Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-12-11

had not time to concur, il failed to beco.ne law
The selections certified for common schools dur.
ing the fiscal year ending June 30 1873 amounted
20 16,9Oal7 acres, and for semnsres go acres
I The selections certified for agricultural colleges
amounted 10 l5,976.2l The locations OF agriCul-
tural college scrip by assignees OF the States to
which the same was issued reported during the
year cover an area of 6594i65l Since nav last an
nual report agricultural college scrip representing
240,0 acres has been issued to the States of Ar.
kansas ana Florida This exhausts the amount
which Congress authorized,
The records of the office show an aggregate CON
strucuon Of 22tS miles of road, distributed ~ fol-
lows: In Michigan, ls6 miles: Wisconsin. 50 miles ;
Iowa, % mile; Minnesota liz miles; Missouri o.
miles; Kansas, i6i miles: Arkansas. 2AO miles !;
California, 80 niles Colorado, 2l5 miles; Indian
Territory, l55 miles, Total, rs above, 2,2iS miles
Portions of the roads included in the foregoing re-
port Of construction were actually completed prior
to the commencement Of the last fiscal year. This
report will be understood as referring more partic.
ulary 10 the official record of construction and 10
the acceptance by the proper authorities, the evil
dence Of which has been received M this office
since my last annual report, and consequently was
not included therein During the previous year
the reports show constructed length of las
miles OF road, a difference in favor Of the latter
year Of 535 miles. The policy of extending aid to
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 roads IN not great in former years
The reports show the definite location of 323 miles
during the fiscal year, of which POO miles are Of
'''''''''N''
Dakota.
The following act of Congress was approved Feb
Is, 1873 "a Stat, 465l:
An ACT in relation TO Mineral Lands
Be IL enacted by The Senate ana House Of Repre-
SsHtdfiUeS Of ne tHjtsd states Of iH3t,icd Ia Con-
grcSS 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 AN act to promote the develop
meut of the mining resources Of the United
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 and that said lands are hereby de-
clared free and open 80 exploration and purchase
according TO the egul subdivisions thereof, "a be.
fore the passac. OF said act and that any bona
ide entries of such lands within said States
since the passage thereof may be patented with
out reference to the provisions of said act
Previous TO the date Of said Mining act of 1871
lands containing deposits of iron were disposed
of for cash at private entry the same a. agricul-
tural lands The language OF the Mining act
however is SO comprehensive To justify the be-
lief that IL was the intention of Congress 10 In
cludc iron ore among the mineral deposits 10 be
disposed of under its provisions Congress by
subsequent legislation appears to have plac ed this
construction upon the act