Arizona citizen., 1878-09-28

OJn instant. fOllOWlng are reud1 RI
 accompanying the statistical and t8bu
 lar parts of it:
 PRIVATE LAND CL AIMS.
 For reasons fully gwen m my snnu
 al report for 1877, have not entered upon formal investigation of prival,
 land claims Congress has been re peaiedly asked to appropriate the smal
 sum required to open and conduct thil examination under existing law and your instructions, and it's long delay has ,he appearance of q refusal to pro vide the means, at least under present legislation. Notwithstanding my de cfded opinion that the duty should be performed by commission or the courts 1 must again put it on record that I have been ready at all times to enter upon the work. The continued influx of population for actual settle ment and mining operations, increases the urgency of adjusting all tiles to private land claims. will give just one pointed illustration: Hundreds of miners are now at work in the Santa Rita mountains Baca claim No. 3, authorized by section 6, act of June 21, 1860, is located in these mountains and covers land Dotoriously mineral. Notwithstanding the law authorizes the location of vacant lands not min .eral only, the fact that the location has been made and Is not finally ap- proved or disapproved, enables certain men to cast cloud upon mining titles in the Santa Ritas and greatly relard mining progress.
 An imperfect title or one incapable of being perfected, is generally in the hands of those who apparently live to impede legitimate industry or to ex- tort money from the honest and useful of community; whereas one based on law and capable of perfection, is usu- ally found in possession of men who are just and reasonable, and who en- courage enterprises calculated to en rich the country and thereby enhance the value Of their own property. The delay of Congress in making provis- ion for the execution of the existing law on this subject or in onaoting an other one aud giving means for it's ex- ecution, operates in favor or ohstruct CTS aud extortioners.
 TIMBER INTERESTS,
 Recent timber legislation is well re- ceived by the people. IL relieves them of constant apprehension of prosecu- lion for taking timber necessary for the existence of life and business. Au- thoriLing, as it does, for local and free use of all alike, timber upon mineral lands, monopoly is avoided aud the best public. interest is pro noted. If Congress will make early provision for and require the survey of all non-min- eral timber bearing land, the vexed timber question will be settled, or be iH condition which will make it easy of settlement with all offenders and to the approval of all good men.
 SURVEY OF INDIAN RESERVATION.
 The boundaries of the White Moun- tain and San Carlos Indian Reservation ought to be officially established by al survey on the ground. The reserve included much mining land now known as the Copper Mountain and Globe mining districts. IL was established without proper care and without knowledge cf the To- cality or true names of points designa- ted for its boundary. It has been re- duced four times-twice to exclude land unnecessary to the h. dians, and twice to exclude agricultur- al lands upoG which some settlements were made prior to it's establishment Some of the moro important points in- tended 10 mark the present boundary, are so indefinite as to cause honest and men 10 differ as to their To- cations or as to the names of them. Already Globe district miners and the Indian Agent at San Carlos are disput- ing over the boundary in manner which is likely to involve serious diff fcully and much expense. The four ishing and extensive mining districts of Globe and Copper Mountain hug the west and cast boundaries respectively, and the large and rapidly-increasingI agricultural settlements ol Pueblo Vi eio aud the Little Colorado likewise press upon the south and north lines and, none of the boundary being es- on the ground. the best in formed men are likely to err in judg- ment as io it's precise location for much the greater part. Looking at the mat ter from government standpoint alone, it would be economy to, al the earliest possible day. establish the boundary CD the ground by an official survey
 GRAZING LANDS.
 IL is unfortunate that these lands are entirely excluded by law from survey. Congress surely intends. and sound public policy requires. that land occu pied by bona fide settlers should be surveyed and made available for pre- smptior and sale No argument is needed 10 show the necessity of stock. |