1. It is made the duty of the secretary of state of this state to act as swampland agent, to locate such public lands as the state of Missouri may be authorized to locate under the provisions of the act of congress of September 28, 1850, granting swamp and overflow lands to the state of Missouri, and other acts of congress since that time passed, relating to said lands, and to obtain the right of the state under said acts, and settle and adjust any and all claims the state of Missouri may have against the United States growing out of said grant of land. He is hereby authorized to obtain such proof from the various county commissions as is necessary to secure the indemnity from the general government under the act of March 2, 1855, and is hereby authorized to employ assistants for the performance of the duties required of him in sections 241.010 to 241.280, subject to the approval of the governor.

2. He shall receive all moneys, scrip or certificates of indemnity on account of swamp and overflowed lands sold by the government of the United States since the donation of such lands to the state of Missouri, and deposit the moneys or scrip so obtained in the state treasury, to the credit of the county in whose favor the same is drawn, and cancel all records in his office on which indemnity has been received. He shall locate all certificates of indemnity received as aforesaid in the name of the county in whose favor said certificate is drawn, making said location from sight or personal knowledge of the same, and deposit the certificate of said location in the state treasury, subject to the orders of the respective county commissions, and he shall immediately notify said county commissions of all deposits made in conformity with sections 241.010 to 241.280.