The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-09
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.


wAsHfSsros. Oct k-S II. SsaeSS,sr4r
fsssss missioner ot tAe general iAnsi osisce.
has sssosai;sess 70 The secretary of the inse-
ritr hts rey1srz fur The a<ral vesy es,si.-.s
JaBe ~, l>ss- The axares sAeWlsr ne
assauut Of laHds covered by aex eafrseS
during the year. and the grpss cash reccipts
have aLrSsay been nasse public The NJ
F<Tt saSas thai during the year S,egh, ,Aas
acres eS land have ecea ear ed from The
gtlFeraisleni. sithcr b patent OF BY ccrslfi-
eassea unses 50 cifc gFaasS Setsiied
tassatsr statement sboEs the number ~
patents os each class Issued hy ilas states
aud territories. fTosn which II appears that
<s-lsa T.ateazS have been issued during TIE
year, llAkots Fecesvea tie largest aam5ef,
fn-t1>s auo AsDSas the next. S.94l fh1s
sfszef0eay coss not include mineral pat
eats. ef which iu<d were issued Lands
we're certified Je the several states under
tbs swamp grant % the amount of gs.siA
acres. aud under school sections, - ste
asnss.
After showing in detail the eaaveyancsS
ef tile 10 r1tlic lands. the commissioner
calls attention. 10 fae accumulation ii
wSrk in MS ofice undiSposed Of July 1
there Uerc Peasiing and GapG,eEied ~. is
anal entries and S0a5S tsrisipaf sutrie,
Awaiting nnal paasf. The number oi
original entries mAsie during she year wsS
79.ss5. and E0Sl proof wss made on %. DOS
1aisrts1 seiefslon-. aSgrcgailug 49, : Is
afFe<. cSa5ltr selections to thr a8aouni ~
s,I-s's acres aii1 educational and internal
Improvements selections aggregatins l.
SS.e03 acFeS are also pending
statement 81 the isadS restored 10 the
PGhiie domain during tsis administration
y brought eOwa to the close 81 lac fiscal
year. and eaonS "A total OF S-li5S.9Ja acres
restored An.s g Nv, 49, acres recommended
for esiGraiian.
surveys 81 @@,9le-Si2 acres were accepted
after careful exaniaatiou IA the field by
asrais oi the land ofice. Il j. stated TIA.
4 : impossible 70 o-tsiH hiGS Tor survey
IT iaatis 81 the established rates, and an la
efsase OF rate i urged. An urgent recaul-
Hienuahou : also made Tor an apprOPri
afion OF xsso.oeo 10 carry on the work Of
surveying tue paeiie domain.
That part 81 the report devoted to rail
READS Is largely takea up ia showing the
condition oi the work OF adjustment nader
tie art Of March 3 fSs7. Toe aecis on Of
Secretary Was in the Guilfard- Miller case
Is Referred -, aud il Is stated there are
-sRj similEr rases pending IN the iaad Of
Zee aud that lands ia the Indemnity claims
OF the Northern Pacific, Atlantic Pacific.
southern Pacific. California & Oregon and
oreEvn n California roads, 10 the extent
of E.sfe.V0 acres, are affected by said
decision. Tne report says that 81 .. ~, SO
acscs Of land eoYered by selections pend.
Ing ., tire elese Uf the fiscal year u .ssa. $50
aefvs were selected by railroad companies
whese roads were aot completed IN the
. :.
Forfeiture vf all lands co;e.ainous with
those parts Of the respective roads which
Wers uBc0mplejed az the expiration OF
time limited for their construction is zee
commended.
Time Of agents employed TO investigate
fraudulent entries has been principally
cecuPicd in the lavesiisati0u OF sfouis or
clusters Of entries illegally made In the iu-
terest OF single individuals or OF syndi-
Gates aud corporations who desire 10 obtain
title 10 large bodies OF land These entries
afc seid 70 be most Of them OF several
wears standing. and 1t i asserted that this
class ai frauds has been slightly checked.
That part of the report which refers TO the
work Of special agents is followed aud
suppl. me ntel by reports from 81 OF the
local oiifcia ia all parts of the West,
called for by the commissioner Jane 6.
ises. These reports are almost unanimous
Ia feprest nting n decrease in attempts TO
Improperly acquire the public domain.
Attention /. called 10 the fact thaf no
authority OF law exists for compelling the
Attendance oi witnesses 10 testify In hear
ings had IA behalf OF the government OF
in contest cas- in proceedings before
registers and receivers to ascertain whether
entries are legal or whether law has been
complied with. Congress Is urged 10 sup
ply some legislation on fhe subject, Legis.
istion Il recommended for the purpose OF
making ths practice uniform as 10 officers
Who may take final proof IN pre-emption
and homestead cases.
The pcudi1g public lands bill. commonly
known rs the Holman hlli, Is endorsed 10y
the commissioner. The commissioner re-
commend reorganization OF the bureau hy
act of congress, 50 rs 10 provide for al Of
tae Necessary divisions by Law aud 80 as 10
proyi4e compensation for ciiiciass 20 the
bureau commensurate with the class SET
vice rfnGtsfsst