The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-09

lIie people OF lIe JEteu States that the Duhi
lands Our system of disposing Of them is the most jus
and equal and at the time the most conducive t
their rapid settlement and reclamation from wild an,
unprodIctve state that has been devised by am
government which has possessed extensive tracts Of un
cultivated land. It is system peculiar tie United
States and is based upon the simple but just principle
that, as the public domain is the property of people
all the States c,le:tvely, any individual desiring to an
propate to himself any particular portion of it. is allowe,
to do so by Taying into the common treasury moderate
consideration.
Under system of public sales pre-enption right
settlements have been made secure and permanen
basis The tide of emigration has rolled westward from
the Atlantic coast driving the Indian before it, and eav
ing in its ourshng States and prosperous communi
ties till it has now reached the heart of the continent
while from the shores of the Pacific several years past
the enterprisng pioneer has been his steady
eastward exploring unknown territory, and bringing t.
light the rich mine and the prolific soil which the indus
trious settler will soon occupy and improve.
In the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior the sys
tenn yielding these results has been the work of enght
ened leRisiation extending through half century
is peculiarly adapted to the and characteristics
our psope 1t lies at the foundation of rapid progress
as nation has developed physical resources. and
in my opinion, needs no material change.
During the fiscal year ending June 80 1855 there have
been disposed individuals 6O7 O5S 46 acres of h
public lands of which SO4 acres were sold for cash
yielding 81 l676S and $500 53 acres were located witt
military bounty land warrants
of the quantity sold for cash S17 acres were solo
at and above one dollar and twenty five per
and yielded l6673 whilst 1897 Il acres were
sold at graduated prices for which the of 1866
was received into the Treasury.
These figures show greater dimnution of cash receipts
from the sales pubic lands than anticipated Bu
the condition OF the people in the frontier States and Ter
tores SUCH that to bring lands heretofore unoered
into market during the past summer deemed oppres
sve to the settlers thereon The crops had for the mos
part failed In localities sickness and in Others
Hoods had occSloned losses and Distress whilst the
city oil money was everywhere prevalent and parayzng
but as longer potronement OF the sales 1t Is believed
would be preudical the welfare and prosperity of the
respective communities ana as liberal indulgence has
already been afforded to the settlers upon unoered lands
it is contemplated to bring into open several mil
lions of acres during the ensuing year.
me lhos WIch nave beeh sold and located during the
S "ee' III 'e i'"' io' "0'o"' seleiheht OF cuitlVa
u"h' n j., oo., c,-,- .o-o =,
y" the .oth 'ePtehoeF looo, the quantity OF surveyed
lands ready to be brought into market was 6l95l 049
ana teIe we're theh SUBJECT 10 SAFE at private en-
Try az ail the lanu ohlceS' over oUoooooo acres;
L1Ger te various acts OF congress OF ls4! lSoo 1857
ihu 1913, thee nave oeeh issued 3io'oS military bounty
IAN" warrants recurring oo'l5i'o9o acres OF the publc
domain to satisfy them these 46 652 had been oca-
ted to the 30h september last on Al acres of land
leaving Outstanding lool0o warrants, calling Tor ii ,493,
500 acres OF land.
1t is confidently expected that during the next caen-
year Ihe rcePts rom the safes OF pubtlc land and
thatthe Quantities sold and located will be greatly in
creased The income from this will be- it is esti
mated, at least five millions of dollars.
The aggregate quantity Of swamp and overfowed lands
selected and reported to the 3Oth September last
enurng to States under the graats of 1919 and 1850 is
certified to said States under the act of lS49 1879 99
acres and under the act of 1850 SO N acres making
an aggregate of 4O,923, Isl acres.
alt has been satisfactorily asceraned that mines of the
precious metals are to be found IN the Territories of Wash
lngton, oregon New Mexico and Kansas. and the time
mas arrived or le government oil the United states to
to adopt some definite policy as to its mineral lands I'm
aer the act March 1895 providing for the survey of
the pubic lands IN California the surveyor general is
prohlhted from laying OIL by sub divisional nes those
townships of land which are mineral.
the seYervi laws securing the right Of preemptton TO
actual settlers specially provide that this right shall not
attach to mineral lands and when mineral lands have
been sold special provisions have been made for the dis
posal of them The question presented is. shall these
mineral lands be forever Withheld from market and Kept
open for al persons who may desire to work them and
gather their rlch products or shall they like agricultural
ahdS, ne surveyed ana Sold, ana thus pass into the
ownership of Individuals This question is interesting
anu 1l great moment ana its SUBMITTED wnether 1t would
not De wise ana SOUND poilcy at TINS time to pass
general law ftSerVh9 All auriterouS silver and Gin
naar mlhes-the precious sale Tor the use
lh occupancy OF lhe people OF the United states under
uch as congress may PFescrlDe' ana leaving
lose di!9 mug C"PPeI IIo!' iedu anu coa-thc
useful mineras-suhect to the ordinary laws of settle
nent ana sale Tor the development The extent OF these
'li 'nee u oul people, III tie
utufe, OF uhbounded wealth.
