The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-09
Report of the Commissioner Of tho Gen.
eIal Land Office.

ranged as 10 present q clear, concise ana lhter-
esting view of the Operations of the office dur
ing the past year, aid OF the whole land sys-
tenn.
1t commences with ref renee t" an impr'v
ment in the arrangement "f the statistics, CIV
a summary of the surveying operations, Of tho
sale and disposal of the public domain, including
grants of every kind, private claims, and Indian
! reservations !; communicates brief and succinct
history ofthe action of the Office under the legis
lation of the last session OF Congress, and re-
commends the adoption Of several Important
measures especially the extension Of the land
system to our Pacific border, and the sale of the
valuable mineral lands of those regions in
tracts Of small size, and in quantity only to meet
the demand.
The surveys, it appears, have been pressed
forward as rapidly as the means placed at the
disposal of the office would permit, to enable
the hardy and .enterprising pioneers to avail
themselves of the benefits Of the presumption
act Of 18th September, l84l. The terms of that
| law expressly exclude all persons who settle on
unsurveyed lands and hence these efforts for
the benefit of this portion Of our citizens are
worthy of all commentator. 1t is through the
instrumentaty of these trontiersmen that our
public lands have become valuable, that the will
derness has given pl'ce to the busy throng OF
commerce, and the smiling fields of plenty
They are, therefore, entitled to all possible con-
sideration, and it is Il matter of satisfaction and
congratulation, that their interests and those OF
the public, which are identical, are so we'll car
ed for.
The combination of the geodectic with the
rectangular system of surveys, authorized by the
act of last session, creating the office OF Surve-
yor General of Oregon, is discussed in very
satisfactory and practical manner, and its supe'
} rior advantages clearly demonstrated.
The whole quantity of lands sold and disposed
of during the year 1914, including that located
by military bounties, State selections, &c, was
1898, OO9 acres, amounting at 81 25 per acre, 10
| $6,I2S,435 For 1919, 5,l844l0 acres were
disposed of in like manner, amounting, at the
| same rate, to $6575,025. And for the three
quarters of 1850, exclusive of the bounty loca-
tons not yet returned for the third quarter,
2,Sl5,366 acres, were disposed of, amounting, at
the rate stated, to 3,562O4l.
A most valuable and interesting item in the
report is the statement showing the area and
cost of the public lands and the revenue derived
! from them.
| From that statement it appears that the whole
| area Of the public lands, exclusive of those in
Oregon, California, New Mexico. Utah, the Indian
and Nebraska Territories, was 424 l03,750 acres.
That of these about one-fourth have been sold
for the sum of Sl35,339,O 92, when the whole
cost, of every kind, to the Government, includ-
ing the amount paid to France for Louisiana, to
Spain for the Flordas, ind for the extinguish-
ment of the Indian title, was 1914 1857, $40
making the net profit to the Government $780,
38l ,2l3 or an average Of nearly one and quar-
ter millions of dollars annually for the last fifty
years
Nearly the same amount has been granted,
in bounties, for works Of internal improvements,
&C.
1t further appears that the average cost of the
public lands, including the purchase, eXtinguish-
ng the Indian title, surveying, selling, and man
aging, &c, is only 81 is cents per acre while
, for each acre the Government receives $ % per
acrc-making net profit Of 81 03 l-5 cents per
acre
TIE oncrous and responsible duties of the Of
flee have been actively and efficiently discharged
the accounts settled up to the end Of the third
quarter--patents issued for land sales to the
latest date practicable, and suspensions relieved
as far as possible.
The bounty Hand operations have materially
Increased the business Of the Office in all
branches; and the decision t at warrants were
assignable, has led to much difficulty and nu-
merous frauds upon tae Government and iMdi-
viduals.
Under the act Of 4th September, 1871, = q"
several States were e. titled 20 =! IG69U8 ur',
of which 5 O6l OF crrS l'vp been l"ratru, Il.
l,lO5,S9l accs remain To be- located.
The whole system of p.iyate land claims is
/ fully discussed and explained, and the advanta-
ges growing out Of the application Of it to the
territory on the Pacific fully demonstrated.
The matters connected with Indian reserva-
tons are thoroughly considered, and the opera.
tons, especially with reference to the Chicka
saw eession, fully explained.
The presumption business has been progress
! ing satisfactorily, and most of the claims have
( been adjudicacd a slight modification of the
act of 1871 is suggested to remedy existing
abuses.
Full Instructions have been prepared under
the acts Of Congress, granting the swamp lands
to the States, and bounty to the officers and SOL
diers who have been engaged in the military SER
vice of the United States.
These Instructions fully carry out the views
of Congress, avoid unnecessary expense to the
warrantees, and protect The interests Of the set
tiers
| The instructions for the Surveyor General Of
| Oregon provide for combination Of the geo.
detic with the rectangular system Of surveys as
required by law; and those under the act grant
ing the right Of way and making grant in aid
Of the construction of the railroad from Chicago
W Moollc, StcHIe lhe ooJcCl VI tuI III" anu pro-
tect the public interests.
Preparations have been made for bringing the
mineral lands in the Lake Superior region into
market early next summer, at the reduced min
imum provided by law.
A revival Of the act of Sd August, 1916, for
the settlement of suspended entries is recon-
mended to close up existing suspensions Of
!mcritorous character; and it is also suggested
that authority be given to the office for the sale
of reserved lands.
The sale of the mineral lands in Oregon and
California, is recommended, and the benefits of
! that system, as compared with the leasing of
those lands, are ably considered and fully sns-
tanned. The evils growing out Of the leasing
of the mineral lands in Missouri, Illinois, Wis
consin, and Iowa, are graphically described and
it is clearly shown that that system has wholly
failed source Of revenue; that it has been
a loss pecuniarily to the Government, directly
to a considerable sum, and indirectly to much
greater amount; and, moreover, that it has been
the fruitful source of litigation and crime.