The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-10-11
Land Omce Renort.

WAsHINGToN, October 10.-The Com
missioner of the general land office has
submitted a report OF the operations for
the fiscal year ended June 3Oth, 1884.
The sales. entries and selections OF pub
lie land embraced 26,834,0H acres; In
dian lands, 697, 129 acres. total, 27,531,-
ITO acres, an increase over the year
1888 of 9, 101.137 acres, and over the
year 1882 of Ia, %, COB acres. Receipts
from the diSposal5 of public lands, SILL
$40 1888; from Indian lands, $938, l37.
Total, $f2, 779, 100; an increase over 1888
OF 81 ,073 ,3j4; an increase over 1882 OF
81, 1872, $50; to which is to be added $10,-
275, received for certified copies OF re-
cords. making the total receipts for the
year $12,769, 4G5.
The Commissioner TeneWs his recon-
mendatiOn that the presumption law be
repealed, and deems it important
that the homestead laws be amended,
so aS to require proof of actual
residence and Improvement for
two years before a homestead entry
may be committed to cash payment.
He recommends the repeal of the tim
Der culture act; the act providing that
lands covered by Accomplishments shall
be subject to entry Immediately on can
collation. az the land office, the deSeret
land law and timber and stone land
act.
There were !, org miles OF railroad con-
structed during the year under various
grants. The Commissioner suggests that
a commission be appointed 10 examine
and decide upon unsettled private Rand
claims in New Mexico, Colorado and
Arizona, and recommends the re-eStab-
lishment of the boundary line between
Colorado and Utah and a survey OF the
boundary line betweed Dakota and
Montana and the Yellowstone Park.
Thirtv-two cases of illegal fencing of
public lands have been reported, the
area enclosed aggCegating 443,980 acres.
! Twelve cases have been acted upon and
suits recommended to compel the re-
mOyal of the fences. A very large num-
| Der ofcomplaints remain uninVestlgated
! for want of facilities. The Commits
siOner says that q portion OF the public
! lands still remaining should be econo-
mized for the use of settlers. An act re-
serving public lands. except mineral
and timber reserves, for entry under the
| homestead law, with amendments, to
! prevent the invasion OF its wise
restrictions, would be 4 measure meet
| ing this end. In conclusion, the Com
missioner points out the necessity for
the immediate adoption of some mea-
sure by which natural forests may be
preserved at the head waters of import
ant rivers and their Tributaries, and in
such other situations where their pre-
! servation is expedient for climatic effect
and other reasons of utility.
He says there Is no good reason
why lands worth from $50 TO
| $100 per acre for timber should be
! sold for 25ctS. and $3.50 per acre as al
! present, and he favors the withdrawal
! from alep0r entry under existing laws
of all distinctively timber lands OF the
| United States, until an examination and
appraisement can be made. After the
examination permanent timber reserves
should be established where deemed de-
sirable, and provisions made for theil
sale, at not less than the appraised value
/ of the remainder.