been taken up for settl,
. | ment. ana for which certificates hay
been granted to settlers. who are nov
| tI,.it. set al
and earning their titles. With ear
on, Of these accounts an account nov
stands open on the office books. Whir
accounts are. to he adjusted. and Wht
fully satisfied deeds are 10 he made j.
J. the state TheS. duties consist larg'
Iv az road labor to be performed. III
der the general supervision OF tf- Ian
Agent. but under the particular "Trl
sight of local agents appointed Tor II
nurpnse A list of lots thus held !
the state for which certificates are no
!. outstanding will be found
Schedule 20" annexed.
H-cONDITIONAL SALES.
a 9TH. recent sales Of lands under Il
rasolyr and act Of the last two legiSi;
tiy. sessions have nearly all been mac
IN /, credit of one ana two years Il
= two-thirds Of the price paid. but Is
y sales having been made for cash. &
cert the right to cut timber ana sra
on the public reserved lots. IN
c,se- when such credit has been %iF'
!, conditional deed has been execute
and the purchaser forbid cutting A
Timber upon the lands without perm
sion from the state Land Agent 4
whole sum thus due on theS" conc
,ional deeds is 500 1852. The duty
collecting this and looking after !
security. granting permits. etc, Is
course important and unless careful
watched may readily result IN loss.
ITI-RESERVED LOTS.
"The care and oversight Of the pub
lot, reserved in the grants made
This state and Massachusetts. until I
township is Incorporated Is also Vi