(G.)

REPORT ON SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY LANDS.

Hon. JNO. E. HOLMES,

SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Madison, January 14, 1849.

Lieutenant Governor, &c:

SIR: Herewith I have the honor to transmit to the Legisla ture an abstract of the appraisal of the school and university lands in the several counties in this State, as far as the same has been received at this office.

With great respect,

Your obedient servant,

THOS. McHUGH,

Secretary of State.

SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

Madison, January 24, 1849.

To the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin:

The undersigned, in accordance with the provisions of section 9, of "an act providing for the appraisal and subdivision of the school and university lands," has the honor to

REPORT:

That immediately after the election of the appraisers, he notified them of their election, as soon as their acceptance was received, the necessary instructions, together with a copy of the law, was forwarded to them. Owing, however, to the bad state of the roads during the last fall, and the consequent delay in the transmission of letters, many of the appraisers did not receive their instructions until a very late day. This, together with the inclemency of the weather, prevented many of them from reporting what progress they had made in the work, by the time required by law. Even now the appraisers have not all made their returns.

I have delayed my report thus long, expecting that I might be able to give an abstract from every surveyed county within the State. The law requires that the Secretary of State should report in detail the appraisals, description, and subdivision within the several towns.

More than one-half of the appraisal returns have been made since the Legislature convened, and it is impossible to make the report required by the law in a shorter time than three weeks. Hence the form of the abstract herewith forwarded. No return of the appraisal of the unsold canal lands has as vet been made, in consequence of the appraisers not being able obtain of the late Register or Receiver a list of the lands. In some of the counties where no surveyor had been ap pointed upon the board of appraisers, in order to carry out the

provisions of the law, were compelled to employ one, and in some instances packers were required to carry provisions for the appraisers and surveyor. As there is some doubt whether the boards of supervisors in these counties can allow the account upon the certificate of the appraisers, I would respectfully suggest that some provision be made for the payment of the expense.'

As the returns of the appraisers are to be the record of the quality, quantity and location of these lands and the only one to which reference can be had at the time of sale, and as the returns are in almost as many various forms as there were ap praisers, a set of books should be obtained for this office in which to make a uniform plat of the lands together with the description of the quantity, quality, location and general advantages, with such other descriptions as may be returned by the appraisers, and that the undersigned be authorized to employ some competent person for that purpose.

At the last session of the Legislature appraisers wete appointed in some of the remote counties, which have not yet been surveyed, and others which are partially surveyed. The appraisers in these counties have accepted their appointments, and in some instances have commenced the work. Here with will be found a copy of a letter from Mr. Brunson relative to the school lands of Chippewa county, which I have thought proper to anex to this report.

The returns from the counties of Crawford, Dodge, Brown, Manitowoc, Grant, Richland, Columbia and Portage, show that the appraisers have not completed their labors. Some of these counties are only partially surveyed.

Should a complete return be received from all the counties during the present session of the Legislature a full and detailed abstract of the whole appraisal will be made and transmitted to the Senate.

With great respect, your ob't serv't,

THOS. McHUGH,
Secretary of State.

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, December 15, 1848.

SIR: In compliance with the 7th section of the aat provi ding for the appraisal and subdivision of the school and university lands, I respectfully submit the following statement:

The public lands in the county of Chippewa, are now being surveyed by the Government; to what extent, I am not definitely advised, but believe a very considerable portion of the county has not yet been subdivided into sections.

The county of Chippewa is ostensibly organized for county purposes, but no measures have been taken as yet to effect such organization; no officers have been elected, or if elected, have failed to qualify; so that the county orders, if any, which the appraiser would receive from the county for his services must necessarily be of little or no value.

There are but few settlements in the county of Chippewa. most of which will be abandoned upon the failure of the pine in their vicinity. A large portion of the county is uninviting to the agriculturist. The eastern part is occupied by Indians.

The State can expect to realize but little from the sale of school lands in this county for many years.

The only part of the county which will be likely to settle, lies along the Chippewa river from the falls to the mouth, and south and east in the direction of Black river. As soon as it is ascertained that this portion of the county is subdivided which will probably be early in the spring, I will proceed to appraise such as shall be so subdivided.

Respectfully yours.

IRA B. BRUNSON,

Appraiser of School and University Lands, Chippewa co.

Hon, THOS. MclIUGH,

Secretary of State, Madison.