Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-04-25
WASHINGTON.
Important Order from the Commissioner
Of the General Land 0flice-Re-
port CT the Agricultural
Bureau.

WAsHISGTON, April 24-The COM
missioner Of the general land Office has
issued the regulations under the act pro-
viding for the sale of United State lands
containing coal, approved March Sd
last, as follows: Any individual, twen-
ty-one years Of age, and citizen of the
United States, or who has declared
his intention TO become such, may en-
ter, by legal subdivisions, any
area, not exceeding one hundred
and sixty acres; any association
NAV enter not to exceed three hundred
and sixty acres; any association of not
less than four persons, who shall have
expended not less than five thousand
dollars in working and improving any
coal mine or mines, may enter not eX-
ceeding six hundred and forty acres.
The price per acre is ten dollars where
the land is situated more than fifteen
miles from any completed railroad, and
twenty dollars per acre where the land Is
within fifteen miles of such road. In
conflicts, when improvements etc, have
been commenced subsequent to March
third, last, or shall be hereafter COM
menced, priority Of possession and
Improvement shall govern the award
when the law has been fully complied
with by each party. A mere possession,
however, without satisfactory improve
ments, viii not secure the contract to
the first occupant when the subsequent
claimant shows his full compliance
withla
The following is a summary
of the condition of winter wheat Just
issued from the agricultural department:
In the first week of April a considera-
ble portion of the 3Orthern belt of the
winter wheat area was covered with
snow. The condition of that visible
ave promise of general exemption from
winter-injury, or leaving the crop subject
TO the meteorological vicissitudes of April
In the middle States great improve
men upon the showing of lsst spring Is
everywhere conceded, especially In New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. The pros
pect in the States south Of Maryland, is
less favorable than last year, and there
are indications of q diminishing area In
the cotton States, although the acIeage
was not intended to be given in this re-
port. Michigan is the only State of the
northern border in which winter wheat is
mainly grown, presents green and Wig
orous growth, wherever the snow has
disappeared to reveal it. Ohio makes
far more favorable returns than last
wear. In Kentucky a more checkered
showing is made, giving the present
appearance a decidedly unfaYorable
cast, with indications of future improve
ment as the weather becomes settled.
In Indiana and Illinois the unfavorable
returns outnumbered the rose-colored.
The dry autumn retarded seeding and
oermiration, and left the plants too
weak and shallow-rooted 10 endure well
the effects of the winters changes OF
tqmperature. Similar causes affect the
condition of wheat in Missouri, but a
great Improvement over last year is
reported. and a still more favorable
condition exists in Kansas. In Wlscon-
sin, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska, as
Is known, very little winter wheat is
produced; but full reports are given OF
such experiments. The indications
from California all point to another year
of great abundance, scarcely a county
reporting an unfavorable condition. AS
a whole, the wheat prospect at the close
of winter is more favorable
than at the same date in 1872.
;. r. Dodge, Of the department Of agri-
culture, having been designated by the
pr'~eident one Of the honorary commits
eione.~s to the Vienna exposition. will
accent he position as an aid ia his in
vesfigatiolf Of the European statistical
svstenn. and u acquiring increased sta
tistical facilities for his division of the
denartnent. The commissioner of pat
ents to-day refused the application of
Ralph s. Mershop, Of Louisville, Ohio,
OF regulators for tims-kespsn.