New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-02
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
A YEARS WORK IN THE LAND OFFICE.
FACTS AND FIGURES FROM THE COMMISSIONERS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-Noah Mcfarland
Commissioner Of the General Land Office, has submitted
to the Secretary Of the annual report for tho
fiscal year. The disposal public lands under all aets OF
Congress embraced 96 acres and OF Indian lands
| 399,235 acres increase over the year 1882 of
$3.50 S66 and increase the year 1881 OF 1885,
635 acres The receipts from all IN connection
with the dspQsas Of public lands $100s847 and
from sales Of Indian lands 1925 404 total Of 49,
$685. being increase the year 1882 of
and increase the year 1881 Of $63o5,079. The
receipts from cash sales 6j7 032 and from home
stead fees and commissions 1891 467 The total numbet
of entries and filings posted during the year 2516s5
aggregating 30OOO,000 The number OF entries
approved for paenng under the presumption, homestead
timber desert and other settlement and agricu
tural laws was 63,s47. The number OF pat
ents issued on the various classes OF entries and
| locations under the general land laws
5O,4s2. The number Of private cash entries
was 1O4 embracing 2.179,955 acres; 2,c85.7i0
acres were sold under the presumption law L236ll3
acres were embraced In commuted hornesteads
Sixteen thousand acres OF land offered at public
sale In the GAINESVILLE Florida, District Zen million acres
OF pine timber lands were offered n the Duluth. Minn
District 900 In the St. Cloud District Some
of this land sold, and the remainder became subject
to private entry. Hnetyeght additional townships ein-
bracing 100000 acres were proclaimed for Offering in
the St. Cloud District. Eight thousand eight hundred
and fortyiye presumption entries were approved for
patent in ex parte cases. and TAI contested wero
decided, the whole involving 100000 acres.
Eleven thousand nine hundred and twelve cases
were received for action Tho number OF cases undecided
June 90 1885, was 1882. The number OF presumption
filings placed record during the was AZ 1913, which
at l6O acres each would 7.e692S0 acres.
Presumption filings made procured to be made, to
great for speculative purposes and with no in
tentOn the part OF the person IN whose name the ngs
made 10 perfect the entry or I'm manner tooOpy with
the law Continued experience demonstrates The avis
ability and necessity OF the repeal Of the precnp0n w
The number Of original homestead entries during TIE ear
was 56,565 embracing an area OF l,9l4 acres fh
proof made in 1898 entries, embracing 2''oi,iE
THE SUBJECT OF FRAUD.
Special efforts have been made to check the frauds upon
soldiers committed by attorneys who obtain their
authorization TO make filings which used
for speculative purposes by the attorney. Tho
present laws and regulations permit settlers
on unsuryeyed lands who have maintained residence OF
FIVE years make entry and give notice of final proof
simultaneously after survey. who desire 10
obtain large quantities fand employ men 20 make entries
on newly surveyed land, alleging residence long anterior
20 the survey, and the land Is patented before
an opportunity is had to develop tho facts aud
prevent the contamination Of the illegal entry Special
agents report valuable lands In whole ranges OF townships
in certain districts have been entered IN this manner
when the land shows no evidence Of settlement at any
me but held portions Of large estates Provision
should made by statute, fixing period OF not less
than six months after settlement claim has been placed
on record before proof shall be admitted iresPeo
The communication feature Of the homestead law Ia
open TO the same abuses the presumption law. Tho
alleged Communication settler is frequently person
employed at much a month to sign entry papers
and hold the claim long enough to enable his
employer TO secure title by communication
Il Is matter less important than the repeal OF tho
pre-emption law that the homestead laws should be
amended require proof OF actual residence and
improvement for a period OF not less than two years
before a homestead entry may be committed by cash
payment.
ABUSES OF THE TIMBER CULTURE LAW.
It has been demonstrated that the abuses OF the timber
culture inherent in the law. majority OF entries
under the timber culture act made for speculative
purposes and for the cultivation OF timber. Comph
ance with In these mere pretence and does
result the production Of timber No trees are TO DO
vast regions OK country where umbcr-cntnIe
entries have been most numerous anthe public interests
will be served by a total peal of the law.
The desert land law Is equally Objectionable
and its practical operation has heretofore been 20 enable
land be purchased without settlement and IN Quanti-
ties excess OF the limit established BY the settlement
laws, thus resulting Ia the encOulscnent OF monopoly
sctions and limitations OF the timber land act are ag-
rany violated Much OF the most valuable timber land re-
coast is being taken up by home ana foreign companies
and capitalists, through the medium OF en-
tres made by persons hired for that purpose.
1t has been found necessary 20 suspend all entries OF
this class and 20 direct investigation IN the neld with
a view to the procurement OF evidence la specific cases
authorize the cancellation OF Illegal entries and the
prosecution OF guilty parties Timber lands should 30
reserved by law from ordinary disposal. and sold ouy
AFTER appisement and upon sealed o at not less han
!he appraised price. IL would be proper that act 20
such eject should not deprive settlers ON The plDr ds
support OF their improvements.
Attention is called condition Of unsettled private
land claims IN NeW-MexioO Col 'rado ana Arizona whloh
perpetual menace to the industrial occupation OF
the soil retard and nhbiI settlement because OF their
totally inadequate. commission should be appointed
for each OF the Territories named thoroughly 10 examine
the foundation of ali alleged private land claims as pre-
liminarleS 10 any result
LAND GRANT RAILROADS
The construction Of 10 miles OF land grant railroads
was reported, making total CT L. l49 miles OF road T
ported constructed under all grants 477.9iO acres
wore certified patented under railroad grants. and
440s56 patented for wagon roads. IAss Of
railroad selections aggregating 3O7O iG3 acres are await
ing examination large portion OF the report composed
Of tabular statements enumoratng the aQd grants that
that have not been constructed wtuln the time required
10y law. Upon this subject the Commissioner tho
going grants any thcm deemed appropriate ono
for legislative consolidation The time fxcd in The grant
M acts ioT the completion OF the rOads expired III some
Instances IN 1866. ana IN other cases az later periods
lands have been certified or patented accordinsly
roads have been constructed, whether within
or out OF the time prescribed Meanwhile set
tiers have entered upon some o! these lands and are
anxious 10 know whether they must look TO tEo
railroad companies the United States for their titles.
The public demand definite settlement OF the question
whether not forfeiture is to he enforced In any OK
possible action should be taken. either to revive
the grants o., TO declare tuen forfeited. II
should be revived. Congress may unquestOnaby
prescribe the conditions Of such revival and such
ZION should be taken suggested that all settlers
the land be saved and secured In their rights and
claims to land embraced ia their settlements and improve
at the date Of any such revival OF the railroad
grant
ABUSES IL LAND SURVEYS.
The total number Of Of land surveyed was $685.
1872 II is recommended that passed providing
for the punishment by fine and Imprisonment OF deputy
surveyors who make false OF public surveys.
Many abuses have grown mp under the first section
Of the act of May II. $780, which provides that
when a REIMBURSEMENT of any prcem ptiOn, home
stead, or timber culture claim Is ho1
In the local land Office, the land covered by such claim