The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-05
Report Of the Commissioner OF
the General Land Office.

0cpOrI o. Cu0 OOmmlS1AVuOA Va
the General Land Office.
>~~~~~~~->~~~~~~~~~~~~~
me Following abstract indicates the variety OF topics
treated in the Commissioners report
l. The operation Of the public land system in favoring
q The proceedings whereby the right Of the United
States was rendered absolute and complete TO the West
The area Of Western lands at the date OF thetreaty
OF 1883 with Great Britain, defining our limits
That ali the public lands within our original limits
have completely surveyed; contrast IN this respect
The early measures for restoring the right OF the
United States TO the Pacific in virtue OF the law OF
tinu,y, followed BY the French, Spanish and Mexican
cessions "
on the Gulf OF Mexico; whole area Of public lands
465 eos 800 acres with seacoast on .he Atlantic, the
Gulf Pacific and Puget sound, equal TO 3, l2O miles
T. The localities OF the public domain
g. Tho origin OF our surveying system, and the prin
cipes which control in extending the public lines on the
The political subdivisions over which surveys have
already been completely extended, VIZ, in ohio lnd
Arkansas Mississipp Alabama and nearly 50 in Loasi
ana and Florida and those In which this system has
sA:. g Ssa
Idaho Utah, Washington territories and the states OF
Oregon Nevada and California; suggesting further iegis
10 The assregas surveyed In all the States and
Territories % june 80 1886. ~ l6oSSl scres unsur
Voy0d, WI. 3O8 248 acres
IL The aggregate in miles which has been run and
marked on tie eaths surface, in establishing these sur
Ia For ~ psst asca, year the cash sales bounty land
locations quantity taken under homestead act area for
swamp In place, for swamp indemnity, for railroad
S,e2o sl2s7 acres; cash receipts for Same period,
1894 66 the theory Of concedng for actual settlement
in preference to cash sales examined and prominent
thortes mentioned who have favored the same.
Is The quantity surveyed on June go 1885, including
private claims equal to S3l $50 farms OF 100
each, or more than million and half Of eighty acre
Ia The difference between the agraran system Of the
ancient empire of civilization seven hundred years after
its foundation as compared with the United States
ID. In addition TO the surveyed region, the unsur-
veyed now open TO presumption settlement In advance
OF surveys
49, Besides the munifcent concessions for military
service and internal Improvement, there have been
granted for schools semnaries Of learning universities
agricultural and mechanical colleges 81 645 900 acres
while the estimated destined TO pass for educational
purposes 10 territory west OF the Mississippi river Is
H. The area already awarded for rail and wagon
roads with that yet to be segregated will be equal TO
l57 7o4 acres some for the construction of great
highways Of travel 70 the Pacific, and others to link to-
ls The facilities 10 making settlements under pre-.
ompon and other laws BY the aid thus conceded for
49, sketch Of the pre- empton system from 1901 to
81 Prescriptions under Of 1858 arc allowed on
even numbered sections along the line OF railroads. when
settled upon and improved prior to final allotment OF
granted sections also TO lands where covered BY French
spanish Or other grants declared invalid by the Supreme
Court Tho act Of 9th Of March, 1854 recognizes set
Aensn made prior to the withdrawal Of lands from
,unark6t
e. The municipal town site law Of 1874 and the pre-
empton provision in tho graduation act OF 1854 have
given way the one TO the town property and coal land
laws q iSeS and 1852 the other to the homestead laws
OF the State That the development Of the public land
system makes further Legislation desirablo to tx periods
Of Limitation for the cons1mmation Of Interests 70 gen.
empticn and homestead principles independent OF each
a. The principles Of the hon. .stead laws
o. The town and coal pror~$fy on the public domain
Suggestions a. 10 localities and values
.ns r.: broad Ss stretching across the country
coal iron. "copper" le.~. un and zinc.
~ 2 rstrolsp..n in California.
80 ~ outline Of legislation relating TO minerals
fiscal year amount to So osi acres, in addition 70
which other lands, heretofore Withdrawn from sale or
entry, have been restored to market.
80 Changes boundaries of land districts and In the
location of land onces.
ST. All accounts Of receivers Of public money and dis.
bursting agents adjusted to the close Of the fiscal year,
all Ave per cents due the land States adjusted far
accrued The system which controls In adjustments Of
this clas Of officers holds In regard TO the acquisition Of
title BY purchase otherwise OF public lands recon-
General Land once employees shall be made general in
regard 70 all employees In land administration.
81 The duty dsvolved on the General Land once OF
issung patents for sal made under laws Re-
s'es ron q ss as e Sss e q
SIS Dss Moinss grant Special certificates have issued
fully sassyng the claims which under the acs Of 9Th
Of iasS July 1884 amount 70 % acres ~
a. Fort Howard reserve subdvided into $40 lots, Of
which 2So have been sold residue to b disposed Of
IS That incomplete entries under the late graduation
law may DO contaminated in the absence OF proof Of
snce between the graduation price and 81 26 per acre
90 Sketch OF legislation relating 70 swAop and
ruled 81 h Of %u9 90
1905 Aggregate area selected to June 30. 1850,
S. az scrss OF which g. TIA have been
This character q tSs SON Of June 1893, is in cash,
. o6o7 2ol; In other lands 47s, o3o % acres
climber with suessssons 70 further is growth y
IS Donation claims 70 Oregon and washiuston Ger .
tncaes received up TO June 80 1885, covering oss
embracing l,2sa 423 acres Further legislation ncccs
sary nx period Of timc within which parties to be
DO 70 otherwise the claims shall be located in accord
with the lines OF the public surveys
30 DSs ~ SS es % ,hss
have been discharged in the last year BY the issue Of
90 The legislation in regard to foreign titles Spanish
French, British or Mexican, and the proceedings re-
CURED Of the Land Department
d. The report Is accompanied BY special COM
municsson epecting surveying archives Of Missouri,
Iowa and Wisconsin ming historic details relative
10 the French and Spanish administration In Upper
Louisiana IL 10 also accompanied by returns Of the
surveyors general complete exhibits OF sales aud loca-
TONS Of the extent OF In each political division
the United States also OF ali the land grants made for
canals and rail and wagon roads, with maps OF the
eral land States and Territories and connected map OF
the United States showing the progress and extent Of
surveys
Nn EXTENSION SURVEYS
This system, 90 complete In ITSELF so simple and cer
tain In liking tho lines uponths earths surface not only
OF lots but OF agricultural lands from 64o 800 l60
90 and 20 acre tracts, has ACCOMPLISHED It's work In
Ohio indiana Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa. Mis-
souri, ArkAnsas Mississippi, Alabama and nearly in
Lou,saua and FLORIDA
Although the lines Of the public surveys have been
thus esabshed the system has further advance
upon the fields Of Minnesota, Northern and Southern
Dakota in Montana Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado tho
Territories Of New Mexico Arizona, Utah, Idaho, wash
inston and in tho three great Ststss-Ncvada Oregon
and California