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Show PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS claims in Missouri and take up the story of Orleans Territory later. The Board of Land Commissioners for Missouri Territory made its final report in 1812 showing that 1,340 claims had been confirmed, 712 on the basis of concessions, 80 on orders of survey, 425 because of settlement rights, and 123 because of 10-year possession. Two were for a league square, six others were for 1,000 to 3,200 arpents and 20 were for 800 arpents. The greater number were much smaller, 400 acres or less, or were town lots. Two million acres in 2,105 claims were rejected, including all the large claims. The most common grounds for rejection were that the grants were not adequately authenticated, had not been properly issued, were for a greater quantity than Spanish law allowed, had not been cultivated, or were issued after Spanish control had ended.26 The powerful fur trading aristocracy of Missouri was not to take this cavalier treatment of its claims lightly. Richest of the great fur trading families were the two brothers Auguste and Pierre Chouteau whose many claims, together with those of their children, came to 234,000 arpents. Marie Phillipe LeDuc, who was translator to the Board of Land Commissioners, had claims totalling 23,656 arpents; Charles Gratiot, clerk of the board, had claims for 15,046 arpents. Other Missourians possessing numerous claims were James Maxwell, 106,356 arpents; Charles DeLassus, 52,200 arpents; Charles Mackay, 42,142 arpents; Louis Lorimier, 39,881 arpents; Louis Lageaume, 37,516 arpents; Jacques St. Vrain, 33,610 arpents; and John Smith T, 33,610 arpents; and finally mention should also be made of Jacques Glamorgan's eight claims for 1,212,486 arpents. Few large claims had been developed to any considerable extent; some had no improvements, had not been surveyed or had their boundaries defined. 26 American State Papers, Public Lands, II, 463-729. Eugene Morrow Violette, "Spanish Land Claims in Missouri," Washington University Studies, VIII, Humanistic Series (April 1921), 184; Territorial Papers, XV, 9. The fur traders of Missouri long complained of the prejudice against the large claimants of one of the land commissioners whose removal they had sought; of the rigidity of the legislation and instructions under which the commissioners worked; and of the misunderstanding of Spanish customs respecting land ownership. Through the St. Louis newspapers, the territorial delegate in Congress, petitions and memorials and, if some of the contemporary comments are reliable, the social lobby in St. Louis, they brought over the territorial officers with one or two exceptions to their point of view and exerted appreciable influence in Washington that is reflected in the growing relaxation of the earlier rigid requirements for confirmation.27 Long delay in securing American titles for their land was exceedingly irritating and, indeed, harmful to persons having legitimate claims in which they had invested years of labor and other capital. With uncertain titles they could neither sell nor mortgage their property, nor could they subdivide as large holders needed to do to carry their investments. Yet taxes were assessed against their property and, if not paid, such titles as they had became further involved. While the titles were uncertain, and before the claims could be officially surveyed, it was impossible for the government surveyors to run their township and section lines over neighboring lands, which might be public domain. In the better areas of eastern Missouri such public lands were squatted upon, but the settlers, uncertain of their boundaries and of their titles, made only the barest of improvements. It is small wonder that the leading business people of St. Louis and other areas continued to call for greater speed and flexibility in the adjudication process. There were other issues in the title situation that caused embarrassment to officials, financial loss to the government, and addi- 27 For the complaints and grievances of the owners of claims see Territorial Papers, XIV, 158, 244, 279, 325. |
