Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-08
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF THE IN
TERROR.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, DEC. 3, 1855.
SIR: have the honor to submit to you briei
history Of tue operations during the past year Of this
Department. Ii is one Of the largest IN the Govern.
merit: its branches numerous ami extensive, and
in TO respect homogeneous hence Tue labor 10 The
more perp!eSinS and lntcnse.
Many interesting md important questions relative
70 the public lands have arlse,i ana the business U
the General Land Office has 80 Increased that It has
required all its energy aud ability to answer promptly
and satisfactorily the urgent demands OF the public
bu: il has been 80 we'll managed that perhaps the
Bureau was never in better condition.
rne surveys have been vigorously prosecuted ami
extended to the newly organized Territories, IRON
which already valuable reports have been received
Tie quantity of land ready IN he brought into mar.
Ike; durinS the coming year will he large; and, added
20 that subject to private eotry, WILL It is pre-
suned, Do ample to supply the most extensive de-
u:and.
II mas been the endeavor of the Land Office. in
executing the graduation law, TO protect aud at the
eae time promote, far as practicable the Interests
of the actual bonu-6de settler, and to aid az little M
possible the schemes Of the mere Spectator. The
law intended to encourage and secure the per-
nancnt resident; but the provisions intended 10 car
~ out this deSY very detective, and have gwen
rise 10 many grave questions difficult OF s"lutlon-
The Office was compelled to require the production
of satisfactory proof, within reasonable period o
a substantial compliance with the requirements OF
She law as prereo uisie 10 the issue OF the patent
This ia the most important safeguard that could be
adopted against the numerous frauds attempted to oe
perpetrsted under the law and still it may become
necessary for Congress to ntrrpose in order that 1t
may be executed i'll its spirit; otherwise its design
may be frustrated and defeated.
The Qgau,y OF land' sold Mt graduated prices du-
rim. TIN. last fiscal year STU, AL acres amount
received therefor, S2,3JS,9lS. -.
In the wear ending 3Oih Sept, last, l1,3lo2oo lc
Acres of land have been surveyed. Besides tins, te
true boundary line between Alabama anu Florida
has been established and many other surveys made To
correct errors aud defects in ancient surveys and to
pre,are for the d!sconIuance o the olce VI survey
o.. general in several ut the districts
No new land was brought into market, however
owing to the large body vi lunds already subject tO
entry.
cuantty sold for cash during the last
.;scGt year, was.--.------.--..--.l o,i <9,o-t %
Received therefor, Sill 1881 IS.
Located with military scrip aud land -,
warrants, l,pfo,.s'u W.
Swami, lands selected for States,.-- 7,i7OI 40 D.
S;r,d nm donations for railroads. &c, ll,55S 10
Making total Of. ;.:..:-. 2''I, io9 ''
exhibiting an increase OF 1913, iSY 81 acres over the
pryinus year OF lands sold for cash. and decrease
cf2U7 90 26 acres located with scrip and warrants
The quantity that will be entered The present hsca
year with land warrants will 10 'nuch larger, lne
nuober being greatly multiplied by the requirement.
OF the recent 6uunty-laBd law.
The amount of lands sold during the second and
trd quarters or the present Calendar year Is aoou
5c6l i63 acres; being incr.aee OF about ~ ,o.
!ns quarters Of In. preceding year.
Tnls h OWING, ia u great measure TO the cStrnnrdi
nary advance ind prosperity of the country 1u' IL
feared, IN sons degree, 10 the huuthce vi sperutu
tion
Tn. cnar1i;v OF land covered by warrants issued
90 soldiers uf all the wars in which the United States
D.ve been engaged is 81 ,95Sil2 acres; when eho:.
NOUS amount: taken in conDexlon win our noera
fys;em OF pensions, evinces IN M cihii"he ueEiee
TIA, the gratitude of the country for the patriotism
Of IL, Citizens is impaired by the lapse vi tiic
Do, is acknowledgement extended wth an lllIbera
band.
Under the several of Congress for the satisfac
.iuu of Virginia military land warrants there were
taken I6DUUD acres OF the public lands. Acts more
y.cen. have been passed for the sc OF scrip to salts
fy this c!ess Of warrants which are being faithful!
aui yet !beraiiy executed. Although c"nipin'hu
have bcca nude of Il too rI.id construction VI th'
law and against Of The rules and regiati"s pre-
e. .ioed uicer it, yet il will be found on INQUIRY tha
overy lst:tudc bus been given that fair obserfanc
OF i;s provisions would admit. il has been contenue
tho; the decisions OF the Executive vt the State ar
obligatory aud conclusive upon the department, I'LL
less fraud is clearly shown. But, with the creates
respect for that functiUary and his opinions, toun
myself on this po!ut. involved III thus difficulty: tina
,,Ic Executive had allowed what auOilcr Exccutir
had rejected, and that the laws under which actc
yeoujred as prerequisite to the issue vi the scriI
that the Secretary OF the Interior On tue SURRENDER
.ha ,rsrrant should be satisfied, "by rcriS'on ~ "a
,,,,f, or In additional GSLtm0Hy, that amy warrai
fbas surrendered was tLtr!y and J1ty issued III pu
srapce Of tho laws OF enid commonwealth. i
.,n. cases there proofs, nor additional test
,,nuy and could hot do otherwise, under the Z!
nr,s mandate OF the law than reject or suspend thei
Wna, is technically termed "deau" rs Well Il" "supe
nuu;erery service" i'll c"nl'rIhity with the opinion
rbr Attorney General, hrs been allowed. and the mo
Uucra course pursued III tho examination OF all u
o,h.r clusses. With strong disposition to favor u
.nnlicants au, persuaded there are solne vi Il
ni,us that will not bear the requisite scrutiny al
.r. NOT, Oh their merits, entitled I" allowance.
NV views respecting the policy, which has &
many wears been pursued. of making grants of pu
III, lands in alternate SECTIONS III AID of the costru
RON of grea, leading in the State
have been 50 fully expressed in my former reports
IN r.nder any thing more than brief aEusi"n to Il
subject UNNECESSARY. l rei,erate, however, the ii
nnrtsnce OF properly discriminating between ente
n-;s.s of this character which deserve the tuserii
I'D of Government aud those which are not call
for nv public considerations, and OF surrounding
such grants with proper restrictions aud guards
nr,yent fraud aud protect the interests vi the Unit
State. and Of the people. :.
such discrimination and precaution will not, 1t
believed, be found more difficult in thiS than in u
other species OF legislation, - ., - ~. O.,
The act of 9th August 1916, granted 70 inc 81
Of Wisconsin, for improving the Fox ana "'scon'
y;vere. aud to connect the same by canal, guam
~ Of land equal to onsho Of three sections 10 VIC
on: each side Of the Foe rrrer and ire tdkes tnfoa