The North Alabamian
page 2
Tuscumbia:
Friday........January 13, 1837.
Town of Tuscumbia.
     The Following Gentlemen were, on Monday
 the 2d instant, elected to compose the board
of Aldermen of the corporation of Tuscumbia
for the year 1837:

John Bradley            Jacob Haigh
S. M. Parry                      and
Wm. Cooper             Thos. Keenan

     On the meeting of the Board, for organization,
Col. J. Haigh was re-elected President.

The North Alabamian
Friday, 10 Feb 1837, p. 2
The Unsold Alabama Donation.
          The following is a copy of the Act passed at the last session of the Legislature of this State, "to Reduce the Minimum Price of the unsold portion of the 400,000 acres of Land given to the State of Alabama, by Congress, for the purpose of improving the navigation of the Tennessee, Coosa, an Black Warrior Rivers." It will be seen, by an advertisement of the Register and Receiver of the Land Office at Courtland, published in another part of this paper, that, in pursuance of the provisions of this Ace, he is now ready to receive entries of this land, at the reduced price.
           Section 1. Be it Enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Alabama, in the General Assembly convened, That it shall be the duty of the Register and Receiver of the Land Office at Courtland to give public notice, in one newspaper published in each of the counties of Franklin, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Morgan and Lawrence, that, from and after the first day of February next, he will receive entries for the unsold portion of the 400,000 acres of land given by Congress to the State of Alabama, for the improvement of the navigation of the Tennessee and other rivers in said State, at sixty-two and a half cents per acre.
            Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That for all lands sold in pursuance of the directions of this Act, the said Register and Receiver shall require the payment of one-half the purchase money in advance, and the balance in twelve months, with interest from date; and in case of failure to pay the second installments as they severally fall due, it shall be the duty of the said Register and Receiver to sell the said land for cash.
            Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That all persons who cultivated any of the said unsold lands in the year 1836, shall be allowed the preference in the entry of eighty acres, to include his improvements; and when two or more persons cultivate the same part, the preference shall be given to the person who first made an improvement on the same, or those building under him; which right of entry to the occupant shall be allowed for six months from and after the said first day of February 1837, when said lands shall be subject to entry by any person who may apply for the purpose.
            Section 4. And be it further Enacted, That, when application shall be made to enter any of said unsold lands, within the time of six months from and after the said first day of February, 1837, the register and Receiver shall require the applicant to show, by the oath of an indifferent person, that there is no occupant-right to said land.
            Sec. 5. And be it further Enacted, That, on the first day of February, 1838, it shall be the duty of the said Register and Receiver to give sixty days' notice, in one newspaper published in each of the counties of Franklin, Lauderdale, limestone, Madison, Lawrence, and Morgan, that, on a day to be named in said notice, he will offer for sale, to the highest bidder, all of said lands that may remain unsold at that time, for cash; that said sale be continued from day to day until the whole of said lands are offered for sale; and that the minimum price of the said lands sold at said sale shall be one cent; and all laws contravening the provision of this Ace be, and the same are hereby, repealed.
            Sec. 6. And be it further Enacted, That the provisions of this Act shall extend to all the said lands that have reverted to the State by forfeiture, non-payment, or otherwise.
           
           
The North Alabamian
Tuscumbia:
Friday..........March 17, 1837
An Arrival.
          During the latter part of last week, a party of four hundred and sixty Cherokee Indians, on their way to their future home west of the Mississippi, arrived in our town, by the Railroad. The celebrated and now venerable Chief, Maj. John Ridge, was among the number. They encamped at the Landing while waiting for the boat which was to convey them on their journey; and during their stay in our vicinity, visited us in large numbers, and in turn were visited, at their encampment, by our citizens, who were universally much pleased at their correct deportment and neat and comfortable appearance. it was conceded, by all, that this party of Cherokees presented much the finest appearance of any body of Indians that ever passed through our town.-----We are indebted to a friend for some interesting facts in relation to them, for which we refer the reader to his communication, in a succeeding column.
          They took their departure from our Landing on Tuesday last, in the Steamer Newark, [New Ark] for Little Rock, Arkansas, from which place they will proceed by land to the section of country assigned by the Government.

The North Alabamian
Friday, 12 May 1837, p. 3
The Florence Ferry.
THE undersigned has the pleasure of informing the public, that he has now in successful operation, a large and strong FERRY BOAT, at the FLORENCE LANDING, (old Ferry,) by which he is  prepared to transport Passengers, Waggons, Stock, &c. &c., in quick time, and without delay. I have been at great expense in constructing a new set of BUOYS, and in refitting the Current Boat in the most permanent manner, and can pledge myself to the public, that there shall be no delay at this Ferry, as I am deeply interested i the business, and shall be on the spot myself, to carry over persons, &c. at any time, night or day, that they may wish to cross.
          The undersigned cannot admit that the road by the military Ferry, the route it runs, is the nearest way to Tuscumbia; on the contrary, he believes that if the road by the Military Ferry was measured, the distance would appear to be greater, than by the very obvious direct route at the Florence Ferry. The undrrsigned [sic] hopes that no old prejudice against the Florence Ferry, will be suffered to operate against him, as he has very lately become interested it it [sic], and since he has taken it, has spared no expense ot have every thing in order, and is determined to spare no pains to accommodate the public.
BAZIL NELSON.
Florence, May 5, 1837. 

Return to History