The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-11-10
THE LAND OFFICE.
COMMISSIONER M'FAR1AND's REPORT.

AAAL ~
COMMISSIONER M~'FARLAND's REPORT
WASHINGTON, SPECIAL Telegram, Nov. l.
The annual report of the commissioner of the
general land Office is out today. He repeats
his recommendations for the repeal Of the pre-
emption and timber culture laws and for the
modification of the homestead laws, and the
Did story Of the abuses growing out of the
operation of these laws, which lead him to rec
ommend their repeal or amendment This
subject will. Of course, engage the attention OF
congress next winter. During the last congress
a number of bills were introduced to repeal the
pre-. emptiou laws and amend the homestead
and pre-emption culture laws. The measure
was favorably reported by the Hon. II. b.
Strait from the house committee on public
ands and afterwards, on motion Of Mr..
Pound, chairman OF that committee, engratted
n the sundry civil appropriation bill;
but the senate having adopted a rule to exclude
| new Legislation from appropriation bills, struck
| out the clause, aud tho measure fell with the
expiration Of the congress. The subject will
be taken up dc novo by the next congress, and
it remains TO be seen whether the proposition
becomes a law or not Some Vcry strong ad-
vocates of repeal, among them Mr.. Washburn
and Mr.. Straight of Minnesota, come over from
the last house and will very likely urge the
passage of the measure. Among other things
i recommended by the commission is the passage
of 8 law on the question OF the for
fixture of certain railroad and grants
which he mentions in detail. This is
also a ripe subject for the next congress, and
a number Of members are know to be ready
and eager to take it up. Among the roads
mentioned are the St. Paul, Minneapolis i
Manitoba, the Brainerd branch of tho st. Paul 4
Pacific, now Manitoba railroad, the Southern
Minnesota railway extension, Hastings & Da-
kota, and the Lake Superior & Mississippi.
These roads have been completed, but not
within the time required by law.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC
is given in the report as one of the roads not
completed within the time required by law,
but which are in course of construction. The
Sioux CITY & St Paul belongs to another class
! of roads, partly completed and, so far as
known to the general land Office, construction
suspended. The commissioner says:
In the absence of congressional action lands have
been certified or patented, accordingly as roads have
been constructed, whether within or out of the
time prescribed. Your immediate predecessor sus-
pended this practice prior to the meeting of con-
gresy in December, 1880, but as no legislative
action was taken, you have held that under the de-
cision of the supreme court Of the United States
you had no right to declare a forfeiture or TO fur
Their suspend the issue Of patents for lands along
the constructed DOation of roads, even If the same
had not been luilt within the prescribed time. The
remaining lands are contained in the reservation
established By law or under Withdrawals made for
the protection. Of the grants. Meanwhile set
tiers have entered upon some OF these
lands. and are anxious to know whether
: they must look 10 the railroad companies or to the
United Sta'e s for their titles. The public demand
for a definite settlement Of the question, whether o
forfeiture is to be enforced in any of these cases
Is constantly pressed upon my attention. con-
| slider it of very great importance that the earliest
possible action should be taken either to revive the
grants or declare them forfeited. II il be the judg-
ment Of congress that The grants should be revived,
congress may unQuestionably prescribe the condi-
tons of such revival; aud if such action should be
taken L suggest that all actual settlers on the land
be saved and secured il their rights and claims "a
land embraced in their settlements and improve
ments at the date OF any such revival OF the railway
grant.
The coz missioner reports that the lands
within the old Sioux Indian reservation west of
Big Stone lake, in Dakota, have been resur-
veyed, and the western boundary line retraced,
the original surveys having been reported
fraudulent The area shown by the original
survey was lis, 157. 6S acres, and by the re.
survey l37,64S acres, making an increase by
the resuryey of %. $40. 80 acres.
THE DIsPosALs OF PUBLIC LANDS
during the year embraced 10, 020, 100 acres,
and Indian lands 500, 235 acres; increase over
1882, about :, 900. 900 acres, and over 1881,
about 5000, 900. Receipts. financial sources
from, disposais :f public lands, we're $I1,-
SS,479, and from Indian lands, $685. O4,
total, $11,713,8S3. Public lands were dis.
posed OK as follows: