The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-12
TIE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Operations of the Land Office for One Year
Suggestions of the Commissioner

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE Commissioner of
the General Land Office has submitted his re-
port of the operations of the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1884 The sales entries and selections
of public lands embraced &c, 1874, O41 acres, and
of Indian lands, 697 129 acres; total, 27531, 10
acres, an increase over the year 1883 of 8l01 1877
acres, and over 1882 of H. 222 COB acres. The re
ceipts from disposals of public lands were $ll
S4O,993; from Indian lands, 1898, 1877; total, $l2
719, 130, an increase over 1888 of 81 073 1854 and
an increase over 1882 of 81, 1892, 750 to which is
to be added $l0275 received for certified copies
of records making the total receipts for the year
81, 189, 4O5. The total number of entries and
filings was 286 912, aggregating 40 625 900 acres
an increase over the preceding year of 6O,724
The number of entries approved for
patenting under presumption and other
laws was 60,276, an increase over the previous
year of 6,429. The agricultural patents num-
berd 81, 1877, an increase of 855 over the preced-
ing year. The number of private cash entries
was 8, 1914, and 8 206, 095 acres were sold under
the pre- emption law an increase of 920, 385 acres
over the preceding year. The receipts from
cash sales were $40 302 582, an average of frac
ton over $l.32 per acre. Three thousand one
hundred and eighteen tracts of land, embracing
200, OO2 acres, were sold at public sale, at av-
erage of 81 "a per acre.
The Commissioner renews his recommendation
that the presumption law be repealed, and con
sders it most important that the homestead law
be amended so as to require proof of actual resi-
dence and improvement for two years before
homestead entry may be committed to cash pay
ment. He recommends repeal of the
timber culture act, and of the act
providing that lands covered by Accomplishments
shall be subject to entry Immediately upon can
collation. at the local office; he also recommends
law md 1lapa md ctO
land act.
There were 1,076 miles of railroad constructed
during the year under various grants. The
Commissioner suggests that commission be APP
pointed to examine and decide upon unsettled
private land claims in New Mexico, Colorado and
Arizona, and recommends reestablishment of
the boundary line between Colorado and Utah,
and survey of the boundary line between Da-
kota and Montana and the Yellowstone Park.
Thirty-two cases of illegal fencing of public
lands have been reported the area inclosed
aggregating 4, 431, $50 acres. Twelve cases have
been acted upon, and suits are recommended to
compel removal of fences A very large number
OF complaints remain uninvestigated for want OF
facilities. The commissioner says that the portion
OF public lands remaining should be economical
for the use of actual settlers only. An act re-
serving public lands, except mineral and timber
reserves, for entry under the homestead law,
with amendments to prevent evasion of wise re
strlct1ons, would be a measure meeting this end
In conclusion the Commissioner points out the
necessity for the immediate adoption 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 their preservation is expedent
for climatic effect and other reasons of utility.
He says there is no good reason why lands
worth from $25 to 800 per acre for timber
should be sold for 81 % and 81 so per acre. as at
present and he favors withdrawal from sale or
entry, under existing laws, of all distinctively
timber lands of the United States until examna
ton and appraisement can be made After ex-
animation, permanent timber reserves should
be established where deemed desirable, and
provision made for their sale at not less than the
appraised Value