The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-12-04
Report Of the commisnonsr of the United States
Land Office,
Washington November a. Dispatch 10 The y
York Trihuue

Washington November a. Dispatch 10 The New
York Tribune,
The forthcoming report of the Commits
sioner Of the General Land Office shows
that the number Of acres of land surveyed
during the year ending June 80, 1873, was
80, isS, 1872. The amount Of public land dis
posed OF during the same period was 49,
O3U, Coo acres The number of SURVEYORS
General has been increased since 1868
from ten 10 seventeen the number Of land
offices from fifty. three 10 ninety, and the
amount of land annually disposed of from
1900, 600 TO l3,0UO,00O acres In regard
10 the operations Of the Homestead law,
the CommissiC ner reports as follows
The demand for lands by actual settlers
under the Homestead law continues very
large During the fiscal year ending june
30, 1878, 81 ,246 preliminary entries were
made, covering 3,742, 347.2G acres The
number 0f 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 requirements and necessities Of actua
settlers, aud again respectfully renew my
recommendations for complete consOlida
ton Of all statutes respecting settlement
rights into a general Homestead law. a
bill for that purpose met with favorable
action from both houses Of the last Con
grcss, but owing 90 q slight amendment a,
~ the time when il should take effect, by
the House, on the last day of the session
in which the Senate had not time 10 con.
eur, il failed 20 become a law The selec
tons certified for common schools durinl
the fiscal year ending june 80, 1873
amounted TO 5000 IL acres and for sem
inaries, 800 acres. The selections certified
for agricultural colleges amounted TO Is,
g7G.2l The locations OF agricultural col
lege scrip by the assignees of the States /,
which tho same was issued reported dur
ing the year cover an area of 653, 446. Al
Since my last annual report. agriculture
college scrip representing 100000 acre
has been issued 10 the States Of Arkansa
and Florida. This exhausts the amour
which Congress authorized.
The records Of the office show an aggre
gate construction Of 2,27S miles of road
distributed as follows In Michigan, Is
miles; Wisconsin, 80 miles; Iowa, 81
miles Minnesota, 7i2 miles Missouri
95 miles Kansas, 464 miles Arkansas
$40 miles California, 40 miles Colorado
245 miles Indian Territory, 1856 miles
T,Ahl, as above, 2,27S miles. Portions q
tie roads included in the foregoing repor
Of constmction were actually completes
prior 70 the commencement Of the last ifs
cal year. This report will be understoo
as referring more particularly to the off
cial record OF construction, and 10 the aC
ceptance By the proper authorities, tn
evidence Of which has been received a
this Office since my last annual =, port, anC
consequently was not included therein
During the previous year the reports shos
constructed length Of l,743 miles Of road
difference 10 favor Of the latter year o
535 niles. The policy Of extending aid +
railroad enterprise by national Legislation
having been restricted BY the canton q
Congress during the last few years, the ae
gregate of definite location Of new roads