The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-08
THE LAND OFFICE.

COMMISSIONER M'FARLAND'S REpORT.
WARRINGTON, Special Telegram, Nov. l.
The annual report of the commissioner of the
general land Office is out to-day. He repeats
bis recommendations for the repeal of the pre-
emption and timber culture laws and for the
modification Of the homestead laws, aud the
old 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-. emption laws and amend the homestead
aud exemption culture laws. The measure
was favorably reported by the Hon. 81. B.
Strait from the house committee on public
lands and afterwards, on motion Of Mr..
Pound, chairman Of that committee, engrafted
IN the sundry civil appropriation bill;
but the senate having adopted rule to exclude
new legislation from appropriation bills, struck
out the clause, and the measure fell with the
expiration of the congress. The subject will
be taken up de- novo by the next congress-, and
it remains TO be seen whether the proposition
becomes law or not Some very 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
recommended by the commission is the passage
of law on the question of the for
fixture of certain railroad land grants
which he mentions in detail. This is
also ripe subject for the next congress, and
number ct members are known to be ready
and eager to take it up. Among the roads
mentioned are the St. Paul, Minneapolis l.
Manitoba, the Brainerd branch OF tho st. PAUL &
Pacific, now Manitoba railroad, the Southern
Minnesota railway extension, Hastings l. d.
kota, and the Lake Superior l. 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 patepted 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-
gress 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 forfeiture or to fur
Their suspend the issue of patents for lands along
the constructed pOatlOn or roads. even II the same
had not been built 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 to the railroad companies or to the
United Sta es for their titles. The public demand
for definite settlement Of the question, whether
fol feure is to be enforced in any of these cases
is constantly pressed upon my attention. COM
slider it of very great Importance that the earliest
possible action should be taken either to revive the
Grants declare them forfeited IT it be the judg-
ment Of congress that the grants should be revived.
congress may unQuestionably prescribe the condi-
tions of such revival; aud if subtraction should be
taken suggest that all actual settlers on the land
be saved and secured ir their rights and claims to
land embraced in their settlements and improves
ments at the date of any such revival of the railway
grant.
The commissioner reports that the lands
within tho 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 115. 157. 6S acres, and by the re-
| survey 1877, 648 acres, making an increase by
| the resurvey of o. 54O.3 80 acres
THE D1sPosALs OF PUBLIC LANDS
during the year embraced 19,O2O,769 acres,
and Indian lands 800, 235 acres; increase over
1882, about 5, 900, 900 acres. and over 1881,
| about 100000. Receipts. financial sources
from, d;sposals :of public lands, we're SILL
| OSS, 479, and, from Indian lands, 1926, 4O4;
total, $11, 713, 1888. Public lands were dis
posed of as follows: