Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-06
Report Of Jss. .. Wilson, Csmmlssiener Of
the General Land Office.

the General La md Office.
This report strikes as the ablest perhaps that
has ever emanated from that office. We extract
the following: r-r
During the past year the operations of the land
system have extended by dIrect administrative
acts within the limits Of all the political divisions
embracing the public domain to wit :-Ohio,
Indiana, Michigan. Illinois, wisconsin. Iowa,
California, Oregon, Minnesota, Florida, Ala
bana, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, nj issouri
and TO the Territories of Kansas, Nebraska Min
nesota, known az Dacotah, } Washington, New
Mexico and Utah. Our correspondence has passed
those limits, having extended within all the
other members Of the Confederacy where nol.-res-
ident claim hold interests requiring adjust
ment under bounty land grants for services In the
war Of the Revolution, in tb0last war with Great
Britain, the war with Mexico, with Indian tribes,
great diversity.
OF the 3 2sO, 900 Of square miles which consti-
tute the territorial extent Of the Unon the public
lands embrace an area of 2, ,265 Gas square miles
or one thousand four hundred and fffsy millions
OF acres, being more than two-thirds Of our geo.
graphical extent, and nearly three times as large
as the United States at the ratification of the def
mite treaty of peace In 1888 with Great Britain
This empire domain extends from the northern
kne Of Texas, the Gulf Of Mexico, reaching to the
Atlantic ocean, northv esterly to the Canada line,
bordering upon the great lakes Erie, Huron,
Michigan and Superior, extending westward to
the Pacific ocean, with Pugets Sound on the
north, the Mediterranean sea Of extreme
N orthyxe estern possessions. II includes fifteen
sovereignties known as the " Land States, I" and
an extent OF territory capable Of forming thirty.
two additional, each equal to the great central
land State Of Ohio,
1t embraces soils capable of abundant Weld Of
the rich productions Of the tropics-of sugar, cot
ton, rice, tobacco, corn, and the grape. The vim
tage now staple, particularly 80 In California.
or the great cereals, wheat and corn, in the Wes-
tern, Northwestern, and Pacific States, and in
that vast Interior region from the Valley Of the
Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains, and thence
to the chain formed by the Sierra Nevada and
adj fhaa l.
every variety Of soil is found revealing Its wealth
Instead Of dreary inarable wastes supposed In
earlier times, the millions Of buffalo, elk, deer
mountain sheep the primitive Inhabitants Of the
SOIL fed by the hand OF nature, attest its capacity
for the abundant support of a dense population
through the skilful tsil of the agrfculturalist
dealing with the.earth under the guidance Of the
science OF the present age.
Not only is the yield of food for man In this re-
g1on abundant, but 1t holds In its bosom the pre-
cious metals Of gold, silver, with cinnabar; the
useful metal OF ir0n lead, cOPPer interpreted
element, coal the source of riches and power, and
now the indispensable agent not only for domes-
TIC purposes OF life, but In the machine shop, the
steamcar and steamvessel, quickening the advance
Of civilization and the permanent settlement of the
country, and being the agent Of active and con-
slant INSTRUMENTATION with every part Of the
Republic. Not year had elapsed from the de-
fnitve treaty Of peace In 1888 before the Congress
OF the Confederation took the initiative for estab
Fishing system for the disposal Of the then exist
Ing western lands. and on the 2Oth May, 17S5, the
requisite ordinance for that pose passed by
which the Board Of Treasury was authorized to
dispose Of The surveyed lands in the western terri
tory commencing sales at New York or Philade-
Phia, with power to adjourn to any part of the L.
States All beyond the westers limits of PennsyI-
vlnia, Maryland, Virginia North and South Caroli-
nd and Georgia, was a Wilderness, traversed only
by the Mobilian Indians; the Uchees, Cherokees,
Chefaws and the Algonquin family extending
from the 18th parallel north to the great lakes into
Canada.
After the more perfect Union was formed by the
adoption Of the Constitution, the United States
which went into operation on the 3Oth April, 1888.
Congress, on the I'd September, 17S9 transferred
TO the Treasury the duty of the disposal Of the
pubic lands; but patent. for the same to be pre-
Thereafter, in 1912, the General Land Office was
created, and by the law Of the 4th July, 1885, and
other acts, the Commissioner Of the General Land
Once under the direction Of the Secretary Of tue
Interior and the President of the United states
clothed with the power Of supervision ana con-
trol' In regard to the Executive duties" then
prescribed or which mighr' hereafter be pre-
scribed by law apPertaining to the surveying and
sale Of the public lands Of the United states or
in anywise respecting such public lands and also
such as relate to pri sate claims Of land and the
issuing Of patents for all grants Of land under the
authority Of the Government Of the United
States.n
The next subject to be considered il the incep-
tive measures taken in the infancy Of the Repub-
lie, and the progress since made In regard to the
/ survey and disposal Of our land j % heritance.
| Immediately after the Inauguration OF President
| Washington, he laid before Congress a report
/ from the Secretary Of War acksowled ging the
Indian right of occupancy and recognizing the
principle Of acquiring their claims by purchase
70. specific consideration accord ny to the s'prac-
tice Of the late English Colonies and Government
| in purchasing the Indians claims" the rule In
that respect laid down in the proclamation Of 9TH
tober, 1863, by the King Of Great Britain inter-
dieting the purchases Of land by private individ-
uals from the Indians, and declaring that +" IL at
any time any OF the said Indians should be in
clined to dispose of said lands" the same shall
1 be purchased only' for the Crown-the ultimate
1 dominion and sovereignty being held TO reside In
the discoverer colonizing upon this continent.
/ The highest judicial department Of our Govern
meni in the case Of Johnson, lessee, Mcintosh,
18th Peters Repors,) has affirmed this a prin-
/ ciple Of right now beyond question. In accord
| aRce with this principle, beginning with the
treaty Of I795, at Greenvile, the Indian title has
| been extinguishsd by the United States from the
great lakes to the hatcher settlement, taking It's
| name from the tribal relations to the Mexican
(Aztec) Indians, in all the States east Of the Mis-
| sissippi-leaving, however, remnants of tribes
| such al the Stockbridges, Brothertown or Mohe-
| gans, individual Creeks aud Choctaws, Potto-
| wattomies, Miamies, and others, who have been
invested by act Of Congress treaty with uokial
titles. Besides this, the Indian usuffuct has been
extngushed In the tier of States west Of the "
/ sissippi, extending from the Gulf Of Mexico ia
/ the northern line Of Iowa, including the greater
portion Of the State Of Minnesota-about one third
Of M minnesota (Dacotahl Territory, half Of Kansas
one tenth Of Neb.aska-in Oregon and Washing.
ton, east and west Of the Cascades, provision
having been made there for the concentration and
| settlement OF The Indians In home reservations Of
| limited extent. in California the Indians have
not been recognized as holding any specific tract
| Of eountry-but have been collected and trans
erred to reservations set apart for their protection
In the larger part Of New Mexico, the grea
| body Of the Indians purely nomadic, except
ing those claiming Pueblas with ascertainet
limits, and the tribes Of the jlcariilos Mezcaleros
Mimbres, ella, Apaches, Pimos, and Maricopes
, for which limited reservations are proposed
With the Ctahs no treaties for the extinction Q
the Indian tile have been made .