The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-08
Report Of the Commissioner Of the General
Land Office.

Land Office.
The annual report of Commissioners Butter
field, comprises very full details of the business
of the Land-O during the past year.
The sales of the public lands from the 30th
June, 1850, to the 30th June, 1851, amount to
l,846,847 49-l00 acres; and the purchase mo-
ney to So 37o,s47 AS.
The amount of land sold, during the first
quarter of the fiscal year, commencing July /,
1851, was 473,l 65-l00 acres, for which there
has been received the sum of $60l ,69l OIL. The
amount of land sold for the corresponding quar-
ter Of the last fiscal year, was 266,879 66-l00
acres for which the sum of $3i9,S76 06 was
received. The sales thus appear to be largely
on the increase
The quantity of public land proclaimed for
market, during the year, amounts TO 1871 ,537
acres; and the estimated quantity available for
market, during the coming year, will not be less
than IL 900 900 acres.
The following is comparative table showing
the appropriations of the public lands by sales
and military locations for several successive cal
endar years
Military Locations.
Sales. Gr's. Reefs. .Mer Var. aggregate
Years. .aeres. Dollars. .9cres .4cres.
Is47 g, 52l 1905 1864 25O,320 2,77l ,625
l84S. Il, 49,, 553 1851 ,6l5 2,2SS,960 4,l76,5l3
lS49.. 1923 ,902 1,756s90 3,405,520 3,735,422
1850. ,4O5,s 1913 l,SlS,S29 2,I57,6S0 2,573,51S
1857 l,5l6,352 1881 l,377,6O0 3,l24,134
'First, second and third quarters. The fourth
quarter may be estimated in proportion.
The locations by military bounty land war
rants during the fiscal year commencing July l.
1850, cover an area of 2 $4,000 acres, making
an aggregate of cash sales, and locations by
warrant during that period, of 4300,846 49-l0O
acres, which, at the minimum price, would
amount to $5,076,05e 36. The sales, however,
exceeded the minimum price by S623S8 90
The whole number of land warrants issued to
the LIST November, 1851, Under the Mexican
Bounty Land act of ii TIA February, lS47, is
sO7Sl. OF this number 666l8 have been re
turned tn the General Land Office rs located
and of these located land warrants GO 200 have
been patented. The whole number of land
warrants issued up TO the same period, under
the General Bounty Land law of 2Sth Septem.
Der, 1850, is 54,20l OF this number, 3.7OS
have been returned to the Genera Land Office
as located and of the located land warrants Of
this class, 900 have been patented
The existing provisions Of law regulating the
surveying operations in California are underlined,
and the practical operations, thus far ordered,
are restricted to the main lines Of survey The
commissioner recommends the immediate exten
sion of the land system over California in such
details as are best adapted to the peculiar con
dition of the country; and suggests, for the
consideration of Congress, whether il would not
be just and proper TO make provision, in a sup
Elemental law, for securing to actual settlers, by
pre-emption or otherwise, their improvements, in
the smallest legal subdivisions that will embrace
them, in all cases where, at the passage Of the
act OF Sd March, 1851, for the adjustment OF
California land claims, they were bona 4 s set
tiers, on alleged grants from the former gov
ernments, allowing at the same time, to the
claimants under such grants, an equal quantity
on other public lands. The measure may be
regarded as being analogous to the principle
recognized in the lth section of the act Of
Congress of the Goth Of May, 1924, for the
adjudication Of claims by the courts, which
act was revived and extended to several 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-genersl Of the United States, and the
Land Office has sanctioned proposition from
that officer to employ n competent person to
arrange, classify, and index them, so as to
render the archives available in the examination
Of titles II has also been directed, pursuant to
the surveyor generals suggestion, that, for
their security, the archives shall be kept in tin
boxes or trunks, properly labeled, numbered, &c.
According to instructions, the surveyor gen
eral has determined the point of intersection Of
base and meridian line in the summit of Monte |
Dablo, Upper California; an elevation said to
be about $500 feet. From this initiatory point
Of operation he was actively engaged in extend
ing the meridian to the north and south of it., |
and establishing the base. These, it is ex-
pected, 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 adherest TO the views expressed
in his last annual report as TO the mode proper
to be pursued in the eventful disposal of them.
In Wisconsin, in the Menomonee cession, aud
in other portions Of the State, the surveys Of
large bodies of land will have been completed
before the close of the season, ready for market
next year. and from the showing madeas TO the