The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-11
The PUBLIC DOMAIN OF AMERICA.
Annual Report OF the Com missioner or the
General Law0 once.

SiR-In submitting a report of this branch OF he
public service, it Ill not be inappropriate recur
to the origin of title TO our vast public domain aud
10 the wise and admirable system devised for II 5
disposal. The public lands belonging to the gene,
raj government are situated -
LIST. Within the limits OF the United States, as
defined by the treaty Of 1888. which terminated the
revolutionary war, and are embraced by the States
OF Ohio, ladiana. Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
and that part OF Minnesota of The Nj ppl
river; all Of which have been formed out OF the
northwestern territory, as conveyed, with certain
reservations, TO the United States, by New York,
in 1871, by Virginia in 1854. Massachusetts, In
l1S5, and Connecticut IN 1856. Also, the lands
within the boundaries OF the States OF Mississippi
and Alabama, nsrih of the thlrtytirst degree of
north latitude. as conveyed to the United States by
Georgia, in 1902
I'd. Within the Territories of Orleans and Loui-
slana as ACQUIRED from the French republic by tae
treaty OF 1903, including that portlOn of the States
Of Alabsma and Mississippi, south OF the 3lst de-
gree OF north latitude the whole of the States of
Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and that
portion of Minnesota west ut the Mississippi river
the Indian territory the district Of coanry called
Nebraska; the Territory Of Oregon; and the re-
2ion Of country north OF the forty second and south
of The forty.nipih degree OF north latitude, which
lies between Oregon and Minnesota.
Sd. Within the State OF Florida, as obtained
from Spain, by the treaty OF 1919; and
18th. In New Mexico and California, as acquired
from the republic of Mexico by the treaty of 1913
Within the limits recognized by these treaties
and cesslOns, our public lands embrace estl-
mated area, In round numbers of fifteen hundred
and elahty-tour millions Of acres; OF which, up
10 the Goth OF September, lSI9 we had DISPOSED OF
over one hundred and forry-sx millions, and have,
consequently, remaining unsold IAN OF fourteen
hundred and thirty eight miillons These lands,
in large bodies or detached tracts, are found IN the
states aud territories sntlourd. WIN our wide
spread republic, now STRETCHING fom the Atlantic
ocean on the east TO the Pacific the west, and
from the British possessions on the north TO our
southern boundary, formrd Dy the Calf of Mexico,
The N nd M sOu line NJ
the nver Gia to the Colorado and thence by line
across the latter 10 point In the Pacific ocean, one
marine league south of the southernmost point of
the port of San Diego.
After the eventful struggle which resulted in our
national Independence, the establishment OF sys-
tenn Tor the disposal of the public lands attracted
early attention A committee for that purpose was
appointed by the Continental Congress, consisting
OF Messrs. Jefferson, Williamson, Howell Gerry.
and Reas, who, on the TIN OF May, 1854 reported
an ordinance Tor ascertdining the mode ut loct-
ting and dsposing OF lands IN the western terri
tory, and for other purposes therein mentioned T"
The chairman OF the committee was Tnomis JEFF
fsrson, Of Virginia, then II delegate IN Congress.
This ordinance required the public lands to be
divided into :" hundreds" OF ten geographical miles
square, and those az am 10 be subt,vded INTO lots
OF one mile square each, to be nu noer-d from to
100, commencing in the northwestern corner, and
counting from west to east, and from east to west
continuously and also that the lands thus su odi-
vided should be first offered AT public sale.
This ordnance was considered, debated and
amended and on the 3D. OF May, l7S5, oa motion
of Mr.. Grayson, of Virginia, seconded by Mr..
Monroe, the size of the to xnships was reduced 10
xix miles square. IL was further discussed until
the 10Th May, l7S5, when i was finally passed
Our land system, thus founded, has gradually
grown M TO ITS present PERFECTION, having been
modified from time to time the condition of the
country aud the wants OF the people required
The SYSTEM the work OF our republican fathers,
simple in Its theory and pracuce, 50 certain and
admirable in It's results, is oseratng upoa the
organized hand districts OF the United States,
found IN the States of Ohio lodlana, Illinois, Mis-
sour, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, LOUISIANA,
Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, and in the
newly-iormed Territory OF Minnesota. the last
mentioned being conlermInous on the south with
the State Of Iowa, aud bounded on the north by
The 10Th degree OF latitude, winch divides It from
Nenada.
Sales OF the mineral lands on Lake Superior, in
Michigan, have been delayed tor want OF the ia.
formation requisite under the act at lst March,
lsi7. That act provided that geological expora-
lions and surveys should be made, aud that lindj,
reported as containing valuable mineral, should be
sold un0er special regulations, aud al an lncre ased
minimum pTlce. Partial feturns only had been
received, after two years exploration; and IN
order that this service might be brought close
IN a reasonable time. the direction of il was ea-
trusted 10 other hands
From the reports OF Messrs Foster and Whit
ney, the geologists now in charge OF this district,
II appears that they have extended their researches
during the past season over great part ot tue
Lake superior ulStrct ana nave cOliected n IN ass
of information, respecting that region, winch will
promote settlement, and be highly Interesting 10
science.
DR.. d. ID. Owen, the eeolo2is, 10 charge OF Wis
consin ard Iowa, under the act OF 81 March, 1917,
has almost comp leted the survey of his district,
having extended hiss researches 10 the northern
boundary of the United States, and far Iato the
western territory, In advance OF the white settle
meats. His reports have enabled tnls Office To
bring lands in that district into market as fast as
they hsNe been surveyed, Ia accordance with the
provisions OF law, and have saved tn the govern
ment probably as much as the whole exprase OF
exploration, by preventing the survey Of large
barren and vaueless tracts.
The mineral lands IN these regions, Ia conse-
ouence Of the y,ld OF valuable ores from some OF
the mines there discovered, have attracted the at
iention Of capitalists IN this couorry aud IN Enr.pe;
end by the establishment Of liberal policy Ia re-
lition to them, all Of any value would be soon
disposed OF. This course should be pursued Tor
many reasons.
These lands are difficult Of access, and, for the
greater part Of every year, are shut Ia by impissa-
bic barriers of ice and snow. The working OF
them, consequently, - very expensive, aud at
tended with fatigue aud prvauon. la order to
procure a good location. Ia most cases, the mlaers
must purchase acres Of worthless liuds, even II
they enter the smallest legal subdivision. The
great object 10 be effected is, To nave those lands
perfectly explored, their mines thoroughly worked,
and their products fully developed. To do this,
those engaged in this business must purchase the
land, ard, at very heavy expenditure of tm- aud
money, prepare the necessary accom- noddtiOns,
and make their examinations. II the tirst attempt
fail, another must be made, or the whole be abiu-
doned, ard the expenditure lost
Five dollars per acre, the preset minimum. - not
iu equivalent for land containing d valu able
mine aud IL certainly II too much for waste dad
barren lands in that inhusptable region.
While the minimum then, is thus Kept NJ, many
doubtless are unwilling to risk purchases at the
high rate liked, and the subsequent outlay neces-
sary 20 work the lands.
The amount Of money derived from sales Of
mineral lands is uncomfortable in importance,
when compared with the benefit conferred on the
community by large yield Of copper aud other
valuable ores. and the commerce consequently re-
sulting, together with the reduction IN the price Of
these articles to the whole people.
The surveys IN Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas. MIS-
sissipp and Alabama, have also been completed
and measures have been taken tn have the survey
inc archives in those States transferred to the pro.
per authorities, as provided by the said act OF I'm