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262

[See page 79.]

To the Senate and House of Representatives.

I lay before you a Copy of the report of the Commissioners of Massachusetts and this State shewing their progress in dividing the public lands, together with copies of the Documents and plan therein referred to. As a portion of these lands are now held in severalty by this State, the Legislature will perhaps deem it advisable to adopt some plan for their management and sale, as well as for the better preservation of the timber. Many of the reserved lots, which have fallen to the share of this State, being in towns already settled with an enterprising population may probably be sold to actual settlers at an advantageous rate. Indeed it is desireable [desirable] that all our public lands should be disposed of to those who will settle on, and improve them, rather than to the speculator. There are no documents in the possession of this State by which the value and situation of these reserved lots can be ascertained, or by which it can be determined, whether, as is required by the several grants, they bear an equal proportion in quality to the residue of the tract granted. There have likewise been assigned to this State sundry agreements for the sale of Lands, and the monies now due, or which may hereafter become due thereon. Whenever the several payments, thereby secured, shall have been completed, the purchasers will be entitled to deeds, according to the terms of their respective contracts. It will therefore be necessary to make