Evening star., 1866-12-03
,e law OF CONTINUITY, followed by tne French.

G. The exfension OF territorial Hnits 70 the
Paeifis; and on she GAL Of Mexico; whole area
coast on the Ausntic, the Cult Pacific, and
Puget Soand, eg ual TO S, TO miles.
.. The localities of the pubic domain.
= The origin of our surveying syeten, and
the prDeiples which control in extending the
public lines on The earth's surface.
Q. The political subdivision over which sur
veys have already been com pletely extended,
VIZ n Ohio, Indiana. Illinois Michigan, Wis
conSin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Aiseana and nearly so in Louisiana and Flori-
da. and these in which the system has further TO
aoYance. VIZ: Minnesota, Dakota, Montana,
Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Arr
zona, Ioaho, L tab, Washington Territories, and
the states OF Oregon, Nevada, and California
suggesting further legislation for the ADJUST
ment Of foreign claims.
H. TIE aggregate area surveyed in all the
States and Territories 10 June 80, lstS, i73, G,,-
55l acres; unsEryeyed, S9i ,}S.2i9 acres.
Ii, The aggregate in miles which has been
run anu marked on the ear.h's surface, in es-
tahiishing these surveys, being 7sS, i2J. SCI ..
i2.,for the past fiscal year the cash sales,
bounty land locations. quantity taken under
homestead act, area for swamp in place, for
swamp III hdemnity, for railroad grants, ana ag-
Ilcultural college scrip, are equal to 4,6s9.-
3I2s7 acres; cash receipts for same period,
Se2&, ,6i5.tS; the theory OF eonceding for actual
settlement in preference 10 cash sales exam
ined and prominent authorities mentioned
who have favored the same.
8. The quantity surveyed on June 30 1866,
nclcding private claims, 10 equal to 50 $50
farms of 100 acres each, or more than a million
ana half of &C. acre tracts
a. The difference between the agrarian sys-
tenn OF the ancient empire of civil iZation seven
hundred years after its foundation, as com
pared with the united States |#
10. III addition 10 the surveyed region, tue
ursuryeyed Is now open 20 pre-emp:ion set
tement IN advance of surveys.
10. Besides the mun'tcent concessions for
military service and internal Improvements,
there have been granted for schools, seminaries
OF learning, universities, agricu cultural and me-
chsnIcai colleges 2l ,64j, GOO acres, while the
tmated area destined to pass tor educatIona,
purposes IN territory west of the Mississippi
riEer II 56.iS5,0uU acres.
IL. The area already awarded for rail and
wagon roads, with that yet 10 be segrated, viii
be eq ual TO l5I S, 194 acres; some for the con-
struction OF great high ways of travel TO the
Pacific. and others to link together intermedi-
ate points.
pre-emprion and other laws by the aid thus
conceded Tor internal intercom mmunication.
49, A sketch of the pre- -emption system from
1901 to IS4l. F.t.
20. The general pre-emption laws OF le4I and
ISi3.
2I. Pre-emptIons under act of 1853 are Al
lowed on even-Lumbered sections along the
line of railroads, when settled upon and i'm
proved prior 10 final allotment OF granted So
lions, also 10 lands where covered oy French,
Spanish, or other grants, declared invalid oy
the supreme Court. The act OF 9th of Marcl,
lc54, recognizes settlements made prior to the
withdrawal of lands from market.
-. The municipal town-site law of 1914, and
the pre-emption provision IN the graduation
act Of Ie54, have given way. the one 10 tn
town property ana coal l-land laws of Is6i and
lst5, the other 10 the homestead laws of 1862,
1864, and IS66.
%. Property in lands 10 be one OF the first
institutions OF the State. That the develop.
meDt OF the pEblic lanG system makes further
legislation desirable 10 fix period of Limitation
for the cons summaton OF interests, to generaiize
and give greater efficiency. and render the
pre-empuon and homestead principles inde-
pendent Of each other.
p. The principles OF the homestead laws.
p The IowH and coal properly on the pub
lie domain. Suggestions as to localities and
values.
26. The three broad belts stretching across
the country and containing the precious metals
The distribution OF coal, iron, copper, lead
tin, and zinc.
u. Peirole um in California. ...
-. The outline of legislation relating TO
minerals.
%. That the lands offered at pubic sale IN
the last fiscal year amounted 10 6,423,9si acre,
in addtIon 10 which other lands, heretofore
Withdrawn from sale or entry, have been re-
stored TO market.
81. Changes in boundaries of land districts
and Ill the location of land ffices.
81. All accounts OF receivers OF public mo-
ney. aud disbHrsing agents. adjusted 10 the ,
close of the fiscal year; all five per cents. due
the land States adjusted tar as accrued
The system which controls in adjustments of
receIyyTs and disbursing agents accounts. The
relation this class of officers bolu in regard To
The acquisition OF title by purchase or other
wise OF public lands; recommends that the IN
teTdict IN this respect. that applies 10 General
Land Office employees, shall be made general .
il regard TO all employees in land administra-
tIcn '
y The duty devolved on the General Land
Office of iss uing patents for sales made under
revenue laws Returns from the treasury OF
sales. required Oh the fling OF the original
certificates OF tax sales the basis OF pa
tents. .-.-.... ar..-...y
33. Des MONIES grant. Special certificates
4 e..
under the acts OF eth August, 1876, joint reso-
luton OF I'd March, 1861, and act of 18th
uIy, 1862, amount 70 S}3,079 - acres.
81. Fort Howard reserve, subdived into BIG
be disposed OF under the special act OF July 4,
leo. ,' ..-....... 4. .. -... ID ..
35. That incomplete entries under the late
graduation law may be consunmated, in the
absence OF proofof settlement and cult walton,
by The payment of the difference between the
graduation price and 81 .25 per acre.
36. Sketch OF legislation relating to swamp
and oveTfiowed lands. Decision Of the General
Land Office overruled by the Attorney Gen.
erals opinion OF April 20, 1866. Aggregate area
selected TO June 30, 1865, 5S,649,2l7 acres, of
which 43,a4,71i acres have been patented.
The aggregate indemnity granted for lands of
this character to the 3Oth Of June, 1856. is, in
cash, S597 ,20l,37; in other lands, AS, ,036. 90
acres
81. The principles which control in the pro.
lection Of timber, with suggestions to further
its growth. t.-. .. r"
IS Donation claims in Oregon and Washing
ton: certificates received up to June 30. 1866,
covering 1.S37,6Se acres; patents have been
issued for the greater portion, em bracing 1,2S2
i23 acres Further legislation necessary to fix
a period OF time within which par lies to be re.
quired to pay for their survey shall come for.
ward and do SO. otherwise their claims shall
be located in accordance with the lines Of the
public surveys.
; 80. Duties devolyed by law ON the General
Land Once in regard 10 Indian matters. The
extent TO which they have been discharged in
The last year by the issue Of patents. =
30. The legislation in regard to foreign titles,
Spanish, French. British, or Mexican, and the
proceedings required Of the land department
Al. The report Is accompanied by a special
comm unication respecting surveying archives
of Missouri. Iowa, and Wisconsin, containing
historic details relative to the French and
Spanish administration in Upper Louisiana
II is slso accompanied by returns OF the sur
yeyors general complete, exhibits Of sales and
locations, of the extent OF surveys in each DO
litical division of the United States, also of all
the land grants made for canals, and rail and
wagon roads, with maps OF the several land
States and Territories, and a connected map of
the United States showing the progress and ex-
tent of surveys.
b1Seeing wretched looking lad on the