MINERAL RESERVATIONS. The lands lying in the following townships, viz: Towns 46, 47, and 48 N., R. 9 W.; towns 46, 47, and 48 N., R. 10 W.; towns 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 N., R. 13 W.; towns 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 N., R. 14 W.; towns 42, 43, 44, and 45 N., R. 15 W.; towns 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45 N., R. 16 W.; and towns 44 N., R. 17 W., being the same lands reported November 30, 1870, as supposed to be valuable for mineral purposes; having been examined and reported not mineral lands, they were restored to market at the original minimum price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. As before stated, the Supreme Court of the State opened up the other Mineral Reservations, as to State Swamp Lands, to the appropriation for the "Mineral Range State Road," and as a large amount yet remains to be patented on that road, it is expected that all the valuable Mineral Swamp Lands will be disposed of on that appropriation. It is proper here to remark that the appropriation only reaches Swamp Lands, and that the Primary School Lands reserved as Mineral remain as heretofore. RESERVATIONS ON ROADS, ETC. By the provisions of law, contractors for building State roads are entitled to have lands withheld from sale "during the full time specified in said contract for the completion thereof;" and there appears on the books of this office as reserved on various roads, 184,828.19 acres. In addition to this amount, there are in the Upper Peninsula, reserved to the "Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Company," 75,278.93. These lands were reserved under the provisions of the act of March 15, 1861. GENERAL REMARKS. In addition to the lands heretofore enumerated, there have been several other grants made by Congress to the State for various purposes, among which may be mentioned the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal, 750,000 acres; Lac La Belle Ship Canal, 100,000 acres; Portage Lake Ship Canal, 400,000 acres PERSONAL. On assuming the duties of this office January 3, 1871, I gave receipt to my immediate predecessor for a list of cash items which were on deposit, amounting to $3,171.48. These items consisted in "old currency," checks' and drafts on various banks, and national currency, and were the accumulation of years of loose business transactions. I soon commenced a correspondence with the various owners of these several items, and, wherever I have been able to find them, I have returned their money. Some of the items were for the purchase of lands, and were so used as soon as they could be reached. Some were for the purchase of lands to which there were adverse claims, and at the request of the owners they have been allowed to remain subject to sight drafts. In the course of time I discovered that the moneys received for fees for plats, etc., were not registered, and that only a portion of them were paid into the State Treasury at the close of each month, the larger portion being invested in private business, "to be paid into the Treasury at the close of the fiscal year," and as soon as I discovered these transactions, I caused each item to be properly entered in a record book, showing date, name, and residence, the kind of work furnished, and the amount received, and at the end of the month the whole receipts to be paid into the State Treasury and a receipt taken therefor. On a thorough examination of the books of this office, I became convinced of the necessity of a consolidation of the records of sales of the different classes of lands and especially of the Swamp Land Grant. As the result of this conviction, I have in course of preparation a complete abstract of all the Swamp Lands contained in the original grant to the State, compiled by townships, and showing at a glance the whole history of each description of land. This report, embodying the items required by law to be furnished, "and all such other matters relating to his office as he may think proper to communicate," is respectfully submitted. CHAS. A. EDMONDS, Commissioner State Land Office. |