[coPY.l

Constantine Mill, August 3,
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Constantine MlU, August 5, 1915. HoN. THos. H. BLAKE, Commissioner

 General Land Office, Washington, D. C..

 SRI have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th nltimo, with the accompanying document, being copy of letter from you to the Hon. J. c. Edwards, of Missouri.

 design not to controvert, nor even to eX- press an opinion in relation to the views ex- pressed in your letter to Mr. Edwards, of Missouri, as the facts of the case presented to you from this State, are in no way analogous to those supposed. The argument in the letter in question, is based upon the suppo- sition of a conflict between the claims of the State and the claims of individuals In Michigan, no such conflict exists. In no case, have the lands of pre-emptlon claim ants been selected by the State, but with the request of such claimants, and on re- linouishment by them, in writing, of theii claims. If these relinquishments have not been filed i'll all cases, or are not Ill sucf form as required by your department, 1t vii afford me pleasure, upon your suggestion, tt correct any omission in that regard. This being done, permit me to ask what legal ob stacle exists to prevent the selection of sucl lands by the State The pre-emptors find ing themselves unable to comply with tn laws of the General Government, 10 consum mate their claims to pre-emptlon rights, With draw internationally, the incipient proceed ings by them instituted for that purpose, an