Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-06
EVENING STAR.
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF TIE sECRF.
TARY OF THE INTERIoR.

A0@sA VG LIZ 4NIEh4U6.
This is an exceedingly sble and inter
esting document. AS an exhibit of tn,
affairs of this Department, it presents
condition of things of which he may just
ly feel proud.
During the last fiscal year, there have
been IL ,O7O,935 acres of the public lands
surveyed, and 8,19O,Ol7 acres brought
into market. Within the same period
7,O35 1876 acres were sold for cash, bring.
ing $9,285,533 So into the Treasury
being 5,952 ,240 acres more than were
sold during the preceding year. During
the last fiscal year, Sale, ,802 acres were
located with bounty land warrants-11,-
O33 1913 selected for the States, as swamp
lands, and 1,751 1862 for railroads, &c.
Thus showing that, while there has been
a large increase in the number of acres
sold for. cash, sensible diminution is felt
in the various other modes in which the
lands are disposed Of
The quantity of land sold during the
first and second quarters Of the present
fiscal year was 8 3,S26,6l9 acres, and the
amount received therefor was $3,642,-
1876 Al more than during the correspond.
ing period of the last year. The quan.
tity of land located in satisfaction of
bounty land warrants issued for services
rendered in the various wars since the
year l790 is 81 ,427 ,612 acres. To salts.
fy Virginia bounty land warrants under
the act of 3lst August, 1852, scrip has
been issued covering 837, 1856 acres, and
to satisfy the remaining warrants, it is
supposed that about 200, 900 acres more
will be required.
The introduction of the graduation
principle into our public land system,
engrafts upon it new and important
feature. The Secretary considers the law
as it is very difficult of execution, and
that fully to accomplish the objects con-
templated by its passage, material modi-
fcatiOns must be made.
He adheres to his previous views re-
specting the policy of granting alternate
sections of land in aid of the construction
of great leading highways, where such
works are likely to be undertaken and
completed in good faith, and prove ben
efcial to the public at large, and not
merely to adventures and speculators.
To show the necessary guards and re-
strictions around such grants, he makes
some practical suggestions, but submits
the matter to the wisdom of Congress.
The applications to Congress at it's last
session, so far as they were brought to
the attention of the Department by the
committees, contemplated the construc-
tion of about 5,056 miles of railroad :;
and allowing six sections to the mile,
they would have required about 20 ,OO0,.
900 acres.
In anticipation that some of these
grants would be made, the Department,
upon the urgent solicitation of the dele.
cations in Congress, reserved the lands
from sale along the proposed routes of
these roads to an extent approaching
to about 30,OO0,000 acres. The Depart
ment has carefully reconsidered the poll
cy Of this course, and come to the deter
mination not to make such reservations
hereafter until the grants shall have been
actually made by Congress. The reasons
for this determination are, in part, that
such reservations are of doubtful legali-
ty; that they retard the settlement of
the country; the difficulty of ascertain
ing in what cases it is likely the grants
will be made; and the fear of injuring
the section of country in which the i'm
provement is contemplated by turning
thence the tide of emigration.
Tho IN W, {oc 4;
dation that the officers connected with
the survey and sale of the public lands
be prohibited by law from becoming in
terested in it's purchase.
After the passage of the act of Septem-
Der, 1850, granting the swamp and over
flowed lands to the States in which they
are situated, many of such lands were
taken up by purchase or location as agri.
cultural lands. The act of 1850 being a
grant in present. to the States, the Gov
ernment cannot make titles to the indi-
vidual purchasers or locators, and many
difficulties have grown up under this
head, to settle which and afford the ne
cessary relief the Secretary recommends
remedial legislation.
The Secretary also recommends, as in
dispensably necessary to the compile
ton of the vast amount of business be.
fore it, continuation, for another year,
of the commission to settle land claims
in California. The commissioners have,
by their great assiduity, accomplished a
great deal, and there is still much to be
done. They have adjudicated 397 claims,
which is less than half the number pre-.
sented. Of those adjudicated, 294 were
confirmed for about 1876 square leagues
Of land, and lob rejected, covering about
383 square leagues.
The Secretary adverts to the irregular
tiles and inequalities produced by tht
numerous and dissimilar existing pension
laws, and recommends some important
notifications with view to uniformity
and also to restore the system somewhat
to the original design Of its projectors
and to increase it's benefits and restric
it's operation to those who are really ant
legitimately deserving objects of govern
mental favor and protection.