The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-09
R0ysrt Of the Commissioner OF the General
Land Office. ....

Land 0fiCe.
The annual report Of Commissioner Butter
feld, comprises very full details of the business
"a he Land Office during the past year.
The sales of the public lands from the 30th
Fga.. 1850. to the 30th June, 1851, amount to
S56847 49-IO0 acres; and the purchase mo-
DIV 10 So 37o,s47 As.
he amount of land sold, during the first
= ter of the fiscal year, commencing July l.,
q 1, was 473, lao 65-l00 acres, for which there
has been received the sum of $60l ,69l OIL. The
4, unit of land sold for the corresponding quar-
n. Of the last fiscal year, was 266.879 66-lO0
y, for which the sum of $349S76 06 was
lived. The sales thus appear to be largely
az The increase.
NE quantity of public land proclaimed for
= ket, during the year, amounts to 1871 ,537
IS; and the estimated quantity available for
IA rket, during the coming year, will not be less
ts II 100000 acres.
The following is comparative table showing
appropriations of the public lands by sales
AL military locations for several successive cal
eT lar years:
Military Locations.
Sales. Gr's Reefs. Mer. War. aggregate.
Y IRIS. .7eres Dollars. .4eres. Heres.
1881 1905 3,296,404 25O,321 All ,625
E..l, l,OO
9. Il 80, 800 l,756, 800 3,405,520 3,735, i22
OIL ,4O5, s3s l,sls,s29 2,l57,650 2,573,5ls
I'LL ,5l6,352 1883, ll9 1,377,6OO 3,l24,l34
sFirst, second and third quarters. The fourth
srter may be estimated IN proportion.
The locations by military bounty land war
its during the fiscal year commencing July j,
so, cover an area of 2,454,000 acres, making
aggregate Of cash sales, and locations by
Grant, during that period, of 4300,Si6 49-l0O
res, which, at the minimum price, would
,ount TO S5,076 05e So. The sales, however,
ceeded the minimum price by $62 1888 90
be whole number Of land warrants issued to
g l,t November, 1851, rnder the Mexican
r ounty Land act of 18th February, l847, is
tl7si. or this number 666lS have been re
rned 10 the General Land Office "a located /;
"a of these located land warrants GO 200 have
,en patented. The whole number Of land
arrants issued up 10 the same period, under
10 General Bounty Land law of 18th Septem.
or. 1850. is 54,2Ol. OF this number, 370S
ave been returned TO the Genera Land Office
located and of the located land warrants Of
his class, $50 have been patented.
The existing provisions Of law regulating the
uryeyinp operations in California are underlined,
nd the practical operations, thus far ordered,
re restricted to the main lines ~ survey. The
.ommi,sioner recommends the immediate exten
zion of the land system over California, in such
details as are best adapted to the peculiar con
dition Of the country; and suggests, Tor the
consideration of Congress, whether It would not
e lust and proper TO make pIovi'ion, in sup.
Elemental law, f,r securing TO actual settlers, by
redemption or otherwise, their improvements, 10
he smallest legal subdivisions that will embrace
hem. in all cases where at the passage OF the
ct Of Sd March, 1851, for the adjustment OF
california land claims, they were bona n s Get
ilers, on alleged grants from the former gov.
,rpments, alto wing at the same time, to the
claimants under suc' grants, an equal quantity
on other public lands. The measure may be
regarded as being analogous to the principle
recognized in the 18th section OF the act OF
Congress of the 26th of May, 1924, for the
adjudication OF claims by the courts, which
act was revived and extended to 'everal States.
by the act Of Congress of the 18th OF June, 1874
The archives Of the former governments OF
California have been delivered over TO the sur.
veyor-general of the United States, ard the
Land Office has sanctioned proposition from
that officer 10 employ competent person TO
arrange, classify, and index them, so as TO
render the archives available in the examination
of titles. 1t has also been directed, pursuant to
the surveyor generals suggestion, that, Tor
their security, the archives shall be kept in tin
boxes or trunks, properly labeled, numbered, DC.
According to instructions, the surveyor gen.
eral has determined the point of intersection OF
base and meridian line in the summit of Monte
Diablo, Upper California; an elevation said to
be about 1900 feet. From this initiatory point
of operation he was actively engaged in extend
ing the meridi IN 50 the north aud sonth of IL
and establishing the base. These, il is ex.
l,ected, will be completed before the beginning
OF the wet season, during which the surveying
operations WILL inevitably be retarded. The
extension Of the standard parallels will follow
In regard to the mineral lands in California
the commissioner adheres to the views expressed
in his last annual report as TO the mode proper
to be pursued in the eveatful disposal Of them
In WiscE nsin, in the hlcnomonee cesson, and
in other PORTIONS Of the State, the surveys u
large bodies OF land will have been completed
before the close Of the season, ready for market
next year, and from the showing made as to the
a.. -,n.ktu. &c ;nL a,.1