Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-12-17
vspoar OF THE sEc'Y OF THE INTERIOR.
SALES OF PuRLIc IANns.

The 0ennduu IoT tue puDilC iatuS UaS COntlD-
ned to declince since my last report. The
sales for cash have not produced sum suffi-
cient to pay the expenses of our land system.
On the 30th of September, 1861, there were
surveyed and ready for sale 134 ,2lS, 800 80
acres. From that date until September 80,
1862 there have been surveyed 3l35 5O67 Al
acres.
During the fiscal year ending June 80, 1862,
and the frs: quarter of the current fiscal year,
there sold for cash ISL 25S IS acres pro-
ducing S437 ,476 %. During the same period
7l2.055,77 acres have been located with boun-
ty and warrants; / ,l3S ,S9S. 90 acres have been
certified under railroad grants made by Con-
gress, and "a 3l6 60 acres have been certified
TO different States as swamp lands. The ag-
gregae amount Thus disposed of was 2,02i,
529, 9,43 acres; leaving of surveyed lands ready
for sale on the Both of September, 1862, 1885,
800. 600, 81 acres.
Uuder the bounty land laws of lo47. 1850,
1852 and 1855, there were issued prior to the
30th of September. 1862, 537 All warrants,
covering SO $40 430 acres of land. OF these
there were outstanding and nnsatisfed, Sep
tember go, 1862, 65,9l3 warrants, covering
1928 $50 acres. far
The public lands for agricultural purposes
can no longer be looked 10 a ) a source of rev
cnue. The inducements to settlements pre-
scnted by the homestead law will preclude
extended sales for cash. The pine lands OF
the North will be purchased for the timber
they supply, bat these will he paid for mainly
with warrants and the various land scrip which
has heretofore been issued, is authorized
under existing laws. The amount of cash
which will be hereafter received on purchases
made either Tor the tim her or cultivation will
pay but small proportion Of the expenses Of
our land system.
THE MINERAL LANDS.
The extensive mineral lands belonging to
the United States, although containing mex
haustible mines of wealth, have heretofore
been wholly unproductive as source of reye
nue.. The products of these mines have in
creased the wealth aud prosperity of the conn
Try, but the direct profits upon their produc-
tion have heen enjoyed exclusively hy those
who have been engaged in mining rhem. 1t
has become a grave question, TO he deiermitl-
ed by Congress, whether this polio shall be
longer continued or whether these vast mires
oi wealth Shall not be made available 10 aid in !
liqndating our national debt, far as this |
mag be done without Injustice to the enter
prising men who are working them. The |
great aurferous region Of the United Sta;es, |
on the western portion Of the continent, ex- |
tends from 81 degrees so minutes north lati- |
tude to 40 degrees. and from 100 degrees of |
longitude to the Pacific Ocean, embracing |
portions of Dacotah. Nebraska. Colorado, New |
Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada California, |
Oregon and Washington ,and covering an area t
ot more than million square miles.
The vast region is traversed by extensive |
ranges "t mountains, which are literally stack. |
ed with minerals. gold and silver being inter |
spersed in profusion, and daily brought to
hght by new discoveries. The precious met /
ais are found imbedded in mountains, and |
rich washings marking the pathways of rivers
and floods. The silver mines of Nevada and |
New Mexico promise production greater
than any other portion of the world The dis |
coTeres of gold in the Colorado, or Southern |
portion of California, and in the egion stretch |
ing thence mp TO and north of the Sllmon riv-
er, in the Territory of Washington, are stimn-
lating the mining enterprise of that region |
beyond all former precedent.
Before the discovery of the gold in Calitor-
MIA the annual production of gold in all parts
OF the world did not exceed an average of
eighteen millions. The present annual pro-
duction in California is estimated to average |
seventy millions. The Commissioner of the
General Land Office, after extensive inquiry
from all the available sources of information,
estimates the production of gold the present
year, from the whole region of country before
described at one hundred millions. If an a.
mount of labor relatively equal to that expen-
ded in California had been applied to the gold |
helds already known to exist outside of that |
State, it is believed that the production of /
this year including that of California, would |
have exceeded four hundred millions.
Our rapidly increasing public debt demands |
resort to every available source of revenue.
The mineral lands of the public domain are
the property of the whole people. and justice,
as well rs sound policy, requires that they |
should be used means of relieving them /
Several modes have been suggested for ma
King these lands productive to the Govern
ment The granting of leases by the Govern
ment, the collection of certain proportion
OF the proceeds of the mines, and the abso-
iute sale of the land in small lots. have each
been advocated. 1t has been estimated that |
al least $500 100000 could be realized by the /