No. 8. 1945.' REPORT of Select Committee in relation to School Lands. "Resolved, That a select committee be appointed to inquire in o and report to this House at the earliest possible period, what portion of the land appropriated in the different fractional townships in the state for school purposes, under the act of Congress of May 20, 1826, has been selected, and what portion of such land so selected, if any, as granted to fractional townships, remains unsold.." The select committee appointed under the foregoing resolution, have had the same under consideration, and respectfully report: That it was found necessary in order to obtain the information demanded by the resolution, to call upon the Commissioner of the State Land Office, he being the officer in charge of the ublic lands, and 1 having possession of the records and books pertaining thereto. To the letter addressed by your committee to that officer, the following answer was promptly returned; which as it embodies the necessary information, so far as the same can be obtained, is submitted as a portion of this report: STATE LAND OFFICE, } SIR-In answer to the enquiries contained in the resolution of the House transmitted to me in yours of 30th January last, I state as follows: 1st. That 7,274 87-100 acres have been selected for school purpo ses, under the provisions of the act of Congress of May 20, 1826, for fractional townships, in which the 16th section was excluded or defi cient. 2nd. That 5.635 28-100 have been selected for similar purposes, under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 23, 1836, in lieu of the 16th section in those townships in which the same may have been previously sold or otherwise disposed of, making the aggregate of both selections as above mentioned 12,910 15-100 acres, as appears by official lists thereof, certified by the Commissioner of the general Land Office to have been approved by the Secretary of the United States Treasury, in conformity with the provisions of the above recited acts. 3rd. 1,816 37-100 acres of the said selections have been sold, leaving unsold of the said aggregate 11,093 78-100 acres. From the foregoing it will be apparent, that a large number of acres are yet to be selected for fractional townships, and to make up deficiencies in the 16th section wherever the same is fractional and falls short of a full section. But on account of the inability to determine with accuracy the amount of acres we are entitled under the said acts of Congress, to select in each township, without full and correct maps of the same; and expecting to be supplied with such maps by the State Geologist, as provided for by law, no further selections have been made. To this subject you will find I have briefly alluded in my annual report for 1843, page 16. But, although many of those township maps have been furnished this office by the State Geologist, the number remaining to be executed is very large, and I fear will require yet a great length of time for their completion. It is probable, therefore, that the best plan of obtaining the desired information is, to procure it directly from all the land offices in this State; from the office of the Surveyor General, at Cincinnati, or from the general land office, at Washington; at either of which access can be had to all the maps of the surveyed townships in the State. I therefore respectfully suggest, for your consideration, the propriety of introducing a resolution requiring the State Geologist and Commissioner of the land office to procure the information sought after. in connection with that contemplated by the 28th section of the act No. 68, of 1844, page 89, from such source as it may be most speedily and economically obtained, and thereafter to cause the lands we are entitled to, to be selected according to the provisions of the said acts. In reference to the surveys of the 16th section, as contemplated in the 28th section of said act, No. 68, and the difficulties in executing the work by the State Geologist, the attention of the Legislature is directed in my last annnal report, pages 8 and 9. A specific appropriation is there mentioned as being required for that purpose, and may be made of sufficient amount to cover that expense, together with the costs of this investigation, and the selection of the lands. The requirement contained in the 28th section of the act No. 68, as aforesaid, remains in full force, and therefore does not need to be incorporated in any resolution that may be adopted. But care should be taken, if this course meets your approbation, to have inserted in the appropriation bill, a sum sufficient to carry out all the objects intended, and which should be enumerated and referred to in the acts containing them, or no progress can be made. Upon consultation with the State Geologist, Dr. Houghton, the probable amount necessary to complete the whole work may be ascertained from him. I have endeavored to furnish you such information as I possess with as little delay as possible, and I may therefore not have been as explicit as you may think necessary. Any additional information in my possession will, however, be promptly given if required. I am, Sir, With great respect, Your ob't serv't, D. V. BELL, Commissioner. Hon. JOHN GALLOWAY, Cha'n Select Com., House of Rep's. As it appears by the foregoing letter of Mr. Bell's, (for whose promptness in replying and the readiness exhibited to in part all the information possessed by him in reference to the subject, your committee are greatly indebted,) that further legislation is necessary to secure to the State the lands not yet selected, your committee respectfully submit the accompanying joint resolution, and urge its passage, and would further suggest an appropriation of a sum sufficient to carry out the purposes of the resolution, as suggested in the communication of the commissioner of the land office. All of which is respectfully submitted. JOHN GALLOWAY, Chairman, &c. |