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[152] [1822 Feb. 1] [Governor's message respecting common property of Massachusetts and Maine] of the Land office in Massachusetts, previous to the separation to sell grass and timber on these rivers by permits to the amount of about ten thousand dollars in three years, under the belief that nearly as much timber would have been cut, without permits and without any consideration to the Government. Since the separation, the public lands being the joint property of the two States, no permits have been granted, and none of those persons who had heretofore cut under permission, and who would still purchase permits, if to be obtained, continue the business of "lumbering" from the public lands.

I have thought it proper to refer this subject to the Legislature for their particular consideration, inasmuch as it will involve the expediency of making an additional appropriation, to be applied for the purposes of protecting the public property - and as many of the members residing in the vicinity of the public lands can judge more correctly than can the Executive, what measures, most for the interest of the State, can be pursued in relation to this subject.

There being a portion of the public land within the town of Elsworth[Ellsworth] an agent was appointed by the former Executive to prevent the destruction of timber and to enforce payment for such as had been, or might from time to time be cut without permission from the property authority. The said town of Ellsworth by their Selectmen have represented to me that the Court of Sessions for the county of Hancock having adjudged a public road through said land to be of common convenience and necessity are about to cause such a road to be laid out and opened. As the effect of opening this road would be to increase the value of the public land, the Inhabitants of said town have requested permission from the Executive to appropriate such sums of money as have been received, or may for a given period be received by the said agent in the execution of his trust, for the opening and making said road.

There being no power vested in the Executive to give the permission requested, I have concluded to refer the memorial to the consideration of the Legislature.