The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-12-14
synopsis OF General Land Office Re-

synopsis OF General Land Office Re-
port.
During the year nding June 80, there
were 1885 900 acres sold for cash; 3.4O2, 600
located by land warrants, and 1000 by 9th
er certificates; ll,O00,0 900 report as swamp
lands and l,75l 900 for internal Improvement,
making total OF 23,23S,3l3 acres. For
the last quarter, Also. 900 acres were dispos-
ed of, being altogether an increase OF sales
amounting to 100000 acres over the pre-
vious year, though there is diminution Of
100000, including land warrant and swamp
transactions-the difference being caused by
the fact that the most OF the grants for boun
" lands, swamps, railroads, &c, had pre-
viously been disposed of. The sale for the
third quarter of the current calendar year are
more than twice as heavy those for the
corresponding quarter Of the previous year,
through the locations are less numerous.
From the Both of September, 1853, TO the
both of September, 1854, 9,3S4,464 acres
were surveyed, chiefly in Wisconsin, Iowa,
Minnesota and Florida, and S,l9O,6l7 acres
were brought into market. This is exclusive
of the surveys in California, Oregon and
Washington, amounting to l,6S6, All acres,
which have not yet been proclaimed for sale.
The Comm ssioner says, on an average, full
/ one-third business has been done in the Of
! fee during the past year than in the preced-
| ing; of the 26,543, 100 acres embraced by the
/ land warrants, now issued, 22,235,SS0 acres
have been located-leavi3g only 4.307,SSO
acres to be satisfied. The report gives
minute detail OF the labors of the Depart
ment, and recommends more secure depos-
its tor the books and papers; and then pies
ents the operations of the various State and
Territorial Surveyors. With regard TO rail-
road lands, it is stated that at The instance
of several Members Of Congress and others,
about 3 i 100000 OF acres in several of the
land States had been withdrawn from mar
ket, in anticipation of grants for railroad
and other internal improvements. AS such
grants were not made, il was deemed expo
dent TO restore these masses of lands to mar.
ket, especially in view Of the passage OF the
bill graduating the price of public lands, and
this has been done, except where the reser-
walton was for a fixed period, or have already
been made. In view of the increase Of bus
mess consequent on the operations OF the
law graduating the price of the public lands,
and the decrease in the compensation OF the
land Offices, caused by that reduction, the
Commissioner recommends better provision
for remunerating land officers, with allow.
ances for clerk-hire and Office rent. Oh the
operation of the Graduation law, the report
says: "Judging from the reports received, has
been productive Of much fraud and perjury,
and proved seriously injurious, to the ac-
tual settlers on the public domain. AS far
as practicable these evils have been remedied
by construction and instructions, but the
law is inherently defective. Ii it be design
ed to engraft this feature permanently on
our land sy stem, the privilege of purchasing
at the graduated price should have been lin
tied to preemptors, or made general To all.
0 Now, it is alleged that persons take the oath
required by the law with the mental qualii.
cation that the land will be required for ac-
tual settlement and cultivation at some future
. time. Others, il is stated, employed men to
y 90 forward and make the affidavit, ipaying al
n their expenses, aud also paying for the land
. the employee, in free simple, portion, say
an eighth or quarter vi the land enter
ed, aud retaining the balance" The difficult
ties are further explained, as will be seen in
n the report. The Commissioners discusse.
: at length the granting of land To the States
, and COR railroad and other improvements
With regard 10 the Pacific Railroad, he says
Y The necessity of such IA mode Of communca
tion becomes daily more apparent, and thai
the only way IL can De secured Is Oy grant:
OF land; and dis, that should the land sys
+ TEN be crippled, this work and all others o.
/, like character will be rendered mpractca
BILE. II, the objec sought in the passage o
the Graduation A ct was to get rid OF the lands
"a as soon as practicable, he says, there is bu
O little doubt that object will be attained by it
d Ii, on the contrary, the supposition was tha
the lands would not sell for more, his state
ments, he presumes, cili satisfactorily show
y that supposiiion to be erroneous. The sales
ID have always been equal to the demand; tn,
Is supply far, very far beyond il. The deman NJ
;. at the reduced prices will be increased blu
chiefly for purposes of speculation, and tn,
e hardy and enterprising settler, instead o
dealing with kind and paternal Govern
melt ih the purchase OF his lands, and secur
e ing perfect title, will have to look 10 tn,
% wealthy monopolist, and trust to his tende
"a mercies, with the risk that his title is encum
bered by prior liens and mortgages. Will
&c such views the Commissioner says the nat
rs ural suggestion is that the graduation law b.
]. radically amended, if il be the pleasure o
Congress to engraft it permanently on tn
land system; and in that event, it is furthe
suggested that the l2l cent class be abolish
. ed, " rather donated to the States respective
lv in which they lie, as the profit will scarce
al Iy defray the expense of dsposing of them.
Shooting OF MIR. Carpenter.
Col Carnantar Iamyar r.. :.