Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-12-05
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 30,
1873, was 3O,4sS, 1872. The amount Of public land
disposed of during the same period was Il, ,0S0,606
acres. The number OF Surveyors-General has been
increased since 1858 from ten to seventeen; the
number Of land offices from fitty-three to ninety,
and the amount of land annually disposed Of from
1000 to 130O0000 acres. In regard to the op.
erations 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 June 80, 1873, 81 ,2i6 prem
mary entries were made covering area of 3,752,
S4726 acres. The number OF final entries were
1884, being an increase in final entries of 4,1l5
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 complete consolidation OF all statutes
specting settlement rights into a general Home
stead law. A bill for that purpose met with ia
vorable action from both Houses of the last Con-
gress, but owing to 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 law
The selections certified for common schools dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80, 1878, amounted
10 76,0O917 acres, and for seminsres, $40 acres.
The selections certified for agricultural colleges
amounted to 16,976.2l. The locations Of agricul-
tural college scrip by assignecs of the States to
" hich the same was issued reported during the
year cover area of 653446.41. Since my last
nual report agricultural college scrip representing
200 acres has been issued to the Stares of Ar
kansas and Florida This eXhausts the amount
which Congress authorized.
The records of the Office show aggregate con-
struction of 221S miles of road, distributed as fol-
lows: In Michigan, 1856 miles; Wisconsin. 80 miles,
Iowa, so miles; Minnesota, 7l2 miles; Missouri, 81
miles; Kansas, 464 miles, Arkansas, 240 miles,
California, 10 miles, Colorado, 2i5 miles; Indian
Territory. 1855 miles. Total, as above, 2,2Is miles
Portions of the roads included in the foregoing
port Of construction were actually completed prior
to the commencement OF the last fiscal year. This
report will be understood referring more partic
ularly to the official record of construction, and to
dence 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,T43
miles Of road, difference in 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 roadsin not as 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.
1S, 1873 (l7 Stat, 1850:
AN ACT in relation TO Mineral Lands
BE u enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
seHtdtiUes Of the United States Of Afnericd 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 IAN act to promote the develop
ment 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 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
out reference TO the provisions OF said act.
Previous 10 the date OF said Mining act OF 1879,
lands containing deposits OF iron were disposed
Of for cash at private entry the same as agrlcnl-
tura lands. The language OF the Mining act,
however, is so comprehensive as to justify the be-
lief that IL was the intention Of Congress to in
clude iron ore among the mineral deposits TO be
disposed Of under It's provisions. Congress by
subsequent legislation appears to have plac ed this
construction upon the act.