The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-01
TPE OFFICIAL BRAKES.
commissionar Sparks Puts Them on so
Stop Fraudulent Surveys OF Publ e Lands
Land Entries the Past Year.


Land Entries the Past Year.
WASHINGTON, September 23--It wa
stated at the Land Office to-day that tie
action taken some time ago by Commits
sioner Sparks, reyoking certain alleged Il.
legal contracts for surveys of public lands
under what is known as the deposit system
and in suspending accounts under similar
contracts because of various Irregularities,
and for the purpose of ascertaining by field
examinations whether the surveys had been
properly or actually executed, brought to tie
front the Bank of Nevada and other banks
in San Francisco as parties claiming inter-
est in the accounts by virtue Of loans made
10 surveying contractors, and representa-
tiYes of the banks are now here urging pa
ments OF such accounts to protect them
selves against tile loss. The Commissioner
does not recognize the banks as having any
legal or equitable claims against the Gov
eminent or right to intervene between ac-
counting officers of the Land Department
and their duties. If banks loaned money
TO surveying contractors, this was purely
a matter of private business, and the
banks should hook TO Their borrowers for
payment. No loans have been made
10 the United States nor had the Govern
ment incurred any obligations to these
financial institutions. The annual apprO-
pria.ions by Congress for surveying public
lands were from $500, 600 TO $4,000 In
addition to this the Jaw allowed individuals
to make deposits which were credited 10
the surveying fund and constituted add
tiOnal appropriations. The Land Office re-
ports showed some S6,000,000 TO be de-
posted since 1879. The law only author
ICES deposits made by settlers. The fact
appears that they are made only by capital
lists. 1t has been alleged that a bureau
has been maintained in San Francisco which
acted as Intermediary between deputies and
SURVEYORS general, the business of which
was to supply the deficiency in field notes
and assist in the preparation and adjust
meHt of accounts with the General Land
Office. One of the contracts revoked by
the Commissioner was of an original eSti-
mated liability of $4,000. The Land Office
accounts show that about $50, 900 has al
ready been paid out under this contract and
the bank claims nearly $4,000 more still
due. The Commissioner refused to accept
returns amounting to $4,000 for work
alleged to have been performed under this
contract on the ground that the essential
piled with. the bond of the deputy not hav-
ing been filed and no deposits made to pay
for surveys, and further that the amount
charged was in excess of legal rates. II is
the opinion of the Commissioner that the
practice of San Francisco banks in adj
vancng money on surveying contracts,
which has grown up within ten years and
extended so as to include contracts in vGri-
Dus States and Territories, and which are
now urged as equitable consideration, can
not he regarded as IN the interest of the
public service He SAYS: 1T led the sur
VeyOrS returning surveys uninhabted,
mountainous and desert regions. to aug
mented rates and extravagant expenditures,
to loose and irregular methods of contract
ing and surveying, to prOdigal issues OF de-
post certificates, to premature survey of
valuable timber and agricultural lands,
followed by their appropriation through
fraudulent entries by rich syndicateS and
large,eOrpoTations and to the exclusion of
actual settlers from lands OStenSibly sur
veyed for their benefit but Immediately
taken up by speculative combinations con-
nected with or closely allied to surveying
operations. 1t tended also to do away with
the wholesome supervision and restraint
which the law requires tie Land Depart
With q shield of powerful syndicates and
mOneyed corporations interpOSed between
them and the Government they felt indie
pendent of the Land Office and became ac
custOmed to look upon it as if it We're a
machine to settle accounts without regard
to their accuracy or justice. Many OF the
accounts are now presented for extra COM
penSatiOn for reSurveyS which can not be
allowed because IN violation of instructions
which prescribed minimum rates and which
instructions are part of the contracts"
Reports reached the Land Office of extern
Sive frauds in surveys in regions covered ny
these contracts. which the Commissioner
has not yet had time with the agencies at
his command to thoroughly investigate,
and delay is unavoidable until examinations
can be made. The amount of the alleged
dues on surveying contracts claimed by the
Bank of Nevada is about S250,000.
WASHINGTON, September 23.-Commis-
sionec Sparks of the Land Once has Ere
pared a statement of the GiSposals of pab-
lie laEdS and receipts therefrOm during the
fiscal year ended jane 80, 1855, from which
it appears that the dSposalS in acres was rs
follows: Alabama, 270,9O1.62; Arizona,
27S, 174.TS; Arkansas, 244, 5S2.90; CaifeF-
mia, l,2y5, 9O9.03; Colorado, G2,6l1.Gl;
Dakota, 4,5i7, 1871; Florida. 2S2 515.55;
Idaho 2S4, 903.O4; Iowa, 1863. SO; KanSaS,
$3.50, 0AS.6O; Louisiana, 1S1.O436O; MiclE-
gan, S9,5ll.23; Minnesota, 624,319.49; Mis-
sissippt llllQ00.03; Missouri, 29l, 277.33;
Montana. 14Il2, t4057; Nebraska, 3,69S,
SSl.7G; Nevada, III, 1904; New Mex
leo, IG3.9SI.57; Oregon, 7SS,2S719:,
Utah, IS4S5362; Washington Territory,
LOG, 1IZ76; Wisconsin. ,, 1S4, 36O92: Wyo-
l. tpt al Of fri
226, 3S2; total number of acres. 2O,l13.-
663.3S; total value, S7,6S6, 1l4.S0. The
number CT original homestead entries was
%, 066, including 3,032679 acres. The num-
Der of original timber culture entries was
SO, 99S, ineNding 5,775, 005 acres. The num-
Der OF final timber culture entries was 80,
including &C. 800 acres. The total number
OF acres taken under railroad selections was
3.55S,914, made up as follows: Alabama,
So, 1875; AriDOna, 133.0j2: California, $40,
AS; COlOraGl, II, 252; Dakeis, 790,693:
Iowa, 6.0l4; Kansas .I95, O46; Louisiana, 49,
sSS7; Minnesota l0S,31I; Montana, 7g3 $50;
Nebraska, LIS, O39: Nevada, 60612: Ore
ggsn, 245, $50; Utah, Il, 1913; Washington
territory, 535.2EG; Wisconsin. 51.Si9. The
gsSnd total of s5ispOSaiS of lands go, 113,
663 acres incHdeS SS1.S50 sores 9 Indian
lsn6S. This ii aH1ecrease in the Rnmber of
acres disposed e as compared with the
year 1884 of 65c5. csc, bat as compared
with the year 1889 it san decrease ct GS3,-
$50 ceres FrOs2 sales of Indian lands
S93S6S3 was realized. making the total
receipts from all sales of lands ST,6Se, liza,
a decrease as compared with the receipts
during 1854 of 81. I525S2 and as comRred
with.gle year 1885, of S3,OS6, 1f7.
The E1oberly Strikers.
SEREECsON CITY, Nc. September 23.-