92 FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 



700,000 acres. A few small tracts alone remain, located in the 

 northerly part of Oxford and Franklin counties, and contain- 

 ing, as nearly as can be estimated, about 17,000 acres in all 

 These are relatively of little value, and a sale of them is advis- 

 able, as soon as a reasonable opportunity offers. 



"In addition to these, about 114,000 acres remain unsold in 

 townships set apart for settlement, only one-fifth of which is 

 supposed to be fit for the purpose. These are the remnants of 

 many townships heretofore set apart for settlers in various 

 parts of the State and are much scattered. So far as they are 

 unfit for settlement, it would undoubtedly be advisable to 

 have these lands sold as soon as may be, either at auction or 

 private sale. 



"Besides the lands last described there are about 146,000. 

 acres of land of the same class, which have been actually taken 

 up by settlers, but who have not yet fully performed their set- 

 tring duties, and hence, have not yet received their deeds from 

 the State. With respect to these it is the duty of the Land 

 Agent to see that these duties are performed, and deeds given. 



"Lands set apart for the permanent school fund, and remain- 

 ing unsold, contain about 82,880 acres. These remain to be 

 sold as the legislature may provide." 



The legislature of 1874 passed a resolve authorizing the sale 

 of State Lands and Timber. This resolve directed the Land 

 Agent under the direction of the Governor and Council, to sell 

 at public auction all the remaining timber lands, and the inter- 

 est of the state in all timber lands held in fee by the state, all 

 lots set apart for settlement which should be found unfit for 

 that purpose; also all lands held by the state for a permanent 

 school fund, and other lands and rights in lands which were 

 specified. 



The sale of these lands took place in Bangor, September 23, 

 1874. The sale was conducted by members of the Governor's 

 council. By this sale the state parted with 118,034 acres of 

 land. The amount received was $145,553. 



After this sale there were about 146,000 acres left in the 

 townships of the state, and the legislature directed these 

 lands to be sold by the Land Agent, under the direction of the 

 Governor and Council. The act was approved by Governor 

 Dingley February 24, 1875. 



