New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-08
THE LAND OFFICE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF
TIE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

ANIMAL REPORT OF TIE OOMMlSSlONEk VT
TIE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
This report, cQualling any of its prcdcces-
Eors in careful elaboration Of compass aud topical inter
est has been sent to press The text embraces tho
five separate heads with the usual appendix OF stat9
cal tables. II is accompanied by maps OF the uh'i.
public land States and Territories aud by eolhee.u
map Of the territory of tho whole country showing n
progress OF the public surveys; also, by merc"oii"
chart of the globe, executed In style OF uhsuiP"'
excellence with tables Of valuable statistics 'u'""s
the geographical industrial and comnerci"
the United States. .no
The operations Of tie public lana system u. Us 'l
nseal wear ending June 80 1862 we're prosecute" ID "
enc nnhic land states aud Territories, except wyoming
ana AIaska Surveys have been completed In Ohlo'
Ynaiapa Illinois Michigan Missouri Alabama MiSsls'
tlppi, Wisconsin, aud Iowa .
a sketc, OF be surveying system is given including
the provisions Of and the practice under them Inc
tre area Of the public domain is 1s3499S4OO acres OF
which during the past year lVe2ogo acres woIu su
yfyed involving 1850 linea miles OF survey Inc enIe
a surveyed is 5Osj67752 acres, leaving unsurvcyed,
I3264SOGl5 acres Interesting accounts Oh p3unuaA
sToosrsphCal Information OF great value, The
disposal OF public lands IN rs 9S a1 o arnu
being nearly i,oolooO more than last year the
cash receipts were si423sG increase of 80
over last YEAR The principles OF the public land system
arc treated IN several elaborate papers and are shown
principles of social science. The discussion brings to
7ew the origin Of the rights Of property, ana the pro-
Gress Of social organization from acommunD OF interest,"
70 separate private ownership Win cauois IRON Idi to
great European pUhiCSts. The extinction OF tIc
usufructuary utc to the soil is considered The ordl,
of 1885, passed by the Continental Congress the
nucleus OF our land system is reviewed aud
the progress Of liberal ideas IN framing aud executing
the land laws is clearly married, The policy OF l9DuonE
acted by the law OF 1901 Ovepowered by the press OF
Immigration. Congress first healed multitude OF
ana finally, by act Of Sept 4, 1871 established the pre-
cnpton privileges as permanent element Of our system
ION. but The general features arc now settled ana WORKING
TIE HOMESTEAD LAW
The Homestead policy is the worthy supplement or the
preGmpton great increase Of appropriation of public
land by actual settlers under these two classes OF laws Is
shown 1t Is estimated that by direct and Indirect oper
atlons Of the land system during the last fiscal year,
10000 small farms ADDED 20 the rceholders OF our
Republic about double the entire number OF land owners
ia England reported IN the deeennial census OF iSD
sites and have given special facilities to town building
on the RS S OF oa eight ItO Of our people
This landed yeOmaury exercises lar greater power III
pean sOdierf the peace establishment proppiug the
T6e i6efny Of our NStGTazSion laws has drawn an
our are due to THIS cause These have largely
awaited themselves OF the kindly provisions of our land
laws absorbing an immense amount Of public land 1t
tins country, since 1890. siO0OoO,OJO gold value.
TIKI BOUNTY LANDS
Grants Of land have been made to officers and soldiers
Of the different wars OF the Republic thus esying the
nations gratitude to its defenders Our immense grants
cessity the only of securing such diffusion Of
Intelligence will basis OF free institutions
The Continental ordinance OF ls' SET apart Secon 10 4l
each township for the support OF Common schools; TINS
donation has been repeated on the admission OF every
State into the Union and since the admission OF Or
egOn the OF land has been duplicated, section 30
we'll Section &c being granted for the support OF
schools L9ss e11 ssyo been ado Or 'e support
specai donation has also been made 10 the States OF
sOO acres fOr each Senator and Representative they
were entitled to under the hpporllOulnent OF 1860 Inc
W
disposition Of these grants by several OF the states Is
change In the channel Of the Missouri River, nvov
log possible questions of boundary between Nebraska
aud Dakota calls for exposition OF the land laws AS
effected thereby Several PapeFi on Indian reservations
geological aud minemiogica character OF the public do
ain illustrated by the excellent cabinet of the Gen.
great interest ana value. The methods OF proceeding
under the mining Law, and the status of agricultural
ness. This branch Of the business III The Office IS now
fully organized, and claims be adjusted rapidly
as they can be got through the local offices.
THE GRANTS FOR INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. s,s
The policy of grants for internal improvements, and
specially fer railways is considered at length and
sketch Of the railway system is given at large It's his
tory naturally divides itself into three lst Its pr
mary stage the Atlantic slope, IN which IL had to
await the accumulation Of the necessary capital for
IT'S construction 2i It's secondary stage ~ the nlssS
sipp Valley in which, by the donation OF public lands
Otherwise unstable, t created ITS own endowment by
the values impaired the SOIL 3D. Its dehntve stage
west OF the the Mississippi, in which It appears fore
runner OF civilization gatheringisrengh TO project itself
~ the cose the presclt year there win be opera
1900 miles Of road The tunnage OF S6S5 estimated
1OO.OO0OOO, representing cash value OF
t20OOO0OOO0 At the close OF this century we Will have
less than 100000 miles IN operation, with tunnage
beyond present estimate. The enormous expansion OF
railways Of national necessities The liberal
icy OF landed and loan subveDtiOns by the Govern
lent the groundwork Of this prosperous movement,
bat the Commissioner thinks the time for such extraOrd
nary assistance has passed, and recommends its with
dfawal
Descriptive sketches given of the States and Terri
tories erected Uf the public domain, embracing
tiOn by the United states District Court OF Iowa against
local land officers ia thq State gives rise 10 an able argu
Inent against the right OF courts to interfere with
cases pending before the General Land Office, any
other branch Of the Executive Department The report
concludes with reYiew OF the commercial position OF
the United Saies, tracing line OF commerce around
the earth betW the 10th and Goth parallels 10 which
all the local OF trade will The COM
pletOn OF Pacific Railroad, with the increasing advan
tage OF railway communication every other is max
lug this country the highway OF the worlds commerce.
The changes ia the ratODates OF Asia, aud the gradual
Incorporation UI progressive IDEAS Indicate the approach
OF tho deiimtye Development OF civilization. In the
midst OF Oriental movements Increasing power
on the Pacific makes rupture OF peace for mere pur
poses Of conquest thing OF increasing hazard lnas-
much ambition OF territorial expansion, IN
Asia the Oriental nations lean upon moral support
against the rapacty OF Europe. This will result
first commercial ascendancy OF the United states, and
ultimately IN perfected comfy OF uatiOns
Our ability TO compass these splendid results springs
from liberal landed policy It's Influence Is specially
marked. the growth OF resources Is startling. Inc
gold value Of personal and real property Is SOOOOOOO
Our gross annual earnings amount TO SOOOOOOOO, OF
which less u per cent, Sl0O00OOOO0
plus for reinyestment Our civilization being industrial
it's chef Characteristic looks broader sweep OF
original production, aud hence accumulation OF
wealth Will DO rapid than that Of any past age.
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