The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-19
REPORT FROM THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.


Union.
REPORT FROM THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
This paper is a well-written document giving
complete view of the operations of the Land Office
for the past year, the progress Of the surveys the
quantity of land sold, and all other particulars
connected with the working OF our land system. 1t
affords glimpse, il were, into progress and
increase as nation, and enables us to the
volume Of the wave Of emigration as it rolls on to-
wards the base Of the Rocky mountains both from the
East and the West.
The quantity of land surveyed and ready for mar
ket, and not advertised, the Both September,
1857, exclusive of lands Withdrawn ON account of
railroad grants embraces of 81 442 ST6 acres
OF this quantity % $50 ,46l acres were surveyed
during the FIVE quarters preceding that date During
the next fiscal year there will be surveyed and pre-
pared for market an additional Of Ii, ABS, 900
acres.
During the five quarters mentioned 5,300,55 acres
have been sold for cash. the receipts into the treasr-
ny therefrom being "a ,225,908 I8; 1881 ,0l0
have been located with military land warrants
1862, 476 reported under swamp-land grants;
and s. l6 900 acres granted to the State of Alabama
and Territory of Minnesota for railroad purposes.
Tie quantity sold and located during this period
falls short of the lands sold and located during the
period embraced in the last report by than six
millions of acres.
The condition of the bounty-and business shows
that altogether. 503.0s2 land warrants have been
issued, embracing So $50 $40 acres that 81 629
warrants representing 80 $50 500 acres, have been
located leaving 81 453 warrants calling fer Is 100
Is9 acres, yet outstanding.
The total amount Of lands selected for the several
States under the swampland grants is 54l74,2sl
acres of which there have been approved 40,I33,-
564 acres, and patented to the States 24,O6O,396
acres The selections reported during the past fs-
cal year amount to 2,s62,40s acres It is recon-
mended that limit be fixed to the time within which
swamp selections may be made.
During and since the year 1856 grants Of land
have been made to ten States and Territory, to
aid them in the construction of fifty railroads of
extent of s,64I miles, amounting part estimated)
to "a 247 335 acres Of which 20I96 sT5 acres were
granted by the last Congress-. These grants, far
they remain unadjusted, receive the prompt at
tention of the General Land Office, so far as the pre-
requisites are furnished by the authorities of the
grantees, and involve amount of officaRfabor at
least equal to the sale of that quantity of land,
Ofthe quantity Of 664,269 acres, granted to the
State of Wisconsin for the Improvement Of the Fox
and Wisconsin rivers 5s9,357 acres have been
tually certified and approved, leaving balance to be
adjusted of "a, ss1 acres The quantity of 1863 so
acres has been approved for the Des Moines grant
The greater portion of the archives relating to the
public surveys in Michigan have been handed over
to the authorities of that State The archives Of the
surveyor generals Office of Illinois will be transfer
red to the State authorities provision shall
have been made by the Legislature Of that State for
their reception The surveys in Missouri nearly
completed that the archives will be ready for trans
fer and the office Of the surveyor general closed,
by the end Of the year 1859. In Wisconsin the sur
veys have been prosecuted with great activity Ow-
ing to the severity of the surveying and the
depredaons Of the Indians but little has been done
in the northwestern part Of iowa. \ new surveying
district has been opened in Minnesota, but returns
Of surveys have yet been received. The resurveys in
Arkansas nearly completed, and the surveyor gem
era is preparing die land records for transfer the
State authorities. In Louisiana the surveys are
nearly complete. No surveys have been carried
on in Florida account Of the hosttes Of the In
dams Indian hostilites have also interfered with
the prosecution Of the surveys in New Mexico; the
surveyor general recommends that board of com
missioners be appointed to adjudcate Spanish and
Mexican claims in that Territory early settlement
of which is Of great Importance The mineral lands
in New Mexico should be reserved from general
sales or locations
The surveys in Kansas have been prosecuted with
energy returns having been received 10 the extent
Of seventeen thousand miles From Nebraska seven
thousand miles Of field work have been returned In
Utah the surveys had progressed rapidly previous
to the withdrawal Of the surveyor general account
Of the hostilities OF the Mormons.
The summary Of the field operations in California
since the commencement Of the service in 1851 to
the present time consists of 50 900 miles Of lineal
surveys embracing area of upwards Of 200oo,00o
acres, at the aggregate expense Of more than 81
100000 of which there were surveyed during the