Washington sentinel., 1853-12-11
4abIit 4otamsnt.
Report Of the secretary of the Interior.
DEPARTMENT OF The INTERIOR,
49,. December 8 IS12

Report Of the Secretary of the Interior.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
December 5, 1853.
SIR: From the accompanying report of the
Commissioned of the General Land Office, II will
be seen that the surveys of the public lands have
been steadily prosecuted and large bodies OF new
lands during the past year, brought into market;
that the wants of the emigrant have been fully
met, and choice selections offered 10 The hardy
pioneer.
The land system is founded in correct princi-
Piles, and needs but little modification or change.
The pre-emption feature might possibly be advan-
tageousy enlarged and made more liberal. Sound
policy requires that every encouragement should
be held out for actual settlement and cultivation.
Nothing retards the growth and prosperity OF the
country more, nor inicts greater injury upon the
resident, than the possession, by individuals or
companies, ofextensve uncultivated tracts ofthe
public lands. To correct this evil facilities should
be literally extended TO the actual settler, and
withheld from the mere speculator.
During the last fiscal year 9,Sls,4l1 acres have
been SURVEYED and 10, 1868, ,S91 acres brought into
market. In the same period there were
IfcTes.
Sold. Observation-Disclosures. 1,0s3,495
Located with military bounty land war
rants -............ O,l42,3OO
Located with other certificates. 9,427
Selected for the States, swamp lands 1864 ,253
Donated for railroads, &c. ............ 1,427,4o7
Making total of. -............. 1899
Showing an increase in quantity sold and located
with land warrants, and under grants, of 2,23l SIS
acres over the previous fiscal year.
The quantity of land sold during the second
and third quarters Of 1852 was 33,45l acres;
amount received therefor, S623,6S7 SO.
Quantity sold second and third quarters of1S53,
l,6099l9 acres; amount received therefor, W,
226,S76 sc.
The whole number OF land warrants issued, un-
der existing laws, up TO the 30th September last,
was 266, ,0I2 of which there were then outstanding
66947. The quantity of land required to satisfy
the latter is Its, 120 acres.
Warrants have been issued to the 30th Septem-
Der last, under the act of 1lth February, 1s47,
calling for. r.............. 12,S79, $50 acres.
Under the acts of September 2S,
1850, and March % 1852, for. 12,505.360
Making a total of. !. ........ 253S4, GAO 6
There have been issued, under the act of 3lst
August, 1852, for the satisfaction of Virginia land
warrants, 1867 pieces of land scrip, embracing
229, 500 1t is supposed the scrip yet 10 be
issued under this act win require 900 acres.
1t may be several years before the land warrants
and scrip will be exhausted, and until then the
amount of land sold for cash will be comparatively
small.
The entire area Of the public domain is esti-
mated at about 1854, 100000 acres. That within
the States exclusive Of California; is All 500, ,439
acres.
Its purchase was effected at the
rate of 14.4l cents per acre,
amounting to.. .................. S67, ,999, 700
To this should be added the Indian
reservations, (which enter into
the original cost, amounting to
3,400, ,725 acres, which, valued at
ST. IS per acre, would make.... 4,25O,9OG
Up to the 30th June, 1853, 334, 1885,
$40 acres had been sold, at an
expense Of 2.07 cents per acre,
making. ...................... 6,el9,nG
And lS4667135 acres sold at an
additional expense for selling, at
5.32 cents per acre, making.... 9,s24,29l
The entire cost (ncluding survey
and selling) being. ............ SS,994, ,013
The whole amount accruing from
sales up to 30th June, 1858, was 142,2S3,47S
Being $53 2s9, ,465 more than the cost of the whole
thus far, inclusive of survey and SALE
Ofthe surveyed lands there have been granted
For educational purposes...... 11,199, ,973 acres.
For military bounties ......... 4,S41 $50
And for internal improvements. 16,607.O13
Making. ............ 52,64s,966
Thereyet remain Of the surveyed
lands &c, $40, TOO acres, worth
(after deductng the cost Of sell
ling yet to be borne)-. sl16,OlsGal
And 1877, ,635,629 acres, worth
Irft.. La, ts.,.~t 49,. - L. . II