Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-12-11
Report Of the Commissioner Of the
Land Office.

The report Of the Commissioner of the General
Land Office shows that the number of acres of
land surveyed during the year ending June 80,
1873. was 81, ass 1872. The amount of public land
disposed of during the same period was -. 030, 600
acres. The number of Suryeyors-General has been
increased since 1863 from ten to seyenteen; the
number of land offices from ftty-three to ninety,
and the amount of land annually disposed of from
3.u00,00u to 1900. 600 acres. In regard to the OPP
eratfons of the Homestead law, the Commissioner
reports as follows
The demand for lands by actual settlers under
the Homestead law continues very large. During
the fiscal year ending une 80, 1873, 1896 prelim-
mary entries were made, covering an area OF }, 1872
81 20 acres. The number of final entries were
1854, being an Increase IN final entries of Ais
over the preceding fiscal year. This law, with
some slight amendments, would meet all the re-
QuirementS and necessities of actual settlers, and
| again respectfully renew my recommendation
for d complete consolidation of all statutes re-
specting settlement rights INTO a general tome-
stead law. a bill for that purpose met with ia
vGrable action from both Houses of the last Con
gress, but owing TO a slight amendment as To the
time when it should take effect, by the House. on
the last day Of the session, in which the Senate
had not time 10 concur. il failed to become a law.
The selections certified for common schools dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, amounted
20 tb.4u9- II acres, ana Tor Summaries, 3U acres.
The selections certified for agricultural colleges
amounted 10 1876 u. The locations Of agricul-
tural college scrip by assignees of the States TO
v hich the same was Issued reported during the
wear cover an area OF ) 3,446.4l. Since my last an
nual report, agricultural college scrip representing
240,00O acres has been issued to the States of Ar
kansas and Florida. This exhausts the amount
which Congress authorized
The records of the Office show an aggregate con-
struCtion of 2.2iS miles of road. distributed as fol-
lows: In Michigan, 1856 miles: Wisconsin, 80 miles;
Iowa, 30 miles; Minnesota, 12 miles; Missouri q
miles: Kansas, d64 miles; Arkansas, 24O miles:
California. 40 miles; Colorado, 245 miles; Indian
Territory. 155 miles. Total. as above. 2-2tS miles.
Portions of the roads included in the foreg0ing re-
port of construction were actually completed prior
10 the commencement of the last fiscal year. This
report will be understood as referring more partiC-
ularly to the official record Of construction, and to
the acceptance by the proper authorities, the evil
dcHce Of which has been received at this office
since my last annual report. and consequently was
not included therein. During the previous year
the reports show a constructed length of 1.143
miles of road, a difference III favor Of the latter
wear of 535 miles. The policy Of extending aid 10
railroad enterprise by national legislation having
been restricted by the caution OF Congress during
the last few years. the aggregate of definite loca-
ton Of new roads IN not a. great as in former years.
The reports show the definite location Of 323 miles
during the fiscal year. of which 200 miles are OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the Territory of
Dakota.
The following act of Congress was approved Feb.
+. 1878 n Stat. 1861:
AN ACT in relation to Mineral Lands.
Be it Enacted By TIE Senate and House Of Repre-
~SfpfatjteS Of the United states Of An3er5cd IN Con
GreSs assembled. That within the States hereinafter
named deposits or mines of iron or coal be, and
they are hereby excluded from the operations Of
an act entitled A act to promote the develop
Htut ul the illlliHS TcSoulCtS d tt HLt'
States. approved May 10. 1872, and said act shall
not apply to the mineral lands situated and being
within the States of Michigan. Wisconsin and
Minnesota, anu that said lands are hereby de-
clared free and open to exploration and purchase
according to the legal subdivisions thereof, as be-
fore the passage of said act; and that any bona
fde entries of such lands, within said States,
since the passage thereof, may be patented with
ont reference TO the provisions of said act.
Previous 10 the date Of said Mining act of 1872,
lands containing deposits of iron ore were disposed
Dt Inr Gosh q JrINa Il q ont y the ElTnp as 1pTIfni-
tural lands. The language of the Mining act,
however. is so comprehensive as to Justify the be
lief that it was the intention of Congress to in
disposed of under It's provisions. Congress by
Subsequent legislation appears to have placed this
construction upon the act.