Year: 1870


rails ONCE. 1t is full and able document We pre-
sent such parts Of it as are OF general INTEREST,"


PATENTED AND UHPATESTED LANDS


During six years, embracing the period since the
show that four thousand six hundred and thirty
(463O) tracts OF land have been patented AID that
Ave hundred and forty dollars and six cents
229 $40 06) have been paid into the State Treasury
through this department, against twelve hundred
aud eighteen tracts patented, and sixty-eght thou
sand seven hundred and slxty-three dollars and
SSnsS aG pau IA % enTng 1a TIN sne ro SIX
sent system OF collecting these accounts, for II the
bare publication OF the law has brought about SO
much activity the subject OF patentlng lands 1t Is
but reasonable to expect that the lien dockets which
bring the matter home to the people, as they do, by
showing what tracts are unpatented, will cause the
great body Of OF uDpatented lands to liqul-
date the amounts due the State


The act OF Sth April, 1869, which restraints the At
torney General from proceeding TO collect the liens
under the seventh seJtion OF the act OF 20th May,
1884, for one year from the date at which the
'county land lien dockets" are forwarded to the
counties, respectively, was eminenty just and
proper, because gives those Interested ample time
to prepare their cases and send in their applications
and receive their patents, without incurrlng the
additional cost that suit in the courts OF Danphln
thought that 1t would be TO the best interest OF either
the State or the debtor to extend the time thus
limited To do so would be but to repeat In another
FORM the history OF the act OF 1885, for 1t would in
duce procrastination, and excite hopes that still
further extension OF time or easier terms would be
offered The mode now adopted for the collection
OF these liens believed to be the best that been



forcement OF it will wipe out, so far as can be dyne
this long deferred and unfinished business.


THE PAYMENT OF LAND CLAIMS


What may have been the controlling motive OF the
State for its ong-continued forbearance in the past
cannot now be certainly known, though it can be
readily conceived that before the development Of the
resources OF the Commonwealth by system of pub
lie improvements, and before the network OF rail-
roads were constructed, which now afford direct
means Of communication to almost every county
when money was very difficult to be obtained, and
the farmer able to do but little more than make
living in the sparsey settled districts-the lumber
and mineral lands almost valueless because scarcely
any progress had been made towards making avail
able the wealth &C, contained in tnem there were
TO fulfil the contracts made with the State
for for their Land lands ,a,,, And, further, it is true
ultimate payment OF the claims against them, be-
sides the amounts in particular cases, as rule were
small, with the exception OF the accounts against
what are technically known as applications" and
"Actual Settlements" on which not one dollar, in
most instances has ever been paid. But now that
the lands have appreciated in value to such an
extent that the original price nf them even where
the whole OF 1t remains unpaid (and the proportion
of such cases to the whole number OF liens is very
smalD, is scarcely an item when compared with
their present value, there be no reason either
In equity or public policy, why payment should not
be made and the titles fully completed. How mani
OF the State towards those owing her account OF
lands, and the rigorous collection OF claims against
other defaulting debtors!


Many additional reasons might be adduced why
these long deferred claims should be settled not the
least Of which is the necessity and cost OF maintain
ing this department. II the necessary measures
should be adopted, and the laws vigorously en-
forced can see no valid reason why all the ac-
counts, OF every character, should not be entirely
settled in four five years, the department, such
closed, and the building and records with a sufh-
placed under the control OF some other department
OF the State Government.


- INSECURITY OF THE STATE ARCHIVES


I have frequently called attention to the nse-
cur1ty OF the archives OF this department, and feel
that the Importance OF the subject will justify in
doing so again. The Commonwealth having assumed
the care and protection OF these important records
and papers, undoubtedly the most valuable TO the
great boey of her citizens of any in its custody it
due to them that all reasonable precaution be taken
to preserve them, at whatever cost may be neces
sary for that purpose. repeat what heretofore
took occasion to say that he interior OF the build
ing is not fre-proof and the accumulation OF books
and papers for over century occupy nearly all the
available space around the wallsthese are ali iiabie
TO he destroyed by the merest accident. Should the
records Of this ONCE be destroyed by fire, the loss
IL should not be deemed eXpedent to make the
building itself areproof properly constructed iron
cases in place Of the wooden ones now in use, weuld
afford at least comparative safety"


LAND PATENT REGULATIONS.


The following regulations relative to issuing
patents are published for the information and euid
ance OF owners OF unpatented lands:-


]. The patent must issue to the actual owner of
or to the executors, trustees or heirs and legal
representatives Of the person in whom title was
children OF the deceased.


IL. Warrantees VINO remain the owners OF the land
warranted and surveyed TO them can obtain patents
In their own names Qf no caveat remains undeter-
mined) without furnishing any brief or statement OF
title, upon payment OF back purchase money, inte-


III. Executors, trustees and guardians represent.
ing the warrantee, his heirs, who apply for
patents, should produce evidence OF their appoint
ment as such.


". When the land has passed out OF the owner
ship OF the original warrantee, or party who took
out the ONCE right, the applicant for patent will be
required TO furnish evidence OF ownership


Y. The present owner OF part OF a tract OF land
surveyed In pursuance OF any given warrant, de-
string to have patent In his own name, obtain
it by having the county surveyor make return OF
county surveyor should besides giving the courses
and distances and quantity OF In the particular
part indicate the whole OF the original tract by
dotted lines The applicant will only be required To
tract with fees. Evidence OF ownership TO accom-
pany application.


VI When an unpatented original tract has been
sold and sub-divided, the several present owners
may unite In an application for patent and statement
OF title and upon payment OF amount due with
patent ana Otner fees, patent Will issue to them,
the said applicants, their heirs and assigns, accord
ing 70 their respective rights and interests without
setting forth the particular interest OF each.


VII In cases where 1t is dlnlcult to submit the
evidence OF title required by this Office Ia order Il
obtain patent, any one or more OF the owners OF
an uApatented tract can, through this department
discharge the lien against said tract by the payment
OF the purchase money, interest and fees shown Il
be due by the land lien docket and the nteres
since accrued, and patent can at any time after
wards issue to those entitled to 1t upon proof 0
ownership.


lated TO June l. 1868. III to the amount due, a
shown In Its proper column, there be added the In
terest accruDg from June 1s6s TO the date OF for
wardng the docket TO the Prothonotary, at the rat
given in the column OF rate per cent. of interest
and on this sum- including the fees (0r when fee
only are duel interest be calculated at the rate o
six per cent from the time OF forwarding the docke
untn the date OF the application for patent 1t VII
.t..o N. nav,fr n n