Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-01

The Commissioner of the General Land Office
Hon. n. c. Mcfarland, In his annual report to the
secretary OF the Interior, states that the isposai
OF pubic lands during the year embraced 76s
acres, and OF Indian lands 3S9 2235 acres. This
amount was an increase over 1882 of about five mil
lion OF acres, and 1881 OF about eight million OF
acres The receipts from all sources In connection
with the disposals of public lands 43
and from sales OF Indian lands $685. 4oA2 total OF
s1l,713SS370.
The public lands were disposed OF as follows: Pub
nc sales, 273G69 acres: private entries, 2179 9o5
acres; preemption entries, 40 acres mineral
entries, 3,5 $40; homestead entries, s17.9l4; timber
culture entries, 3,110,93G entries with military
bounty Land warrants 45,4li; entries with land
claim scrip, 05S0 The total number OF entries and
nngS posted during the year 251 ,GS5 aggregat-
ing 100000 acres. The increase in the number of
1882.
PRE-EMPTIONs FOR SPECULATIVE PURPOSES.
The commissioner states that he is satisfied that
pre-empt1on filings are made or procured to be
mace to great extent for speculative purposes
He renews the recommendation that the pre-
emption law be repealed The report recOmmends
the amendment Of the homestead laws, requiring a
period of not less than six months after settle
nent claim has been placed on record before final
proof shall be admitted irrespective OF alleged time
Of residence prior to entry.
The commissioner states that the Communication
feature OF the homestead law is open to the same
ABUSES as the pre-eTnptOn law. He urges that the
homestead laws be amended 50 as to require proof
OF actual residence and improvement for a period
OF not less than two years before homestead
entry may DE commuted by cash payments
THE T1NBER-CULTURE LAW.
The report further recommends a total repeal of
the tnnber-culture law on account OF its Inherent
defects. The same objection the commissioner finds
in the operation of the desert-land act and he finds
that entries have been largely made for speculative
purposes, with no intention Of reclamation. The
practical operation of the law has been to enable
a,f fhtlS rQ
sulting more in the encouragement OF monopoly
than the encouragement OF reclamation. The re-
port also says that the timber and StOne-land en-
tries act is 11agrantly violated.
TIMBER LANDS SECURED BY MoN0PoL1sTs.
''1nformatton is In my possession" the commits
sioner says, "that much OF the most valuable tim
Der land remaining in the possession Of the govern
ment on the Pacific coast is being taken up by
home and foreign capitalists, through the medium
Of entries made by persons hired for that purpose
have found 1t necessary to suspend all entries OF
this class and direct an Investigations
The commissioner is OF the opinion that timber
lands should be reserved by law from ordinary dis
poSal and sold only after appraiSement and upon
settled bids He recommends that Congress make
some legislation in relation to the private land
claims in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona and
recommends that commission for each of these
territories be appointed to examine and settle these
claims, with proper appeal for review upon error Of
law.
LAND GRANT RAuRoapS
The construction OF ,210 miles OF land grant rail-
road was reported during the year, making total
OF 17449 miles Of road reported constructed under
all grants to June 80, 1883. The question OF de-
caring forfeiture OF these grants to where the rail-
roads have not been constructed In the prescribed
time is deemed an appropriate one for legislation
NEW BUILDING AND MORE CLERKS NEEDED
The commissioner recommends that building
be erected for the use OF the land Office and its re-
cords He asks an additional force OF 200 clerks
Of the higher grades, and suggests that grade Of
examiners OF land titles corresponding to the grade
of principal examiner in the Pension office would
be extremely desirable.
The report further recommends that the commits
s1oners salary be increased to 5000 and that an
assistant commissioner be authorized. An increase
IN the salaries OF the principal officers and clerks is
advanced to s2 500 the law clerk the same, and for
his assistant 2250 He asks for an increase to
5000 for two examiners OF Office decisions and OF
the chiefs of divisions to 5000