A. P. Richardson, being duly sworn, stated that he has resided at McGregor, in Iowa, for the last two years, where he is the editor of the North Iowa Times. That he is acquainted with some of the settlers on Fort Crawford reserve; knows them mostly by name, but cannot say how long they have resided there. Nnows nothing about the surveys of these lands prior to the sale of them by Mr. Rice, although he was informed by Mr. Hall that he had made such an examination of them as to be able to understand them. The notice of the first sale was inserted in the newspapers some time before the sale, and attention was called to it editorially. Has no knowledge of the prices at which the land sold, except from rumor; his whole knowledge of this subject is from rumor. Did not know Mr. Rice before he came here. Has heard some of the settlers complain that they did not expect to pay over $1 25; this dissatisfaction was doubtless increased by the scarcity of money at that time. Don't know that the notice of sale was also published in handbills; presumes the notice was of the usual kind, stating time, place, &c. There is no other paper published at McGregor besides his own.

JUNE 2, 1858.

A. P. RICHARDSON.

B. W. Brisbois, having been duly sworn, stated that he had been a resident of Prairie du Chien nearly fifty years; knows all the settlers on the Fort Crawford reserve; notice of first sale was given, but does not recollect the particulars of it. The attendance was much larger than I expected; was in front of the court-house. There was no combination; the bidding was spirited, and the land sold well, considering the times. At the close of the first sale, Mr. Rice gave notice that he would try to have the price of their lands fixed as low as possible, and that he would give them further notice, or as much as he could of the second sale, and to be prepared to meet him. The settlers cheered him at the end of his speech. Letters were received from Mr. Rice about the 19th December, directing notice to be given to the settlers that the sale would take place on the 25th. The notice was immediately given by sending by Mr. Hall to each settler's house. Notice was adequate; the settlers had ample time to attend; there was no chance for collusion; the room was full of settlers; the land was sold for $1 25 per acre, to which 25 cents per acre was added to cover expenses of survey, advertisement, &c. Receipt was given for $125, but the settlers fully understood the object of the extra 25 cents. One or two might have complained, but Mr. Rice satisfactorily explained it. If the settlers had been required to go to the land office and prove up their claims, it would have cost them $1 50 in that way. The lands had previously been surveyed by the government. Mr. Rice required Mr. Hall to go over it again and to prepare a map, so as to have an exact view of the land and improvements. The map was very complete. It was exhibited to the settlers, and they were seen pointing out their claims upon it. No douceurs were given to anybody. Mr. Rice sent down an express at the same time he wrote. The letter arrived first, and Mr. Hall had been sent to give notice when the express arrived. Mr. Hall was sent over about the 19th,

and the sale was on the 28th and 29th. The settlers came in on the 25th, and waited with some impatience for Mr. Rice's arrival. B. W. BRISBOIS.

B. W. Brisbois being recalled, sated: Mr. Rice has a small claim on the three fractions adjoining the reserve, entered before the reservation was placed there. Mr. Rice purchased second handed, and got second-handed, an interest there while he was trading with the Indians. He expended $9,000 there, and never has had any return. The wood alleged to have been cut by Ralph was on the land adjoining the reserve. The land claimed by Ralph is the same I claimed, and bought it at the second sale. Saw Ralph at the first sale; he made no attempt to prove up his claim before Mr. Rice, although this witness offered to help him, without knowing what land he was on or what he claimed. Graves' claim was purchased for $100 about two years ago for me. Ralph went on the claim afterwards; don't know about what time. The land sold to the settlers was worth $15 to $20 per acre.

B. W. BRISBOIS.

John W. Jones, being duly sworn, stated that he was a resident of Ohio; was not at the second sale. He was informed by the sur veyor that the forty-acre lots were all looked over before the sale; the first sale was open and fair; there was no combination; the settlers were all present; heard of the sale at St. Paul some time before it occurred; don't know what notice was given; I heard of it, three hundred miles off; settlers expressed themselves well satisfied with all Mr. Rice did. Mr. Rice told them he did not know how soon the department would notify him, and they must be in readiness with their money. Some of the settlers were willing to pay $2 50 per acre if they could get their lands at once, as they saw the other lands sell so much higher. Know nothing of the second sale.

J. W. JONES.

H. L. Dousman being duly sworn, stated that he was a resident of Prairie du Chien; that he knows most of the settlers on Fort Crawford reserve, and knows when they settled there. Mr. Rice wrote to him. to have the whole tract surveyed in forty-acre pieces, and to report the names of the occupants, &c. He employed Messrs. Brunson and Hall to do so. They surveyed it with chain and compass, following the old survey marks. One of these was the United States surveyor, who surveyed the lands originally. Notice of this sale was published in May; it stated the day and hour of sale. He inserted the notice himself. The lands not claimed by pre-emptors were sold at auction at three to four dollars per acre. The other was sold to settlers at $150 per acre. No fees or other charges were paid by the settlers over $150 per acre to Mr. Rice, or to any clerk or agent of his. There were no secret fees. Never heard the charge till he arrived here. Never heard of it at home. When the survey was completed, with it a list of settlers was furnished as a guide to the sale. When two or more persons claimed the same land, Mr. Rice required them to settle the dispute among themselves, and stated if they did not do so he would

not interfere, but would refer the whole matter to the War Department. Don't know that any man's claim was reduced. The notice of the second sale was sufficient; the surveyor, who knew everybody, was directed to go to every house and notify them individually. The claimants were all present at the sale, and if any dispute arose, the sale was postponed, and the facts reported. When after the first sale Mr. Rice announced the arrangements for the second, the settlers all seemed satisfied, and cheered Mr. Rice at the court-house door. The public sale was in May last, the second sale in December. For the first sale from one to two weeks' notice was given. It was open and fair in the street. There were no combinations that I could discover. In addition to the newspaper notice, handbills were also circulated, in which it was stated that no lands then occupied should be sold, except to the settlers, and that if any combinations should be discovered there would be no sale. Some of the settlers applied to me to borrow the money to buy their lands, and a few complained at the additional twenty-five cents; but when they saw that they got the best of the lands at $1 50, while others had to pay $4 per acre, they were satisfied. In May Mr. Rice notified the settlers that they must be prepared with the money to pay for their claims at any moment they might be called upon. All the settlers had ample notice. Mr. Rice wrote, and sent an express, but did not arrive for two or three days after the day fixed, and the settlers seemed impatient for Mr. Rice's arrival. The expressman brought letters from Mr. Rice ordering notice to be given to the settlers to be ready; but the notice had been previously given. Settlers who had not the money ready were informed that they should not have their lands sold to others; they would be kept for them. Both sales were well attended; at the second sale the room was very full. Mr. Rice was not in the same room, but papers were taken to him to be verified and signed when filled up by his clerks. The notices of both sales were full, ample, and sufficient, and all the settlers were in attendance.

H. L. DOUSMAN.

At

E. W. Pelton, being duly sworn, stated that he is a resident of Prairie du Chien, and has been so for 19 years; is well acquainted with the settlers on Fort Crawford reserve; was at both sales. the conclusion of the first sale, Mr. Rice gave public notice to the settlers that they must be ready upon his return to pay for their claims. The sale in May was open and fair; there was no combination among the buyers. The second sale was equally fair and public. The room in which the money was paid and receipted for was open to all, and crowded. $1 50 was paid for the land, including all expenses of sale. Some of the settlers complained a little that they were not able to pay. It was fully explained to them that the extra 25 cents was to defray expenses; but there was no other extra charge, nor was there even a rumor until lately. It was generally expected that the second sale would take place when Mr. Rice would be on his way to Washington. Indeed, for a year past the sale has been looked for; all expected it sooner or later. Thinks a general satisfaction prevailed

among the settlers until influenced by other interested persons who were disappointed in some of their expectations.

E. W. PELTON.

Ira B. Brunson, being duly sworn, testified that he resides at Prairie du Chien; is a land agent, surveyor, recorder of deeds, and county judge. Has been engaged in surveying for 22 years. Originally surveyed the lands of Fort Crawford, on the Iowa side. The lots sold to the claimants were run out and examined by Mr. Hall, who was occupied several days in the work with chain and compass. Have no knowledge that the surveys were actually made, not being present. Considerable notice was given of the time and place of sale; was present at them. The attendance was large. At the second sale the room was open and crowded by persons interested and others. There was no privacy between the settlers and the clerks; all was done openly and fairly. The settlers paid $1 25 per acre for the land, and 25 cents extra to defray the expenses of sale, which was plainly stated to the settlers at the time. Nothing more than $1 50 per acre was paid in any case to Mr. Rice or to his clerks by anybody. Legal fees were paid to Mr. Hall and myself for our services by two of the claimants for settling a dispute between them. Mr. Rice, nor his clerk, Mr. Mehaffy, had any knowledge of this. A quarter section was claimed by two persons. Both wanted it, and only one could have it. They called upon Mr. Hall and myself, as attorneys, to adjust their difficulty, and they proposed to pay us for our services. The man who had already one quarter section agreed to yield to the other on certain conditions. For this settlement we received the amount they proposed to give us for our services.

