14 



A. I know of it generally. 



Q. You, never examined it, did you ? 



A. I never examined it minutely; I have read his reports; I have a 

 general sort of knowledge of them. 



Q. Did you examine carefully into the details of his surveys for 

 finding the lines of the old patents that had become obscured and 

 the re-erection of monuments that had become obscured ? 



A. Nothing more than I sometimes struck his lines and saw some of 

 his monuments. 



Q. Did you ever follow up any of his lines ? 



A. I have a general idea of the shape of the land, but I never fol- 

 lowed up any of his surveys to verify them. 



Q. ' All you can say about that document is that your examination 

 was cursory and you have utilized to no extent any of its information ? 



A. We have utilized it whenever it was necessary; whenever it was 

 called up. 



Q. Have you ever made any use of the information contained in 

 Colvin'a report ? 



A. That is something more for the warden. 



Q. I speak of the commission now ? 



A. Well, no, sir. 



Q. You think that belongs to the warden to do — he ought to have 

 known about that ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What State lands were there in 1885 when you were appointed 

 to this public duty ? 



A. I couldn't give you the exact acreage; that is a matter 6i record 

 in the office. 



Q. About how many acres ? 



A. Somewhere between 800,000 and 900,000 is my recollection now. 



Q. How were those lands acquired by the State ? 



A. Well, some of them, I presume, largely by taxation ; I couldn't 

 say. ' 



Q. Did you ever study lip the sources of the title of these lands 

 that you found belonging to the State when you came into office? 



A. No, sir. 



Q. Never have studied it up ? 



A. No, sir. 



Q. Do you understand that to a great extent, or wholly, t*hat these 

 lands came to the State through tax sales and tax titles under them ? 



A. Some of them came by tax title and others through bondB. 



Q. What kind of bonds? 



