The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-10
PUBLIC DOCUM ENT.
Report Of the Secretary Of the Interior

DEfAkTMENT
December 5, 1858
SIR From the accompanying report OF the Commis-
sonef oil the General Land Office, il will be that the
surveys Of the public lands have been steadily prosecu
ed and large bodies OF lands, during the past year.
brought into Market that the wants OF the emgran have
been fully met and choice selections offered to the hardy
pioneer.
The land system is founded correct principles and
needs but tle modification change. The pre- empton
feature might possibly be enlarged and
made more liberal Sound policy requires that every
and cultivation
Nothing reards the growth and prosperity OF the coun
Try more. nor inics greater Injury upon the resident
than the possession, by individuals companies OF ex-
tensve unculvaled of the public lands To
this evil, facilities should be literally extended 10 the
actual settler and Withheld from the Spectator.
During the last fiscal year 0,sl9,dll have been
surveyed and lO,363s9l brought into market Ii
The came period there were
Located with military bounty land war
Located with other certificates o,4a7
Selected Tor the States az swamp lands l06s4,253 /"
Donated for railroads, &c lA27,l57 !"
a4& N
Making total OF 25.3io,992 +"
Showing increase in quantity sold and ocaied with
land WARRANTS and under grants OF 1923 SIS
The quantity OF land sold during the second and third
quarters OF 1852, was 33445 acres; amount received
therefor, $623 ,6o7 50.
Quantity sold second and third quarters OF 1853, 609,-
9l9 acres; amount received therefor, 81 226 s76 36.
The whole number OF land warrants issued, under ex-
sng laws, uD 10 the Both September last 266 o42 of
which there were then outstanding 66,947, The guam
ti;y Of land required to satisfy The latter is 4.77s2o
acres.
Warrants have been issued 10 the 3oih September
last, under the act Of lsth February, ls47. calling
Tor 12,S79,2s0 acres.
Under the acts OF September 80, 1850,
and March %, 1852, for la.5o5,36o "
Making total of 25 3S4,64O
There have been issued, under the of 3ls August.
1852, for the satisfaction Of Virginia land warrants,
1857 pieces Of land scrip. embracing 22a,66o II
supposed the scrip Yet be issued under this will
require $4,000 acres.
Il 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 estimated
at about l.5s4 100000 acres That whia the States
exclusive OF Caornla) is All ,S92,439 acres.
Its purchase was elected al the rate Of
l4.Il ceBis per acre, amounting TO $67, ,009, 100
TO this should be added the Indian res
eTvatons, which enter into the oriei-
nal cost, amounngso 3,400, ,725 acres,
which, valued at 81 25 per acre,
would make 1880, ,906
Up TO The aoih June, 1853, aal ,25o,slo
had been sold, at expense Of
207 cents per acre, making 6,9l9,ll6
And IS4 667,l35 acres sold at an addi
tional expense Tor selling, al 5 80
cents per acre, making 0,s24 1901
The entire cost Gncluding survey and
seing) being ss 904.oia
The whole amount accruing from sales -
= up 10 30th June, 1858, was H2 3.47s
Being $50 2s9 463 than the OF The whole thus
lar, inclusive OF survey and sale.
OF the surveyed lands there have been granied--
For educational purposes l1,l99,973 acres
For military bountirs 81 $50
And for internal improvements i6607,0l3
Making 81, Gas, 900
There yet remain of the surveyed
lands VI, 700 acres, worth (aiter
deducing the cost OF selling yet 10 be
borne) Siio,olS Gal
And 1877. .635 62o acre., worth (after de-
ducting the expense OF surveying and
selIng) l6l ,s73 900
Making 277,s9l ,904
To which add the net profits received
for lands actually sold 53,2s9,465
And we find that, while The purchase,
survey. and sale oil the public lands
will, in The end, have cost SsS, ,99i,013,
the net amount which will have been
realized therefor is the enormous sum
of 33I.1Si 26o