The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-11-06
PUBLIC LANDS.
Report OF the Commissioner Of
the General Land Office.

The Commissioner Of the General Land
Office, says Washington dispatch, has
submitted his report of the operations Of
the Office for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1884. The sales, entries, and selections OF
public lands embraced &c, ,S34.O acres;
Indian lands, G97, ,129 acres total, "a 3d.
10 acres-an increase over the year 1883 Of
8,1Ol, ,l37 acres, and over 1882 Of ID, 222, ,O03
acres. The receipts from the disposals Of
public lands were S11 $40, ,a93: from Indian
lands, 1898, 1877; total. S12,779, ,100-an in
crease over 1883 Of 81 ,O73, 1854. and an in
crease over 1882 Of 1892. $50, to which is
to be added $l0.275 received for certified
copies Of records making the total receipts
for the year $l2,7S9, ,4O5.
The total number Of entries and filings
was 2S6,Sl aggregating 4a,625 900 acres,
an increase over the preceding year Of
60,724. The number Of entries approved
for patenting under the pre-emption and
other laws was 6o,276, an increase over the
previous year of 6,429. The agricultural
patents numbered 81 ,337, an increase of 855
over the preceding year. The number OF
private cash entries was 1854 and 3,206,-
O95 acres were sold under the pre- -emption
law, an increase Of 92n.3s5 acres over the
preceding year. The receipts from cash
edlcS were SlU,OHS, I'LL HNeTdRc
Of over Sl.32 per acre; 3d. 118 tracts of land,
embracing 200, OO2 acres. were sold mt pub
lie sale at an average of - 81 per acre.
The Commissioner renews his recon-
mendation that the pre- -emption law be re-
pealed, and deems it important that the
homestead law be amended 50 as to require
proof of actual residence and improvement
for two years, before homestead entry
may be committed to cash payment. He
recommends the repeal Of the timber cult
ure act, the act providing that lands covered
by accomplishments shall be subject to entry
immediately upon cancellation at the local
office, the desert land law and the timber
and stone land act.
There were 1,O76 miles of railroad con-
structed during the year under the various
grants. The Commissioner suggests that Il
commission be appointed to examine and
decide upon unsettled private land claims
in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. and
recommends the re-establshment Of the
boundary line between Colorado and Utah,
and the survey Of the boundary line be-
tween Dakota and Montana and in Yellow
stone Park.
Thirty-two cases Of illegal fencing of
public lands have have been reported. the
area inclosed aggregating 4,43l $50 acres.
WctsS SsiSt5 iluNc pccu uClcu upOu duu
suits recommended to compel the removal
Of the fences. very large number of
complaints remain uninyestigated for want
of facilities. The Commissioner says that
the portion of the public lands still remain
ing should be economized for the use oi
actual settlers only. An act reserving the
public lands av"ant mineral aud timber
reserves, for entry under the homestead
law. with amendments to prevent evasion
Of its wise restrictions, would be a measure
meeting this end.
In conclusion, the Commissioner points
ont the necessity for the immediate adop-
ton Of some measure by which the natural
forests may be preserved at the headwaters
of important rivers and their tributaries,
and in such other situations where theil
preservation is expedient for climatic
| effect and other good reasons of utility. HI
| says there is no good reason why land:
worth from S25 to 800 per acre
for timber should be sold for $l.25 and
| -. SO per acre as Mt present, and he favors
| the withdrawal from sale or entry, under
existing laws of NIL distinctively timber land,
| Of the United States, until examination and
appnisement can be made. After examina.
| ton permanent timber reserves should be
established where deemed desirable, ani
provision made for the sale at not less thar
the appraised value Of the remainder.