The surveyor made an examination and survey of the land, and stated all the improvements thereon. Mr. Hall received about $300 for surveys and other services at both sales. Settlers had nothing more to pay than $1 50 per acre; and this was near what it would have cost them if they had had to go to the land offices either with their proof or with their witnesses to prove up their pre-emptions under act of 1841, pay for surveys, plats, &c. Every disposition was shown to accommodate the settlers; they had every facility afforded them. There seemed to be some little misunderstanding that they were to pay $150 per acre instead of $1 25, and this was encouraged by some disappointed persons; but the majority of the settlers appear to be satisfied now. A paper was sent around among the settlers, and pretty generally signed; knows of no inducements held out to get signers. There is some anxiety among the settlers to be quieted in their titles; and there were rumors that the sale is to be set aside and the land sold over again. Mr. Rice informed the settlers at the time of the sale, and publicly, that 25 cents additional would be charged to defray expenses. Mr. Rice did not bias or influence any settler. Wadsworth was the only one who, having rights, did not avail himself of them; but he was induced by some one to take his money back. IRA B. BRUNSON.

A. Pelton, being duly sworn, stated that he has been nineteen years a resident of Prairie du Chien, and knows most of the settlers on Fort Crawford reserve. First sale was in May, second in December, 1857. At first sale Mr. Rice notified the settlers to be in readiness; that he would give them notice before the next sale, and notice thereof was given. Before the second sale it was rumored for some time that fifty (50) cents would be added to the dollar and a quarter, in order to cover all expenses of the sale, including surveys, notices, &c. On the day of sale it was announced that only (25) twenty-five cents were to be added, which was generally satisfactory, except in one or two cases. Mr. Rice himself explained that this excess was to cover expenses, and they all seemed to assent to it. All things considered, it was about the same for the settlers to pay this extra (25) twenty-five cents as to go to the land office, prove up their claim, lose their time, &c. It was rumored by some that Alexander McGregor had influenced others, since the sale, to feel dissatisfied. Do not know where Mr. Wadsworth lives, but think on the reserve, or near it. It is due to Mr. Rice, and to his clerk, Dr. Mehaffy, to state, that they did not charge any extra fee for their services over the dollar and a half, and that no rumors thereof were heard till to-day by me. A. PELTON.

H. H. Hall, being duly sworn, stated that he was a surveyor and land agent, and had been about three years a resident of Prairie du Chien; knows the settlers on Fort Crawford reservation. The lots on the reserve were surveyed by him with compass and chain when necessary. Went over the whole tract, so as to know where every improvement was. Inquired from the settlers about their neighbor's claim, and took their statements. Was employed upon the work about four days in the field. The tract extends three miles north and south, and about six miles east and west. Examined over 7,000 acres timbered and prairie land. Notice of the sale was published, and handbills were circulated among the settlers.

Any lot offered at the first sale which was claimed by a settler, was withheld from public sale. Mr. Brisbois sent this witness to notify the settlers, which was done by calling upon many of the settlers, and sending word to the others. Mr. Rice arrived at Prairie du Chien on the 27th December-time of second sale. Was paid by Mr. Rice for one survey, and by Dr. Mahoffey for the other. Thomas P. Hardwick claimed 320 acres, but another man claimed one-half of it. These parties disputed each other's claim, and would not meet and settle their difficulty. They offered to pay if a settlement could be made; and Mr. Brunson and this witness brought about a compromise, and were paid for their services and for the use of the purchase money which was advanced, in part, by this deponent; they received $80 from one, and were to receive $80 from the other. The notice to the settlers of the second sale was given about three or four days before the 25th December; it was sent over by Dousman and Brisbois, at the request of Mr. Rice.

Witness, being recalled, stated, that having purchased Wadsworth's claim, Alexander McGregor intimated that those papers of Wads