St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-03

lar are Tue asSe5seu fdIudLlOHS Hclc do Ciec-
where below the market value that Gov.
Ordway, of Dakota, who owns much of this
property says he does not believe that the
government can get either one of these
tracts either by purchase or condemnation
for $550,000.
THE SEED BUSINESS.
This great and benefcent govern .nent is
now actively engaged in getting ready for
the spring planting. Superintendent Long
ley has seventy-fve men and women en-
gagged in putting up seeds for congressman
to distribute among their constituents. The
department of agriculture raises none Of
these seeds itself. 1t buys them, puts them
up in small packages and gives them away.
Most of the vegetable seeds and grains
are bought in this country,
only choice varieties being bought
abroad, but the flower seeds are imported
from England and Germany. By law two
thirds of all the seeds bought by the depart
ment of agriculture 60 to members OF con-
gress. The other third, the department OF
agriculture distributes among its regular cor
respondents 'and the public. The depart
ment has two thousand regular correspond
ents scattered all over the country, there
being as far as practicable one correspondent
in each county in the United States, and
these correspondents make monthly reports
to the department of the plants and crops
raised from government seeds. Last year
the department distributed in round num-
bers 1900, 900 packages Of seeds, and this
season it will distribute much larger guam
tity.
Western Associated Press. t
WASHINGTON, Mar 2.-RepreseHtative Con
verse has announced that he viii move to
suspend the rules tomorrow under the priya-
lege allowed to individual members the first
Monday of each month and ask for the con
sideration of his bill providing for an in
crease on the duty on wool. If the house
decides to consider the measure, Hurd
will strenuously oppose it.
The grand jury yesterday reported to the
court that they had examined witnesses in
regard to the alleged unlawful acts of Belva
A. Lockwood, in connection with the prose-
cution of the pension claim of one, Jane
Dorsey, and had ignored the charge. A
similar action was taken in regard to the
charges against n. W. and S. c.. Fitzgerald
for violating the revised statutes in con-
nection with the pension claim of Rachel
Amison.
SCHOOL APPROPRIATION.
Representative Willis intends asking for
consideration of his bill recently favorably
reported from the committee, which provides
for an annual appropriation for ten years
to aid common school education.
TARIFF REPORT.
Mr. Morrison will report to the ways and
means committee, on Tuesday the action of
eight of the Democratic members of the com
mittee on his tariff bill. Until then, he says,
he cannot tell definitely when the bill will be
reported to the house. If the members of the
committee ask for additional time to con-
slider the measure, Harrison says it will be
granted. The Republican members of the
committee contemplate preparing a minori-
ty report. They say that such report can
be prepared within two or three days after
the meeting on Tuesday, when they will be
notified of the action of the Democratic mem
bers.
The course of legislation in the senate this
week promises to be commonplace and dull.
LANDS FOR PATENTS.
The following correspondence is self ex
planatory:
Department of the interior, Washington,
March Dear Senator: enclose herewith
a statement from the commissioner general
of the land office, concerning the matter you
mentioned the other morning. I return
herewith the newspapers. Very truly yours.
(Signed.) H. NJ. TELLER.
To Hon. James G. Fair, United States
senate.
Department of the Interior, General Land
Office, Washington, February 90. To the
Hon. H. NJ. Teller, Secretary of the Interior.
Sir Referring to certain items contained in
several newspapers, Informally referred to
by YOU, to the effect that the Central Pacific
Railroad company has applications for pat
ents for large amounts of land in Nevada, of
of many months standing, in this office, to
which it has been unable to Sc
cure attention, and that the
issue of such patents are delayed, have
to-say, that there are no lists of selections of
land in Nevada, awaiting patents in this
office, aside from the selections in the Sac
ramento, California, land district, amount
ing to 6,514 acres, suspended until examina
ton is made touching the mineral character
of the land. The only lists of the Central
Pacific selections, pending in this Office are
as follows: Marysville, California, selected,
Oct. %, 1888, 16,104 acres. Sacramento,
California, selected, Jan. IA, 1884, 3,79S
acres. Salt Lake City, Utah, selected, Feb.
4, 1884, rs, 400 acres. The rule is, not to
patent any lands for five months after selec-
ton, so as to give time for possible claims to
appear of record, SO the said company has
no lists on which this office can
act. The only other lists upon
which action can be taken at the proper time.
five months from selection, are of the Union
Pacific lands in Nebraska 31S, 900 acres.
Large amounts have been selected by the
Kansas Pacific, the Northern Pacific, the
New Orleans Pacific and other companies,
but action ON the selections have been sus-
pended, because of the proposed legislation
by congress touching the grants. On the ex-
change of sections, so as to get the Central
Pacific lands in a compact form, a suggestion
which is mentioned favorably in one of said
papers, could not be made under the existing
laws, the grant being of alternate odd num-
bered sections only. Said papers are here
with returned. Respectfully,
s. HARRISON,
Acting Commissioner.
Through a Hole in the Ice.
o1 TaI 70 tba oho I