New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-13
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE REPORT

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE annual report
OF Commissioner MacFarand of the General Office,
Tor the fiscal year ended June 30 1892 completed
To-Day IL shows that dlsposas OF public lands under all
acts OF Congress embraced 13998 74O37 acres and Of
Indian lands 3l0,33613 acres, making the total dis
posas l43O9 1860 acres increase disposas Of
the preceding year Of 3412 7293 acres. The amount
OF money received from oil connection with
dsposas of the public lands S7759 OF and from
saies Of Indian lands $6345s7 D. a total of $s,392
s4s "a, being an increase the previous year Of
$2.9S4 ,0i4 0S,
Judge MacFIrand says; "A repeal OF the Preemp-
ton law would simplify the public business and be in
the interest Of public economy and good administration.
such repeal would, moreover, of the
OF frauds in Land entries which have approached great
magnitude"
The total area of public lands surveyed in tho several
land States and Territories from tho beginning
OF surveying operations by the Government up
to June 30 1892 Is s31, 1,725.s63 Tho estimated
area OF unsuryeyed portion OF the p1bic domain iucu
sye OF tue Territory Of Alaska, Is 953062 750 acres
Respecting the forfeiture OF railroad grants the Com
missioner says: "The status OF various grants for rail-
road purposes where the roads have not been con-
sructed within the time prescribed by law reported
to Congress on March % last. The absence Of 6sla
tive action touching the renewal OF these grants
declaring the forfeiture thereof seriously
baTassed the work OF this office. 1t is
not deemed expedient TO certify additional
Ian Dis to the railroad companies, award to the
companies lands In dispute between them and settlers
0tDer claimants pending the determination OF Congress
In the premises. Large numbers Of settlers occupy
ing such lands anu it is important 10 them TO know
whether they can receive their titles from tue United
states or whether they will be required To purchase from
the railroad companies. The prevailing uncertainty
necessarily etards Improvements and impalrs values"
On the subject Of fraudulent Ian entries the Commits
siOner says: Investigations that have been made
during the past year have developed the existence Of
much fraud under the shield of tue pre- mpiOn, home
stead ana timber culture laws EuOr!s nave peen
made cccR unlaw nj In the coal and iron regions
OF Alabama the TIMBER regions of Minnesota the grazing
country In CalOr IA. ana agricultural lands III the
TrrtJry OF Dakota by the special Investigation OF ca
OF alleged fraud trials before local land officers to
cancel Illegal entries and the institution OF
civil and criminal suits. These proceedings
nave, however. necessarily been confined
to two Oca tiles in Of said states aud Terri
tory owing limited facilities Of office for such
service Proceedings have also been Instituted in the
State of Missouri the proper officers Of the United
states 10 the title tO several hundred thousand
acres OF land IN that state fraudulenty entered many
years since under the graduation act"
The CODmis sOner says that in his opinion statute Is
required imposing penalties for the unlawful inclOsure
OF the pubic lands ANA tAe prevention by force or ln
timldatlOn Of legal Sc ttemGnJ anu entry.
In cone usOn Commissioner MaoFarland submits
estimates for salaries and contingent expenses for the
fiscal year. amounting in the aggregate TO @l5394O
which increaLc OI tn amount appropriated Tor the
current fiscal year Of S330lO.