Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-10-11
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Annual Report OF the Commissioner
General Of she Land Office for
the Past Fiscal Year.
The Lands Disposed of Urder the
Presumption Homestead and
Timber Culture Laws,

tIons Of that Office for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1884. The sales. en-
tries and selections of public lands EN-
braced 26. ss4 GAL acres; of Indian lands,
69Il2 acres; total, a55Sl,l70
year 1853 OF S lOi, is7 acres,
aud over the year 1852 OF Is, 2a2 .OOS
acres.
The receipts from the public lands
were Sll, $40 9D3 and from the Indisn
lands S03s. 49,, "A total NJ Sl2, 7Il $50, an
increase over 1883 of$l, 07S 1854 AMI an
increase over 1852 Of 81 3D2, $50. 10
which Ia to be- added $40, 255 received
for certified copies OF records, making
the total receipts for the year ST. 2S9,
405.
The total entries and filings
were 2S6,Sl2, aggregating i0,625 coo
acres, an increase over the preceding
year of 00,T24 acres,
The number OF entries approved for
patentiug under the pre-emptioM and
other laws was ca, 2T6, an increase over
the present year OF 642a. The agrieul-
tural patents numbered 515 1857, an in-
crease of $50 over the preceding year.
The number OF private cash entries
was 1884 and 5000 09j acres were sold
under the pro-elnphon law. The re-
ceipts from the cash sales were SiO,-
8O9 5s2, an average Of fraction over
81 80 per acre. his tracts Of land,
embracing 20, 600 acres, were sold at
public sale averaging $2.0i per acre.
The commissioner renews his
recommendation that the presumption
law be repealed and says that
Il Ia most important that the
homestead law be amended 80 rs TO
require proof OF actual residence aud
Improvement for two years before the
entry may be committed TO cash pay
ment. He recommends the repeal of
the timber culture act, the act provid-
ing that lands covered by relinquish-
ments be subject To entry on cancella-
ton at the local Office aud the desert
land law.
There were 1915 miles OF railroad
constructed during the year under
various giantE. The committee aug
gests that commission be appointed
TO examine and decide upon the un-
settled private land claims 10 New
Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. He
recommends the establishment OF
boundary line between Colorado and
Utah, and the survey of the boundary
between Dakota and Montana.
public lands have been reported, the
area Enclosed aggTegating 442i $50
acres. Twelve cases have been acted
upon and suits have been commenced
IN other cases. A very large number
of complaints remain to be investi-
gated for want of facilities The com
missioner SAYS that the portion OF the
public lands which Is still re-
naming should be economical for the
use OF actual settlers. An not resery-
ing the public lands, except the min
eral and timber reserves. for entry
under the hon eitead Law with an
Rmendn ent.to prevent evasion of the
restrictions would be mea IRE meet
ing this end In conclusion, the com
missioner points out the necessity for
the immediate ADOPTION OF some
MEASURES by which. The pub
lie forests will be preserved
at the head waters of important rivers
and In such other situations where
their preservation IL expedient for oli-
matte effect and other reasons. He
says that there Ia no good reason why
lands worth from S25 to 500 per acre
for the timber on them
should be sold for $225 TO $3.50
per acre as at present, and he f8yors
the withdrawal from sale or entry nn.
der the existing laws Of all distinct
lively timber lands In the United States
until an examination aud appraise-
ment can be made. After the eXnmi-
nation permanent timber reserves
should be established where deemed
advisable.
The remainder of the matter
OF chief Importance treated In
the report OF Mr.. Nimmo Is
the enormous magnitude OF our indus
trial commerce. IL Is shown that the
value of the products of the various
industries In the United States is
seven times the total value of our for
eign commerce, hree times the total
value Of our foreign commerce with
Great Britain, five times the total
value Of our foreign commerce with
France, including, In each case, both
imports and exports. The total value
Of The products of industry In the
United States Is also shown 10 be
little more than twice the total value
of the exports of merchandise from Ail
the Countries In Europe. The United
States is now the largest msnuiActur-
ing country on the globe The value
of products manufactured and con-
summed at home IL Ave times the
Value Of the manufactured pro-
ducts of Great Britain and Ireland
exported 10 ali other countries aud
fourteen times the value If the exports
OF manu- ctured ducts from france
10 the 9th -.dntries. The rel alive
valne OF international ss compared
with foreign commerce 10 alan illus
trated by statements showing
that 90 per cent OF the coal mined Ia
this country. 05 per cent. OF our iron
and steel products, D5 per cent. 81 the
products Of our leather industry, mere
than 30 per cent. ofour manufactured
wool, print products and cotton man
ufactures, ID per cent. Of our manu-
features OF silt and ~ per cent.
OF our manufacture Of glass, glass
ware, earthenware aud atoneware are
consumed In the United States. The
report shows that the total value of
exDOrt merchandise from and lmDoffs