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REPORT.

OFFICE OF COMMISSIONERS SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY LANDS.

To the Legislature:

MADISON, Jan. 1, 1855.

The Board of Commissioners "for the sale of School and University Lands, and for the investment of the funds arising therefrom," respectfully submit the following

REPORT.

The following tabular statement exhibits the number of acres of School and University Lands, sold in the several counties in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, the amount sold for, the amount of principal paid, amount of interest paid, and the amount of principal unpaid; and also exhibits the number of acres unsold, of such lands as have been offered at public sale and are now subject to private entry:

Sales of School Lands in 1854.-16th Section.

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Sales of School Lands, 500,000 Acre Tract, 1854.

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SALE OF LANDS.

From the foregoing statement it will be seen that since the first day of January last 237,119 87-00 acres of land have been sold, and that of the lands which have been offered at public sale, and are now subject to private entry, there remain unsold of 16th sections, 83,526 64-100 acres; of the five hundred thousand acre grant, 6,530 36-100 acres; and of university lands, 3,941 acres.

Under the five hundred thousand acre grant, there remain about twenty-three thousand acres to be selected, and there are about 10,580 acres of selections in W upacca county, which have not yet been offered at public sale. These are farming lands of first rate quality well watered and timbered, and will, it is believed, produce considerably more than the appraised value.

The selections made under this grant by agents appointed sometimes by the legislature, and sometimes by the governor under the direction of the legislature, should all have been from the choicest lands in the state and in the best localities; but in some instances this duty has been shamefully neglected, and the lands selected have been of the most indifferent character, as appears by the reports of appraisers. Such is the character of most, if not all, of the lands so selected, and remaining unsold, excusive of those mentioned as lying in the county of Waupacca.

In the latter part of the month of September, two university sections, in Grant county, which had been omitted from former public sales, were offered at Platteville, and all taken, some of the subdivisions bringing an advance upon the appraisal.

On the first day of December, selections forming part of the grant of five hundred thousand acres, were offered in Shawanaw county; on the 4th day of December, in Oconto county; and on the 7th day of December, in Outagamie county. On the ninth of of the same month, six 16th sections in Brown county, which had not before been offered at public sale, were so offered at Gree Bay, and two of them were taken at the sale.

The amount received on sales of school land effected since the

commencement of such sales, in each year, appears from former

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In the two last years the books in this office show a large amount of sales, and in each year large tracts sold to individual purchasers, the fund being thus greatly increased. The lands once offered at public auction are by law subject to private entry, and the amount to be sold at private sale to any one person is not limited. The Governor and the commissioners have the power to withdraw such portion of them from sale as in their discretion "it may not be advantageous to sell or dispose of, and for as long a time as in their opinion will be most beneficial to the university and school fund." The extent of this discretion, thus defined by the law, gives no option on the part of the Governor and commissioners to refuse the sale of lands on account of the quantity applied for by any one person being more than he can occupy for his own use, since the more rapidly sales can be effected, so much sooner will these funds realize the benefit of the endowement of lands bestowed upon the State by the general government. And if in the end only the appraised value is to be obtained, the sooner the lands are sold the better.

It is for the legislature, however, to consider whether there are reasons relating to the promotion of other interests than those of the school fund, and the system of common schools relying upon it for support, sufficient to induce the adoption of a policy limiting and restricting the sales of these lands.

LOANS.

The following statement shows the amounts loaned to individu

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