The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-12-11
Report Of the Commissioner OF the
Land Office.

The report Of the Commissioner Of the General
Land Oifice shows that the number of acres Of
land surveyed during the year ending June 20,
disposed Of during the anne period was Is Cos
acres. The number Of Surveyors General has been
increased since 1859 from Ten to s. vent. en-; the
and the amount OF land annually disposed Of from
5000 90 to 3GGO COZ acres. In regard to the oper-
atoms Of the Homestead law, the Commissioner
The demand for lands by actual settlers under
the Homestead law continues very large. During
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, 81. 246 pre-
,752, 347. ii acres. The number Of ina entries
were 1854 being an increase in final entries of
Ans over the preceding fiscal year. This law. with
some slight amendments, would meet all the re-
qntrements and necessities OF actual settlers and
again respectfully renew my Recommendation
for complete consolidation Of all statutes respect
ing settlement rights into . general Homestead
law. A bill for that purpose met with favorable
action from both Houses of the last Congress, but
owing to q slight amendment as to the time when
1t should take effect, by the House, on the last day
Of the session, in which the Senate had not time to
concur, 1t failed to become y law. The selections
certified for common echools during the fiscal year
ending June ~ 1873, amounted 10 IT, 10. II acres,
and for semoariee, $40 acres. The selections Ger.
lifed for agricultural colleges amounted to H.
1854. The locations Of agricultural college scrip
by asstgnees OF the States to which the same was
tssued reported during the year cover area CT
6,s, 446.4i. Since my last annual report agricul-
Seen issued Of fo, das
This exhausts the amount which Congress author
ICED.
strucion Of ,27S miles Of road, distributed as fol-
lows: In Michigan, 1856 miles; Wisconsin 81 miles:
Iowa, SO miles; Minnesota, zig miles; Missouri, "
California, ~ miles; Colorado, 2l5 miles; Indian
Territory, 1855 miles. Total, az above. 2278 miles,
Portions of the roads included in the foregoing re-
to the commencement Of the last fiscal year. This
report will be understood referring more partic-
ulary to the official record Of construction and to
the acceptance by the proper authorities the EVIL
dence Of which has been received at this office
since my last annual report, and consequently was
not included therein. During the previous year
miles of road, . difference i'll favor Of the latter
year Of SIS 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 new roads is not great in former years.
The reports show the defuite location Of i23 miles
the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the Territory Of
The following act Of Congress was approved
Feb. 10. 1873 IN Stat. 465):
AN ACT in relation to Mineral Lands
NM enacted by re Senate and House Of Repre-
ss".a'ares Of tie Ttea "ses c Aeriea IL Is"-
named deposits or mines Of iron coal be, and
they are hereby. excluded from the operations Of
an act entitled IAN act to promote tine develop
States" approved May 10, 1872, and said act shah
not apply 10 the mineral lands situate and being
within the states Of Michigan, Wisconsin, AMI Min
nesota, and that said lands hereby declared free
and open to exploration and purchase according
to the legal subdivisions thereof, rs before the
passage " said act and that any bona .fde en-
tries VI such lands, within said States, since the
passage thereof, may be patented without refer
enee to the provisions Of said act.
Previous to the date Of said Mining act
of 1872, lands containing deposits Of iron
ore we're disposed of for each at private
entry, the came as agricultural lands The
language Of the Mining act however, Is 20 COM
prehensive az to justify the belief that it the
intention Of Congress TO include iron ore among
the mineral deposits to be disposed Of under its
provisions. Congress, by subsequent legislation,
appears to have placed this construction upon the
act.