The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-16
PUBLIC LANDS.
Important and Interesting Report of the
Commissioner of the Land Office.

Important and Interesting Report of the
Commissioner of the Land Office.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The com.
missioner of the general landoffice has
submitted report of operations OF
the Office for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1884.
The sales, entries and selections of
public lands embraced 26,S34,O acres:
of Indian lands, 697 ,129 acres; total,
27 ,53l, ITO acres, an increase over the
year 1883 of S,101, 1877 acres, and over
1882 of 1929 ,OO3 acres.
The receipts from disposals of pub
lie lands were $11 ,840, 1893; from Indian
lands, $685., 1877, making total of S12,-
779,130. an increase over 1883 of
392, $50; to which is to be added $10,-
records, making the total receipts of
the year $12,7S9, ,405.
Total number of entries and filing,
286yS12; aggregating 40,625,O 900 acres
an increase over the preceding year
of 60,f24. Number of entries APPROX
ed for patenting under pre-empt1on
and other laws, 6,027, ,6OO-an increase
over previous year 6,429.
The agricultural patents numbered
81, ,337-an increase of 855 over pre-
ceding year. Number private cash
entries, 1884, and 3,206,095 acres were
sold under the pre-emption laws-an
increase of 920, ,3S5 acres over the pre-
ceding year.
Receipts from cash sales, $10,302,-
582. 3,11S tracts of land, embracing
100000 acres, were sold at public sale
on an average of 1924 per acre.
The commissioner reneWS his recon-
mendation that the pre-emption law
be repealed and thinks it is most
important that the homestead
law be amended so as to
require proof of actual residence and
improvements for two years before
homestead entry may be committed
to cash payment. He recommends
the repeal of the timber culture act,
the act providing that lands covered
by relinquiShments shall be subject
to entry Immediately upon cancella-
ton at the local office; the desert land
law and the timber and stone land act.
There were 1916 miles of railroad con-
structed during the year under various
grants. The commissioner suggests
that commission be appointed to
examine and decide upon unsettled
private land claims in New Mexico,
Colorado and Arizona, and recon-
mends the establishment of the
boundary line between Colorado and
Utah, and the survey of the boundary
line between Dakota and Montana,
and Yellowstone park.
One hundred and thirty-two cases
of illegal fencing of public lands have
been reported, the area enclosed aggre-
eating 4,431, $3.50 acres. Twelve cases
have been acted upon, and suits rec
commended to compel the removal of
fences.
A very large number of complaints
remain uninvestigated for want of IA
cilities.
The commissioner says that the por-
ton of the public lands still remain
Ing should be economical for the use
of actual settlers only. An act reserv-
ing public lands, except the mineral
and timber reserves, for entry under
the homestead law, with an amend
ment TO prevent evasion of it's wise re-
Strictions, would be a measure meet
ing this end.
LII
points out the necessity for the imme.
diate adoption of measure by which
the natural forests may be preserved
at the head waters of important rivers
and their tributaries, and in such 9TH
er situations where their preservation
is expedient for climatic effect and
other reasons of utility. He says
there is no good reason why lands
Ill
for timber should be sold for 81 2o and
$1.50 per acre, as at. present, and he
favors the withdrawal from sale or
entry under existing laws all distinct
lively timber lands, in the United
States until examination and appraise-
ment can be made. After eXamina-
tion permanent timber reserves should
be ESTABLISHED, where deemed desira-
lie, and provision made for the sale,
at not less than the appraised value,
of the remainder,