xaX lands and forestry. 101 



APPENDIX 7. 



REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND LAWS AND THEIR ADMINISTJIATION AND 

 OP THEIR SPECIAL EXAMINERS. 



To the Commission of Inquiry, Tax Lands and Forestry: 



Gentlemen: — ^We, Carl E. Schmidt and Francis King, appointed by 

 you as a committee to investigate the "Land laws and their administra- 

 tion," do hereby submit to you the result of our findings as to the 

 methods obtaining in the disposal of State tax homestead lands, with 

 such recommendations as appeared to us as beneficial in remedying 

 these conditions. 



Insofar as the practices of an office for the administration of a law 

 are largely determined by the law itself, and since shortcomings in the 

 execution of the land laws will require some modification in these laws, 

 it seems proper and necessary to call attention to certain features of 

 the disposal of lands and timber by the State and the service employed 

 in this work. 



As reported by our special examiners, O. Perry Burgess and George 

 Wilson, a copy of whose report is attached and made a part of this 

 communication, the examination and appraisal of land was and is gen- 

 erally inadequate and in most cases so far from the true value of the 

 land and timber that it seems doubtful if the appraiser ever actually 

 visited the land, as may be seen from the State appraisal as given in 

 detail in Cheboygan county, and the actual values as found by our ex- 

 aminers. That such fiagrant neglect of duty was easily possible under 

 present methods is clear, since there is no apparent systematic inspec- 

 tion of the work. 



The appraising is poorly done, without instructions as to thorough- 

 ness, without control, and consequently leaves the State offlce entirely 

 without any knowledge worth the name. In addition the lack of in- 

 spection and control makes it possible for interested persons to direct, 

 influence and modify this appraisal for their own benefit. 



In support of this we wish to call your attention to that part of their 

 report in which they were informed by Fred Conant, of Cadillac, that 

 his instructions were to take the supervisors' valuation as a ba^is for 

 his appraisal, and further that a Mr. Brown, who was appraising 

 tax homestead lands in Lake county, took the assessment roll of Wm. 

 Vaughn, supervisor, and make his appraisal accordingly. That this 

 system has been largely the cause of the he^vy loss to the State would 

 appear from the valuations placed on lands in Cheboygan county, where 

 practically a flat price of from $1 to |2 per acre was placed on the 

 lands, regardless of the fact that they were totally unsuited for agri- 

 cultural purposes, as, for instance, the three forties in section 27, 35-1 E, 

 which has no timber and the soil of which was a cold, wet quicksand 

 and which was appraised at an average price of |1.50 per acre. 



On the other hand, the N E i/4 of 22-35-1 E, which has a stand of 



