The republic., 1850-12-06

satisfactory and practical manner, and Its Supe-
rior advantages clearly demonstrated.
The whole quantity of lands sold and disposed
of during the year lS45, including that located
by military bounties, State selections, &C., was
4,933,OO9 acres, amounting, at 81 25 per acre,
TO Sc, ,42S, ,435. For lS49, s., lS4 ,4l0 acres were
disposed of in like manner, amounting, at the
same rate, 10 SC, 6,575. .025. And for the three
quarters of 1850, exclusive of the bounty loca-
tons not yet returned for the third quarter,
2.Sl5,36 acres, Were disposed of, amounting
at the rate stated, to So, ,562 ,O4l.
A most valuable and interesting item in the
report is the statement showing the area and
cost Of the public lands and the revenue de-
rived 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,-
$50 acres. That of these about one-fourth
have been sold for the sum of 81 35 ,339 ,O92,
while the whole cost of every kind TO the Gov
ernment, including the amount paid to France
for Louisiana, to Spain for the Floridas, and
for the extinguishment Of the Indian title, was
S4 ,957 ,S79-making the nett profit to the
Government $50, ,3Sl ,2l3, or an average of
nearly one and quarter millions of dollars an
nually for the last fifty years.
Nearly the same amount has been granted
in bounties, for works of internal improve
ments, SC.
itfurther appears that the average cost Of the
public lands, including the purchase, extin-
gushing the Indian title, surveying, selling,
and managing, &c., is only 2l As cents per
acre; while for each acre the Government re-
! ceives 81 25 per acre--making a nett profit of
SOB Is cents per acre.
The onerous and responsible duties of the
office have been actively and efficiently dis
charged-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 land operations have materially
increased the business of the office in all its
branches; and the decision that warrants were
assignable, has led to much difficulty and nu-
merous frauds upon the Government and indi-
viduals.
several States were entitled to A | 66 90S acres;
of which 3,O6l ,0l7 acres have been located
and Joe, ,S9l acres remain to be located.
The whole system of private land claims is
fully discussed and explained, and the advan-
tages growing out of the application of it to the
Territory on the Pacific fully demonstrated.
The matters connected with Indian reserva-
tions are thoroughly considered, and the opera
tions, especially with reference to the Chicka-
saw cession, clearly explained.
The pre-emption business has been progress
ing satisfactorily, and most of the claims have
been adjudicated. A slight modification of the
act of lS4l is suggested to remedy existing
abuses.
Full instructions have been prepared, under
the acts of Congress, granNng the swamp lands
to the States, and bounty to the officers and sol
diers who have been engaged in the military
service 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 a combination of the geo
detic with the rectangular system of surveys,
as required by law; and those under the act
granting the right of way and making a grant
in aid Of the construction Of the railroad from
Chicago to Mobile, secure the object of that
law, and protect 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
minimum provided by law.
revival of the act Of Sd August, 1876, for
the settlement of suspended entries, is recon-
mended TO close up existing suspensions Of a
meritorious 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 sus-
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 as a source Of revenue that it
has been loss pecunarily to the Government,
directly TO a considerable sum, and indirectly
TO a much greater amounts and, moreover, that
it has been the fruitful source Of litigation and
crime
The whole Report abounds with useful and
interesting detail, and will well repay full
perusal.
he UiUh-Cop,h