The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1853-12-13


of the provisions Of limitation ia the
existing laws.
From the nature Of these claims,
the remoteness of the tribunals to pass
upon them, and the mode in which the
proofs, Of necessity, furnished temp
tations to crime have been greatly
stimulated by the obvious difficulties
Of detection. The defects in the law
upon this subject, are so apparent, and
so fatal to the ends Of justice, that
your early action relating to it is most
desirable.
During the last fiscal year, nine mil
lions eight hundred and nineteen
thousand four hsadred and eleven
acres Of the public lands have been
surveyed, and ten millions three hun
dred and sixty-thrce thousand eight
hundred and ninety-one acres brought
into market. Within tho same period
the sales by public purchase and pri-
vate entry amou,.vd to one million
. cighty-threo thousand four hundred
and ninety-tive acres located under
military bounty land warrants, six
million one hundred and forty-two
thousand three hundred and sixty
acres; located under other certificates,
nine thousand four hundred and TWEEN
ty.seven acres; ceeded to the States as
swamp lands, sixteen millions six hun
dred and eighty-four thousand two
hundred and fifty three acres. Total
amount Of lands Disposed of within
the fiscal year, twenty-five million
three hundred and forty-six thousand
nineehundred and ninety-two acres
which is an increase in quantity sold,
and located under land warrants and
grants of twelve million two hundred
and thirty-one thousand eight hundred
and eighteen acres over the fiscal year
Immediately preceding. The qnan-
tity Of land sold during the second and
third quarters of 1852, was three hun
dred and tliriy-four thousand four
hundred and fiity-one acres The
amount received therefor, was six hun
dred and twenty-threc thousand SIX
hundred and eighty-sev:p dollars
The quantity sold the second and third
quarters Of the year 1853, was one mil
lion six hundred and nine thousand
nine hundred and nineteen acres; and
the amount received therefor, two mil
lion two hundred and twenty-six thou
sand eight hundred aud seventy-siS
dollars.
The whole number Of land warrant:
issued under existing laws. prior to
the,30th September last, was two hun
dred and sixty-six thousand and for.
ty two: of which there were outstand
ING, at that date, sixty-siX Thousand
nine hundred and forty-seyen. The
quantity OF land required to satisfy
these outstanding warrant, is four NIL
lion seven hundred and sevcnty-eigh
thousand one hundred and twent,
acres.
Warrants have been ISSUED to 3Otl
Of September last, under the act 0
1lth February, 1877, calling 70
twelve million eight hundred and sew
cnty-nine thousand two hundred an'
eighty acres; under acts Of t'ep;eaIbe
%, 1850, and March ~, 1892, call
inc for twelve million Eve hundred ant
five thousand three hundred and sixt.
acres; making tota! Of twenty-five
million three hundred and eighty fou
thousand six hundred and forty acres.
1t is believed that experience ha
verified the wisdom and justice Of tn
present system, with regard to tn
public domain, in most essential par
ticulars.
You will perceive, from the repor
Of the Secretary Of the Interior, tina
opinions which have often been OK
pressed in relation 10 the operation o
the land system, as not being sourc
of revenue to the Federal Treasury
were erroneous. The net profits IRON
the sale Of the public lands to Jun
80, 1853, amounted to the sum OF fifty
three million two hundred and eighty
nine thousand four hundred and sixty
five dollars.
] recommend the extension OF tn
land system over the Territories Q
Utah and New Mexico, With sue