562 



has been cut on either. That he knows of his own knowledge that 

 the wild meadows or clearings on said lots are now, and were before 

 dams were constructed on them (about 1883), much smaller than in 

 1831, showing want of cultivation ; that in the years 1878 and 1879 

 the said lots were not occupied by any one; he was on said lots during 

 both of the years 1873 and 1879; he says he lives about one and one- 

 fourth miles from the lots; that Amasa Washburn lives quite as far 

 from them as he does; that he knows of his own personal knowledge 

 that during the years 1873 and 1879, or any part of said years, said 

 lots 221 and 222 were unoccupied, not seeded to grass in these years 

 or before or in any manner cultivated, fenced, or anything of the sort; 

 that any hay then cut therefrom by anyone was wholly wild hay gathered 

 from uninclosed natural meadow thereon, not with any intent to occupy 

 either of said lots, but in the same way and for the same purpose that 

 wild hay is yearly cut from natural meadows on accessible State land or 

 non-resident lands in this section of the State, deponent further says 

 he knew said lots and the boundaries thereof, and that during all of 

 the years since' 1831 to 1880 said lots have been unoccupied, that since 

 1870 and before have been abandoned, were well known to be abandoned 

 lots from which most of the available timber had been removed and 

 which had reverted to the State by reason of the non-payment of taxes 

 thereon. The dams on said lots constructed for the use of the public 

 by the State, are a public benefit, and should not be controlled by 

 speculators. If the State owns the lots, all good citizens have an 

 interest to have the title remain as it is. 



NATHANIEL D. LOVERING. 



Sworn and subscribed before me, ) 



this 5th day of May, 1885. J 



Lewis L. Smith, 



Justice of the Peace. 



I hereby certify that I know the party, Nathaniel D. Lovering, sign- 

 ing this affidavit to be a man of truth and veracity. 



LEWIS L. SMITH, 

 May 5, 1885. „ Justice of the Peace. 



Malone, May 21, 1885. 

 To the Comptroller of the State -of New York: 



DeIab Sib. — I, Albert Turner, of the town of Malone, Franklin county, 

 N. T. being duly sworn, depose and say: I was a resident of the town 

 of Franklin and county of Franklin of the State df New York, from 

 1878 to October, 1883, and lived upon lot 223 in township 10, Old 

 Military tract; I am well acquainted with one L. L. Smith of the said 



