Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-07

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Gath, 1850
The number Of claims already presented under this
prehensve law up to the 9th Of November, 1850, was
9,4ls and the number is increasing rapidy-scarcey
| mail arriving which does not swell the list.
The whole number Of persons who if living would be
titled to the benefit of that law would exceed half million
The Commissioner supposes from the best data within his
reach that oneEa dead, leaving person entitled to
claim under them If this estimate be conect-and inn
agine will be found to approximate accuracythe whole
number Of claimants will be about tDo hundred and y
| thousand.
will thus be seen that the act Of 2sth September, $780,
by far the most important bounty land law that has
passed. whether consider the number Of bene6cares
under its provisions the extent the domain granted
Deeply impressed with the responsibility incident to the
administration Of trust Of such magnitude have sought to
make the necessary arrangements to its prompt and
efficient execution. Forms have been prepared with ample
instructions to guide applicants in presenting their claims
and given that every proper facility will be al
foded for the establishment of just demands under the law
Plates have been ordered to be engraved for printing the
warrants and every precauon has been adopted guard
against fraud and forgery These plates will be COM
peted and there need then Re delay in commencing the
issue of regret to say, however, that the law
contains no provision for the employment and compensation
of the clerical force necessary for its execution.
Under the terms Of the law, as have been constrained to
consue Them the warrants are not assgnabe The holders
them cannot therefore, make them available until they have
been located and patented This process will necessarily
quire considerable time and it is therefore peculiarly pro-
per- order the enjoyment Of the bounty by those
for whom intended that unnecessary delay should
be encountered. To avoid this evil, the Commissioner
commends that provision be made for the employment Of
efficient clerks with salary Of ST. 700 EACH competent to
investigate the claims Of applicants This recommendation
Except in regard the amount Of salary, which
sary arge) cordial approval, and the only doubt
have Is whether two will be sufficient TO guard against all
contingencies would respectfully urge the proprey Of
hozng this Department. in the event that two clerks should
prove insufficient keep psce with the business employ
more addition, and such temporary assistants may
be required from time to time. Unless the Department has
the means Of adudcang the claims fast they pre-
sene and of issuing the when they allowed
dissatisfaction and suspicious Of favotism will inevitably
arise.
Should Congress in these views Of the subject
shall it less privilege than duty to that their
benecent policy is carried with all practicable despatch
and economy.
Public Lands.
The report the Commissioner Of the General Land Office
exhibits some very interesting facts The surveys Of the pub
lie lands have pressed forward with commendsbe acv
ty and having been completed 10 several States the archives
connected with them have been delivered the State author
tiles required by law
Acres
The sales Of public lands in the year ls49
amount to-. 329, 902 n
Area located in that year in satisfaction Of Mex
lean bounty land warrants. 3,405, $50 90
State selections under the act of 4th Septem-
Der, ls4l ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 25s, sos so
improvements of rivers, SC. 1875, 246 81
Chocaw certificates .................. SO, 935 80
Total acres thus disposed Of ........ 5,ls4, 4l0 81
During the three quarters Of 1850 there have
been ssld s6s, Os2 80
Located by Mexican bounty land warrants du
ring the LIST and ID and part Of the Sd quar-
tiers ........... $50, 100 90
State selections under the of ls4l .. &c., sos So
Choc,aw certificates Observation-Disclosures. 49, $50 50
Aggregate thus disposed Of 10 the LIST, ID, and
part Of the Sd quarters Of $780,. asl5, $3.50 AZ
tis shown BY the Commissioners report that the public
lands have been rich of to the Government
averaging about and quarter millions Of dollars per
mum the las. fifty years and above all costs and
pen.es It Is gratifying to find that the business Of the land
Office is actively progressing The Of all the receiv
ers public moneys have been adjusted TO the 30h Septem
Der last speedy consummation is anticipated Of State
lecon undeih graat Of the 4h September ls4l and
various internal improvements under other laws Measures