The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-12


Sir; have the honor to submit to you a report
in relation to the operations Of this branch Of the
public service accompanying the same, agreeably TO
your request, with the suggestions of such modlh-
cations in regard to the existing land system as, in
my Judgment are necessary for the public good, or
called for by the voice of the people.
During the year 1914, The sales of the public
lands amounted TO 1884 1853 acres, and the receipts
into the land Offices We're S2,207,6 76; and during
the first, second, and third quarters OF the present
year the sales amounted TO ,266, 669 acres, and
the receipts into the land Offices 81 69l 1883,
will appear from the statistical exhibits A, b, and
The aggregate quantity of public lands in all the
States and Territories, advertised for sale in the
present year, amounts to 5557 ,5Sl acres the par
ucuars whereof will be found set forth in exhibit D.
The aggregate quantity of surveyed land not yet
in market is 9,397,6l5 acres of which quantity
1907, 1871 necessarily withheld for various
reasons, removable only by further legislation
which are particuarzed in exhibit E-showing al
so ii ,355,000 acres the estimated quantity Of
new lands, the surveys of which expected to be
returned 10 this Office in the year 1886
In the State Of Ohio, all the public lands have
been brought into market, with the exception of
some small islands in the Maumee, Miami, and
Sciota river Of iuconsiderabe extent. The Wyandot
reserve, ceded 10 the United States by treaty Of
March 18th, 1912, the last body of public land
TO be hrouh into market in that State. The whole Of
that reserve and also TO similar but smaller cesson in
Michigan, were offered at public sale in September
ard October last, and the portion thereof sold in
Ohio, (35,394 acres,) commanded at such sale the
sum Of GOT Is inclusive of the Indian i'm.
provements, assessed at Slabs. BY treaty stpu-
aton, the Wyandois are to be reimbursed the value
of those improvements.
In Indiana, the only important bodies of land re-
manning 10 be brought into market, those ceded
bv the Miami Indians, by treaties concluded in
1884 1888 and 1910. As the term stipulated by the
l.s. for he Inf Tpdia
the State expired in the fall of the present year, in
siructions have issued for the completion, as soon
practicable, Of the surveys of those lands. The
quantity of public land including reserves) ceded
by the two first named treaties, Qe34 and 1888, }
amounting to 365, 1868 acres has been surveyed and
il available for market whenever the lands are or
gained into new district, or attached to some ex
listing district A large portion Of the cessions al
Iuded TO is covered by selections made by the State
under the grant for the Wabash and Erie canal,
which have been approved according to law.
In Michigan, the great southern pennsular has
all been surveyed, and the lands offered for sale,
with the exception of a body of twenty-hree town.
ships, reported to be of inferior quality. In the
present year, 46274l acres lying in the northern Pc
ninsula have been surveyed, and in readiness
for mer et That portion of the State, herein termed
its northern peninsula, lying between Lakes Supe-
ror and Michigan, and north of the straits Of Mich
ilimackinnc, which includes this body of land, is
not regarded as being comprised by law within the
limits OF any organized land district. Those lands
IRE now attracting much attention in consequence of
the mineral deposies and valuable fisheries in that
region Of country. The necessary preparation should
therefore be made for bringing them into market.
For The present they might be attached to the Gen
eeee and lona districts, by the extension of the line
now dividing those two districts, and discretionary
power be vested in the Executive TO establish new
district north of the straits Of Mchilimackinac and
appoint land officers whenever the sales Of the lands
shall become sufficient to justify the measure.
In Illinois, the public lands have been all sur
veyed and brought into market, with the exception
of 255 Jo5 acres which include the quantity Of 242
400 acres withheld from sale in consequence Of its
supposed mineral qualities.
In Missouri, there have been offered at public sale
this year in the Springfield, Fayette Clinton, and
Piattsburg districts, 1923, 1913 acres; and there
now prepared for market, 2l37,l76 acres, lying in
all the districts Of the State, Except ST. LOUSY of
which $4,000 acres, situated in the copper region
on Current river, and in the "Camorgan" claim
lin the Jackson distrct,) have been detained from
market TO await any further Legislation in regard to
the former, and TO offer an opportunity for judicial
investigation of the latter.
In Wisconsin, the only important public sale du-
ring the year, Of land in the Green Bay district
between Wolf and Fox rivers, amounting TO 377,-
FOG acres There are at this time 1871 ,26S acres
prepared for sale in this Territory--neary all lying
in the Mineral Point district and north Of Wscon-
sin river--he plats Of which have been recently
ceved at this Office.
In Iowa, there were advertised for sale this year,
large bodies Of land, amounting to 2,3S0,547 acres,
nearly equally divided between the districts of Du-
buque and Fairfield The Gales advertised for Fair
the months of May and June next The quantity
of land at this time ready for market in the Territory,
exclusive of the postponed sales, amounts to Co.,
100 acres; comprising however, 2s5, 126 acres de-
tanned from market IN consequence Of its supposed
mineral qualities.
In "A haeh aon ofTar NJ cali
during the year, aggregate of 1,029, 1876 acres,
divided among the several land districts in the State
except Helena, and including the new district Of
Champagnole, instituted by an act approved goth
February, lS45 The quantity Of lands now. ready
for market in all the districts in this State is 2003
GIG acres; of this quantity l45 400 acres are within
the limits othe De Bastrop claim, yet undetermined;
and the quantity of 1853 is reported to be
highly productive of lead mineral.
In Louisiana, the principal sales advertised this
year have been Of lands comprised within the linn
its of the Opelousns district and lying chiefly
the Gulf coast and the Cacasieu river embrac-
ing 2l 235 acres various residuary fractions and de-
tachcd tracts in the southeastern district amounting
10 300li acres were offered for sale at New Orleans
during the same period. There remain in this
State 46l 205 acres surveyed and not yet offered for
sale, the major portion of which, Surveyed many
years ago. ntereres with the large claims of Da,i-
terive and DeBastrop, viz: 362,53s acres with the
former, and 22,4oO acres with the latter.
In Mississippi II appears that there are, IN the
Grenada district, l275,439 acres of land surveyed
and remaining TO be offered at public sale, which
yet awa report of the final action of the War De-
partment on the Chocaw Indian claims. There are
also 1885, sos south THE $40 of north latitude,
IN the Augusta district, suspended from market UNI
ii the final location and adjustment Of the private
claims so as to identity and connect them with the
public surveys.
As presenting some interesting details relative TO
lands in the Chickasaw cesson Of 1882 the greater
portion Of which is situate in this State, submit
parer F, indicating the progress Of business and
tducuon Of expenses connected with land opera
uoas OF Sc $50 per annum, and consequent saving
81 that amount TO the Indians.
In Alabama, only the quantity Of about three town
snps Of public land remains to be brought into mar
kej this is situated the st. Stephens and Sparta
districts, south Of the $40 of north latitude and has
been suspended from market awaiting the final loca
ton of the private claims now completed within the
limits Of the respective townships.
In Florida, there were advertised to be sold DUR