Peace and quiet have been restored tc Utah. and
MaltIonal legislation VIII be required to place its
hnapltahIS on an equty with those o e other Terri
ories.
The organic act provides that the Constitution and
avs OF the United States, not locally inapplcabc. shall
1e IN full force IN SAID Territory 1t is an unsettled ques-
ion whether this general provision unsupported by
'ther act OF e@slaon secures to the settlers upon the
public lands IN Utah the rights and benefits OF the seve
al preempton laws In that Territory we have already
than two millions of acres returned as urvyedan
eady for market Occupants upon these lands, and
want to obtain titles to their homes and in the opinion
If the Secretary, it would be act of justice to the
people of Utah to establish in that Territory land office
md at the same time in express terms extend the precm
ion laws as to embrace all the inhabitants residing
within Its limits.
During the past year there has been much excitement
lmong the wild trlheS IN the interior OF the continent
he Withdrawal OF the troops from the military posts
he frontier and their march through the Indian country
o the Territory OF Ctah the passage OF the many supply
rams OF great magnitude, with their numerous atten
iant over the long route to the same destination; and
ne discovery ot new &od mines IN the Territories OF New
haIiSdS NtSllilEloh IN Tue
essons adjacent TO our northern boundaries west of the
fockF Mountains nave SET IN moti"h larger class OF ad-
VINO HAY eT>c eN SlVe tract OF country
hree wagon roads and the establishment Of 6verind
nail routes the continent, have preseed in
iucement and faculties for travelling over the plains of
he INTERIOR ana all these causes combined have had no
little influence IN disturbing our amcabe relations with
hose nomadc tribes that subsSt amo upon
he spoils OF the chase
With the exception of the maraudng bands that wander
bout the boundary between the United states and eX
towards whom we should pursue an energetic and de-
sive policy tae great mass OF the Indians are now IN
condition ana temper TO inspire the nope that increased
ucceSs VIII crown the efforts now making LOT theF I'M
Irovement
During the year ending 5oth September last l3sl3
bounty iahd warrants were issued requiring zu+'4-O
cres OF land to satisfy mem Chdcr tne acts oil 1881 ana
800 there are apout 'fuuO poIhE Ialu eialS penuhS
n the Office, orlglnay suspended on account OF informal
ty lrTesu'iE, or uelect.e PROOF. MANY OF tese clses
IRE ca'Ied up from tihe 70 ulc ny Ie Par'es ercsteu
orfe-eNamihatio requiring iarge amount OF aoor ana
'atent investigation IN the "isposlti"h OF thefn.
The whole number OF army pensioners under the va
ous acts of Congress 1875 requiring for their pay
nent the annual sum OF eooZ,tOo,-9: 600 ,
Inc whole hummer OF navy pensioners Is o2I: ana ia, Ie I
aggregate amount o e!r anhua pa! hlehts Is Slo"IV ~
me entire amount "hcl @ mas nereto9re % peel pau uI
Ter the various pension ana bounty hd act lar exceeds
he antcpatons of those who advocated their enactment
md will be learned by the country with some surprise
appears that the total disbursement for pensions up to
this date is about $50 OOOGOO If to this sum we add the
oounties in land g. 362 acres and estimate that land
1t 81 % per acre the total amount granted Tor bountes
md pensions VIII De SltS, ,4Z+'-oZ -
In spite OF the WatchuinesS ana htegrlt! Oh le ON
have heretofore had the direct of
have been pamed off upon that Office is astounding Du-
in the aggregate to about 0o acres have been de
to light fraudulent issue OF about 225GO0 acres. The
oodness and ingenuity with which impostors have pre-
ented pressed and successfully prosecuted their
es have equaed anything recorded in the annals of
,rime.
The recommendations MADE in the secretary last an
1ua report respecting the equazng OF army and navy
PENSIONS the extension Of the statute Of limitations in
cases of frauds attempted and perperaed upon the pen
of prevent and punish the forging of
and warrants, are renewed.
For the greater protection Of the recipients of land
ants it recommended that law be passed making it
penal to forge counterfeit assignment Of the same
The wagon roads placed under the direction of the de
have all been located, and for the most part
There is material Improvement of the new
the old routes Complete reports from some of the
uperntendcnts have already been received the others
ire in course of preparation.
The Constitution provides that the actual enumeration
the inhabitants Of the United States shall be taken at
periods of every ten in such manner as shall be d
eced law The approach OF the period for taking
The eighth makes it incumbent upon Congress at
his session to provide the means necessary for the
of the work.
The census OF the Territory OF Minnesota congress
act of February 26 1897 directed to he taken under the
supervision OF this department was not hnay returned
lntil the 23d July last he most prominent OF the re
urns may be briefly stated as follows:
hite males. 81 395
White females. 62,4z0