The Mineral argus., 1883-11-15
THE LAND OFFICE.

AAAH d
COMMISSIONER ~M'FARLAND's REPORT.
wAsu1soros, Special Telegram. Nv. l.
The annual report Of tho commissioner Of the
general land Office il out to-day. He repeats
his recommendations for the repeal Of the pre-
emption and timber culture laws and for The
modification Of tho homestead laws, and the
DID story OF the abuses growing out OF the
operation Of these laws. which lead him to rec
ommond their repeal or amendment Ihis
subject Will. OF course, engage the attention OF
congress next winter. During the last congress
q humber OF bills were introduced to repeal the
pre-. Cmption laws aud amend the homestead
and pro-emption culture laws. TIT measure
was favorably reported by the Hon H. b.
Strait from the house committee on public
lands and afterwards, on motion OF Mr..
Pound, chairman Of that committee, engrafied
N the suudry civil appropriation bill;
but the senate having adopted a rule to exclude
new legislation from appropriation bills, struck
out the clause, aud the measure fell with the
expiration OF the congress. The subject will
be taken up do novo by the next congress, aud
il remains to be seen whether the proposition
becomes a law or not some very strong adj
vocatos OF repeal, among them Mr.. Washburn
and MIR. 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 a law on the question OF tho for
feituro Of certain railroad land grants
which he mentions in detail. THIS is
also a RIPE subject for tho next congress, and
A number Il members are known to be ready
ard eager to Jake il up. Among the roads
mentioned are the s. Paul, Minneapolis &
Manitoba. the Brailerl branch OF the 81 TAU 4
Pacific, now Manitoba railroad. the Southern
Minnesota railway extension, Hastings 4 Da-
kota, and tho lake superior & Mississippi
These roads have been completed, but not
within tho umo required by law.
NORTHERN PACIFIC
is giyen in the report as one OF tho roads not
completed within tho time required by law,
blt Which are IN course OF construction The
Sioux CITY & So Paul belongs to another class
Z OF roads, partly complsted and, 80 far as
known 10 the general lani Office. construction
suspended The commissioner says:
In the absence Of cocgressi0ua. action lands have
[ been ccr.iisd Do or patented, accoril1giy as roads have
been constructed, whether within or our OF ne
time IrescrueA Your Immediate predecessor sus-
peuicd tlls practice pu E 20 the meeting ot COO
gres1 In December. le>o, but 1s no le-is1iive
action was 'ak'n you havr lee that uuder the de-
ci,iou OK The supreme court Of the United saes
I you lad no right 90 declare a forfeiture or To tur-
] her suspend the issue OF patents tor lands aCrg
Z he constructed uoa-on of roa,s. evsn If the sans
. bad not been bulk within the prescribed time The
remaining lands are contained 10 the reservation
established bv law or under w-l-dr1vals nrIe tor
the protection Of The grants Aea1whue set
/ tiers have entered uu0u some OK these
lands AMI are anxious 70 know whether
o they must .oCk 90 the raj road companies or 10 The
United sta es for tlrir tides. lhe pu-Ac demand
] ior a. d-llIle settlement OF the question, whether a
] ID. f-Irurs IS 90 be enforced 10 any Of these cases
Is constantly pressed uI0a my attention. lc1u-
slider DO Of very great importance that the earliest
uoss bic ictou should be taken either 20 rerivs the
grants OF declare them forfeited. I'll o. be the 1udg-
msut OF congress THAI The grants should be revived,
congress may uugu s-tl0uAuiy urs-crbe the cluCl-
tons OF such rdv.sl4; ard slcl tctioa should ue
] akeu I suggest tIdr all actual settlers on the lald
be ,aved and secured ic their rights and claims @
land embraced In their settlements aud improve
msnts AZ the date OF my sucn revival Of the railway
granL
The commissioner reports that the lands
within tho old Sioux Indian reservation west Of
Big Stone lake. IN Dakota, have been rssur-
veycd, and the western boundary line retraced
tho original surveys having been reported
fraudulent The area shown by the 0rigina
survey was 115. 1877 Is acres, aud BY tho re-
survey 1877. Gas acres. making al increase BY
the resurvey OF p 540.32 acres.
THE DIsPosALs OF PUBLIC LANDS
dur ing he year embraced 70, U2O. T69 acres
aud Indian lands 1893, 23J acres; increase ovel
lsS2. about 5000, 900 acres. and over 1881
abour 5000, OOO. Receipts. financial sourcel
from. 4 sposa.s .of public lands, we're Sl1,
OsS.4T9. and from Indian lands, $500, 4O4
total, 81, 7 $50. Public lands we're dis
posed 0l as follows: