New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-05

were unable 20 subsist themselves.
TIE applicability Of this latter precedent 10 ihls
spb;ect is Obviously strengthened by The fact tntt
the reasons which induced that appropriation, IN the
absence Of any allegation of the failure OF the crops OF
scarcity of provision, not so orclbe as th9se pow
sugfesied by the INDECENT and suffering cCndtlon OIL
those Indians, who have made reasonaoe e,otS Soso
cure the ordinary means Of subsistence, YET Wnose
prospects have been blasted by an agency oeyohu te
control - n L., T "a
For the condition Of the Indian Trust Find re-
,nectfny refer Won to the Annual Statement OF Tod
md Bailey Disturbing Clerk from which 1t VIII De
reen that but few changes have been made since the
last report. ,...,,
Very respectfully ySIRTE Gessl,a5 i5' Commissioner
Hon. J. Tno1Psoy, Secretary Of the INTERIOR
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ISTERIoR,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 80, 1860.
su To the Secretary of the Interior the superyis-
ion of those branches Of public service which pertain
10 the internal polity OF the Government was con'
ted by the act Of Congress approved Mhrch D, 3oi9
Tie period of time which has since elapsed has peeh
siepaized by extraordinary enterprise among our peo'
p in the development of the internal resources OF the
ountry; and this Department, in the extent, variety,
and dignity of s functions and the number and Juris-
dction Of its officers, has necessarily experleIceu
coresI ordng progress and become one OF the largest
of the Executive Departments. It's Operations involve
the interests of many citizens in all the States ana
Territories, and devolye great labor upon It's ehiei
officer.
One of the most important and widey-spread
branches OF the Department is that OF the Public
Lands For detailed information in reference TO the
same have the honor to refer 10 the accompanying
ANIMAL report of the Commissioner of the General
Land. Office. invite your attention to Its contents
with confidence; and in view Of the amount OF work
done the difficulty and magnitude oil the questions ue-
cided and the number of our people who OBTAIN
through it the titles 10 their estates, feel assured that
Won will be eratied to observe the marked fidelity
and efficiency with which the duties Of this bureau
have been discharged. ,o
during the fiscal year ending June 80 1860, and the
quarter ending the Both of September last l63o5, sol
acres Of public lands have been proclaimed for SALE
During the period, 9,6i94Il acres nave been
surveyed and prepared for market, ana l2ooV,ooo'%
acres have been disposed of in the following manner:
3g77 $3.50 acres have been sold for cash, yielding
OIL 425 81; 33190l0 acres have been absorbed by
the location of bounty iand.warrantsi 2O3','VsS
acres approved to States under the swamp grants anu
2665 6j acres under the railroad grants Inc nuhoef
OF military bounty land-warants outstanding on the
3Oh Of September last "a 46S, and they VIII re-
ouire 8l96je0 acres OF the public domain to satisfy
| them. :,
In former reports have expressed my decided APP
prova of our existing public land system, and my OBJ
econs TO any radical change in 1t. Forty years ago
lie minimum price OF the public lands was hXed al
81 81 per acre. and al this rate the principal portion Oi
he lands in thirteen large and pOpulous States on the
eastern slope of the continent have been settled pur-
chased and improved, and two States on the Paelnc
coast have risen into Importance and are rapidly
advancing to power, without any complaint IRON their
citizens as to the price at which public lands are sold
The syste of surveys il perfect the price moderate
and the settler il secured in his improvements ms
being done the lands not taken by preenplors are Oh
fered at public SALE the unsod lands become subject TO
private entry and the settler on such tracts e aowed
Twelve months within which to make proof and pay
men for the quarter section upon which he has nxed
| his home.
When lands have beer subject to private entry for
more than ten years, the price to actual settlers and
cultivators is reduced from time to time, until, after
the expiration of thirty years, Is only 2E cents per
| acre. The dOnation-improperly termed homestead
policy-based upon the fallacy that residence on
tract of land for certain number Of years SHALL In
stead of fixed price, be made the consideration which
shall entte tie settler TO the land he selects and occu-
pies has been tried, and, stated in my annual re-
ports of 1888 ard 1859 has everywhere failed and met
! with public condemnation IL annoying to the
settler productive OF controversies, and injurious TO
| the communities in which the donations were made
DuDg the past year, in every OF the proclana-
ton and public Offering of extensive portions of the
public lands urgent requests have been made, here
tofOre, for postponemen OF the sales thus offered
These requests could not be acceded 10 without inter-
ruIing the harmonious operation Of the laws consti-
tuting land system, which requires the public ande
TO be brought INTO market from tine to tlme IN proper
ton as surveyed lands disposed of and other lands
surveyed. As there has not been any considerable
competition cash demand for new lands during the
past year, the settlers the lands brought into market
who unable from particular misfortunes, to make
payment before the day OF SALE have generally been
able file decaratory statements after the day OF SALE
and thus avail themselves OF the twelve months credit
secured by law to preemptors OF lands subject to p-
vate entry Ii is believed therefore, that settlers have
suffered serious haTdsEips. Owing to the slight de-
| nand for lands investment, the cash receipts
from the public sales have been inconsderabe, when
| compared with the quantity of land offered.
| Experience has demonstrated the wisdom and pro-
preiy of the recommendations contained in my last
annual reIort-irs that, spirit of hberaty to all
settlers upon moflered lands, two years should be
allowed from the date Of settlement within which TO
make proof and payment; and second, that il should
| be made incumbent upon the Executive TO offer at
public sae, by proclamation, within two years after
survey, all the lands that have not been claimed by
settlers.
The income from the public lands during four years
past has not been great expected The COM
mercia revusiOn Of 1851, followed it by short
crops in most of the new States and Territories,
checked emigration and also the inclination of capital
lists TO make further investments But this is not the
sole of the reduction in tis revenue. The
ner OF sEosing OF the public lands has been made
topic OF political discussions and, while emigran
families have made settlements and delayed giving the
proper notice OF making any payments in the expecta
ton Of Donation other PERSONS who contemplate
ing emigration have deferred their removal from their
old homes ard the purchase of land for settlement
awaiting some definite legislation upon the subject.
Should the discussion of alterations in our land system
cease, 1t is believed that the derived from sales
w0ud speedily rise 10 reasonable annual average,
especially ii the quantity Of INDICATED landwarrants
outstanding should continue 10 diminish from year TO
year for three years past |
controversy was pending in this Department for |
many years in relation to the title TO the lands at the
Hot Springs, in the State of Arkansas The act of |
Congress of the Goth April 1882, entitled Gan act |
authorizing the Governor OF the Territory of Arkansas
to lease the Salt Spngsi said Territory and for other
purposes, provides section g. that the Hot Springs
IN said Territory, together with four sections Of land
including said springs, the center thereof a.
may be, shall be reserved for the future disposal of
Congress and shall not be entered located, or appro.
prlafed for any other purpose whatever"
Several claims q of the land an reaervad