The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-12-13
NEW SERIES-NO. 4l9

NEW SERIES-NO. 4l9
proper charge for the pre- emptor, 50 that
residence and cultivation shall be continued
when the military service is at an end.
During the year ending September 80,
1861, in virtue of the scrip laws of 1852
scrip has been issued as b0unty-land wars
rants for 30 620 acres, making, with the
quantity heretofore Issued, total sum Of
938,054 acres. Before the Land Commis-
sioners, claims are now pending equal TO
l33,35o acres. ln the Virginia district
there are 100000 acres liable to c0mmuta-
ton into scrip. The rebellion OF Virginia
will not prejudice the claims of loyal cti,
zens, lawfully entitled to scrip in satisfac-
tiOn OF their warrants. The aggregate
bounty-land liabilities already ratified By
the United States from the commencement
OF operations 10 the Both December, 1861,
are as follows: For revolutionary services,
in tracts and scrip, 8,200,6l2 acres for
services in 1912, 4,85O,l20: Canadian vol.
unteers, l2,150. There is now actually
l0cated-under Mexican bounty-land act OF
1841, and the other acts of 1850. 1852.
1855 81 ,l30915. acres, making total CT
64,262452 acres
During the fiscal year ending June 80,
1861, there have been certified lor railroad
purposes, under the railroad grant acts OF
1886 aud 1857, as follows
To Minnesota. acres. 3OS.s7l.90
20 N'cngaI- acres es.,............. b36O6l.G
10 LOUISIANA, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 76,560.45
Making in the aggregate. acres. l,02l, ,493.Z7
No approva.s were made during the
quarter ending Both September, 1861.
The following is al exhibit of the States
and the quantities OF land under the several
grants actually approved to each Up to tbs
date :
Iowa, same as .ast annual report
acres. ........,..........2 =. .43i 81! 90
Wisconsin. same as last annual re-
port acres es..............,...... III, 90
Minnesota (308. 40 acres of this
approved since last report) acres $50. 1880
Michigan (462,6 $50 acres OF this ap-
proved since last report. acres I,593, 727.42
Florida, same as last report. acres ,759, 5000
Alabama - !,86S, ,275 90
Mississippi l7I.55OOO
Louisiana G7,560.45 acres OF this
approved since last report)
acres ........... 0I2 40J45
Making totai, which mas been
approved aud certified, of acres 9 933, 1917
The Commissioner is very elaborate IL
his discussion OF me question OF minerals.
No country OF the gl0oe can compare With
this in the possession Of mineral treasures
everywhere developed as the administration
OF the land system advances over the broad
surface OF the public domain. Besides the
precious metals with quicksilver found IN
Oh ,br -, (f,1tF,o-,;, 81
has yielded since the first gold discoveries
over $500 100000. va have regions rich in
those metal: in New Mexico Nevada,
Washington Territory, and Colorado.
Copper. tn. lead, and coal, are profuse!7
distributed over the great valley Of the
Mississippi, and westward to the Pacific.
In regard TO the precious metals in Cali
fornia New Mexico, Nevada, Washington
Territory, and Colorado, we have not such
data as will enable this office 10 propose a
properly guarded system y which the
government 1nder8tandiagly can dispose OF
auriesous, CT of quicksilver lands, in
manner that would be Just TO public ani
private interests. It is, therefore, net now
propo ed 70 withdraw them by legislation
rom the state OF isolation from sale in which
the !aw has placed them, or from being
freely worked, as at present. Yet IN this
trying conjecture of public affairs, when
multiplied demands upou the treasury weigh
upon il with unprecedented pressure, it
could n0t ot deemed unreasonable, after the
hundreds y! millions of dollars allowed 10
oe taken tr9e ot cost il tue government
should hereafter aubject the producI OF such
mice: 20 moderate :eigni0rage, which i :s
4
prejudice TO Individual miners.
IN reference TO lands embracing copper,
tia, lead, iron aud coal, it is suggested that
where either mineral is the FREEDOM naat ele-
ment 10 the smallest legal subdivision. such
tract shall be subjected TO public sale, ac
cordiug to the principles LAID down in vhe
act of 1916 and lS41, with the qualification
that the uniform minimum shall oe $3.50 per
acre at tie public sale; and that thereafter
they shai! be liable 20 private ntry at same
minimum, say for TWO years, after which
they shall be ia5le 10 sale at the ordinary
minimum, but not subject to the declining
process Of the graduation law. Ia the geo.
logical reconnaissance CT the late Dr.: Evans
IN Oregon and Washington, immense dis
cOveries OF coal fields in that region were
made. This great industrial agent is also
distributed by the liberal hand of nature
throughout the gold region. /,
The recent discoveries OF coal feds not
lar from San Francisco, and of that scarce
aud vaiua6ie metal, tin, but .ew mines of
the lattes: :having been discovered although
known in the early history OF man, yet
which is now found to exist in the south
western part California. within thirty
miles of the sea Furnishing powerful in.
centives to caldx12 ,xromising rich rewards
to the enterpg Instructions, by fur.
,ther legal enscti6snt, would enable the de-
partment to deal witbthese large and def-
cate interests more satisfactorily than can
be done under existing laws. ) -