Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-12-12
REPORT OF THE
SECR ETA8Y Or INTERIOR.

uew anl important feature. The Secretary con,
sI3er- the law yrsY difficult of execution ahn
thu fully 10 accomplish the objects contemplated
hy II. passage, material notifications must he
rIssIe The Secretary adhrrc- 10 bis previous
yI#ws respecting the policy al granting alternate
section. If lnnd IN aid of the construction 81
great leading highways, when such works are
/ likely 10 be undertaken aud completed IA good
faith and prove beneficial IL the public, and not
merely to ndYrutarer~ aud Spectators. Iothrow
the necessary guards aud restrictions around
such grants the Secretary mukcs -nmc general
Suggestions, but submits the matter To- the Wis
dom of Congress.
The application, to Congress at IL last session.
$50 far II they would Lc brought IL the attention
If the department bv the conmitter) contcln-
plated the construction of about 5,b5b miles "t
road, which. allowing six sections IA the mic,
would have required about twcnty. millions ct
ucrcs.
In anticipation that some Of these grants
would be made, aud not knowing which the De.
pa -tmcnt, upon the urgent solicitations of the
delegations in Congress, reserved the lands along
the proposed routes OF the roads 10 an extent APP
proAimating to thirty millions Of acres. The
department has carefully reconSdered the policy
Of this course, and has cometo the determination
not To make such reservations hereafter until tn"
giants -hall have been actually madc by Con
gress. The reasons for This determination are,
in part, that such reservations are OF doubtful
legality that thtY reurd The settlement ot the
/ conntry-the difficulty "f ascrflaliln@ III what
cases 1t Is likely the grant VIII be 1'', ana i'r
fear OF injmlng the scc'ond country III WHICH
the improvement l. contemplated, by turning
thence the tide OF em'Tatlon.
The Secretary retcrales his recommendation
that officers connected with the survey and sale
Of the public domain b, prohibited by law from
becoming interested IN its purchase.
After the passage Of the act September. l45u.
granting the government ands 10 the state IN
winch they he, mnny such lands were taken up
hv purchase or location rs agricultural land
The act Of 1850 being Grant in present. To the
States. the United States cannot make tile TO
the individual purchasers or locator, aud many
difficulties have grown up under This lead, To-
| settle which and afford relief the Secretary re
eommcndg remedial lcgslation.
The Secretary recommends as indispensuLy
| necessary 10 tho completion of the vast amount
| OF business, before it, a contn lation for another
year Of the commission to settle land claims in
/ California. The commissioners have, hv their
erent assitl4itv, ACCOMPLISHED a .treat deal and
| there is vet much for them to Ia. They have
ndiudcaila ~ claims. which l., ahaut half the
number presented. ufthr,r. POI were. confirmed
for about 5:}} square loaoap- oi I,l. and lf} re.
ieetel caqcri... about :}s3 zoaalr leagues.
/ The Secretary. a6,.ft4 /, the irr,.,-elnriti rs
and iurol5,ific- rfolurqa l,,. the numerous and
diversified ,,oi,si,n l,,,. Iod recommends some
importnil qualifications with view Ia restore the
the system somewhat to fine orieinol lc.ion of if,
prarctorS. and Ia increase its benefits and re-
strict its operations to those who are really and
lrpitimatelv deserving objects of Government fn
yor and protection. lie reviews his rccnan,n-
,lation of a biennial examination af invalid ncu-
| sioncr. md cites tb, sinr,lar ftc, that y, hilo
npplications nrr ni,nrr,ns md constantly nrc-
sentiug themselves for an increase Of pension ON