Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 2.djvu/475



than three days, until the first day of January next, or until they shall have completed the business of their appointment. And the said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall have power to hear and decide in a summary manner, all matters respecting such claims, to compel the attendance of witnesses, to administer oaths and examine witnesses, and such other testimony as may be adduced, and to determine thereon according to justice and equity. Minutes of the proceedings, decisions, meetings, and adjournments of the board, shall be regularly entered by the register, in a book to be kept for that purpose, together with the evidence on which such decisions are made, unless such evidence has already been entered according to law, in the book or books of minutes, kept by the commissioners appointed under former acts, to investigate the claims to land in the district of Detroit. And when it shall appear to the said commissioners that the claimant is entitled to a tract of land by virtue of this act, they shall give a certificate thereof stating the circumstances of the case, and that the claimant is entitled to receive a patent for such a tract of land, by virtue of this act; which tract shall be surveyed in conformity with the decision of the commissioners, at the expense of the party, and under the direction of the surveyor-general by such of his assistants, residing in the territory of Michigan, as the said surveyor-general shall appoint for that purpose: Provided, that the whole expense of surveying and marking the lines, shall not exceed three dollars for every mile that shall be actually run, surveyed, or marked. The surveyor-general shall transmit to the register of the land-office at Detroit, general and particular plots of all the lands surveyed as aforesaid, and shall also forward copies of the said plots to the Secretary of the Treasury. The commissioners shall transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury a transcript of their decisions in favour of claimants, which shall contain a fair statement of the evidence on which each respective claim is founded, and shall be signed by the said commissioners, and shall state the names of the parties in whose favour the certificates have been granted, the number of acres granted and the situation of the land. And the certificate and certificates granted as aforesaid, by the commissioners, being duly entered with the register of the land-office of Detroit, prior to the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and nine, shall entitle the party or parties, as soon as the plot or plots aforesaid, shall have been transmitted to the said register, to receive from him a certificate or certificates, for each of which certificates the register shall receive one dollar, directed to the Secretary of the Treasury; and if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the said secretary, that such certificates have been fairly obtained according to the true intent and meaning of this act, then and in that case, patents shall issue, in like manner as is provided by law, for the other lands of the United States.

. And be it further enacted, That the powers vested by this act in the commissioners above mentioned shall not extend to lots in the town of Detroit, the claims to which shall be ascertained and decided upon, in the manner provided by the act, intituled “”

. And be it further enacted, That the secretary of the territory of Michigan shall be entitled to receive five hundred dollars, in full for all the services rendered by him under this act, to be paid out the sums which have been, or may be appropriated for carrying into effect the several laws enacted for the disposal of public lands, and for the adjustment of claims in the Indiana or Michigan territories.

, March 3, 1807.