The Worthington advance., 1882-10-19
Report or the Commissioner OF the
General Land Office.

Judge Mcfarland, commissioner of the
general land office, has completed his annual
report. In addition to some statistical ill
formation, the following subjects are treated
by the commissioner.
Ono hundred and seventy six th ousand four hun.
ared and six and exty-six one-hundrcdths acres OF
land were certified foI railroad purposes during the
last fiscal year. The list OF selections awaiting ex-
ANIMATION ion OF action on June 80, 1882. embraced
1858 1872 70 acres. and Cos &c miles Of road was
ter. during the year, making a total Of 1920
miles of land grant railroad constructed in all the
States and Territories up to tho close of the fiscal
enacted clearly defining the rights Of citizens to
take timber from the public lands for prescribed
sna aaas: for
waste In all cases where q survey aud
settlement is necessary to accurately ascertain the
extent of an alleged trespass. would respectfully
sss9nme1d that the expense thereof should be
the trcspass part Of tho costs in the case. In
vestigations made during the past year have devel-
oped the existence OF much fraud under the shield
laws. Efforts have been made to check unlawful
acts of this character in tho coal aud iron
regions of Alabama. the timber regions Of Mime.
sofa, the grazing country in California, and on
agricultural lands in the Territory OF Dakota,b the
special investigation Of cases of alleged fraud trials
before the coal land officers to cancel illegal entries
These proceedings have, however, necessarily been
confined to one or two localities in each Of the said
States and Territories. owing to the limited facili-
ties Of this Office for such service. have recon-
nended herein the repeal Of the pre-emption law,
the same having been practically superseded BY tho
homestead law, and especially by the commutatiou
o i htr Of sses
parties are allowed to commute their entries by
payment OF cash should not be extended so az to re-
quire proof of actual residence, improvement and
nna hnfn
ment should be received. This extension Of time
would be be no longer than reasonably necessary
to establish the good faith Of tho parties and would
be no hardship to bona 1lo settlers, while the op-
portunities for fraudulent entry would diminish in
proportion to the length of residence, improve
ment s and cultivation are required to be shown.
!'er entries made under tho timber culture act can
bo proven up. The
FRAUDULENT PROCEEDINGS
at the present time under tho operations Of this act
arc not therefore, that legal title has actually been
obtained by unlawful methods, but that fictitious
tries are initiated for the purpose Of holding the land
of the right of occupation acquired. 1t is alleged
by numerous correspondents and in the reports Of
officers and agents OF this department that opera
tc. tions Of this character are carried on to =
ent timo in Dakota aud Minnesota, and that
as rule. in proportion as public surveys progress
over territory subject to such entry the lands
are compelled TO pay to spectators or persons hold
ing th, claims bonus for the privilce g. of entering
the land in Il legal and proper manner under tile
public land law. The utility of the timber
culture law as an inducemcnt to the cuti-
vation OF trees that would not otherwise
been planted has sometime been questioned, since
settlers under tho homestead laws in treeless re-
gions find it one Of tho necessities Of the situation
to set out and cultivate troes and their interest to
do this is usual guaranty that it will be done At
the same time I am not inclined to recon
mend tho repeal OF . law Of so bencA-
cent intention a. tho timber culture
act: but ! deem it incumbent upon
me to refor to the abuses to which it is subject.
Unlawful occupation az tho pubc lands. The il
legal enclosure OF the public lands in certain States
and Territories and the exclusive occupation Of
large tracts by private parties to the deprivation
of the rights Of others and the impedment
Of settlement and intercourse have become mat
ter Of serious complaint. 1t is manifest that some
decisive action is necessary on the part Of
the federal government for the maintenance of tho
supremacy OF the laws and to preserve the integrity
Of the public domain. 1t is undoubtedly true that
he vast plain and mountain ridge west Of tho Mis-
sissippi must be relied upon for an important pro-
portion of tho sheep and cattle husbandry required
by the necessity Of national consumption, but it
does not follow that this industry should
bo tho subject OF undivided or corporate monopoly
any more than that Of other agricultural pursuits
should be 40 controlled. The unmpeded course Of
settlement will, in due time. bring tho whole Of tho
United States within the compass Of private owner
ship respectfully call the attention 1T congress
to tho necessity Of legislation on this subject