, 1888-12-06
INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
Report of Secretary Villas to the
President.
Condition of the Indians Near
Here and Public Lands.
Interesting Statistics on Strikes and Lock
outs, Labor Matters, Educa-
tiOn and Pensions.


tion and Pensions.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.--Following Is q
synopsis of tho report of the secretary of the
interior presented to-day to the president
and by him transmitted to congress:
The complete and elaborate report Of
the commissioner of the general land office
exhibits the work accomplished in that
bureau during the year and the present
state of affairs, and | shall extract its gen.
eral features of information with view
to calling attention to some points in re-
spect to which Legislative action may ap.
pear desirable.
Patents we're issued during du the past yea,
TO the number of AZ, 180 for agricultural
lands covering an area estimated to ex-
ceed $4,000, 900 acres, an increase OF 22,-
622 patents over the number issued dur
ing the preceding year, with a greater
acreage by more than 100000. One
thousand and thirty.four mineral patents
and 144 coal.land patents, the latter for
15,9SS.72 acres were issued. OF railroad
lands there were patented or certified
act title passed to states for 6,515.l9
acres; and under other internal improve
ment and educational grauts to various
states 99, ,205 Az acres were conveyed. On
miscellaneous claims, embracing private
land claims, donations, Indian severalty
grants, and scrip locations, patents issued
covering 26,402.51 acres, making the
aggregate quantity of land for which title
was passed during the year, in part reck.
oned and estimated in part, S,605, ,l9420
acres.
CHANGE RECOMMENDED.
The receipts from the disposal of public
lands were S12, 70l, 072; from the sales OF
Indian lands 1891. .l13.77; a total of Sl3,-
522,1s5. n. No other year since 1886 has
furnished 80 large receipts from the public
lands.
The most pressing information exhibit
ed in this report relates to the accumulat-
ed business of the land Office. The COM
missioner states that thorough examina-
tion has been made of the unfinished busi-
ness in his office, and that the results pre-
sented may be accepted as accurate. sThis
information carries heavy reproach
. for action which shall relieve the condi-
tion exhibited.
Some efficacious changes of method
ought to be devised and put in operation
at the earliest practicable day to afford to
the public the relief to which they are en-
titled from their government. The COM
missioner recommends an increase Of the
force of his office, natural suggestion,
But, although venture it with diffidence,
because of the limited opportunity afforded
me for study Of the subject, ii Is my opin-
ion that thorough and radical reorgani-
zation of the land office ought to be the
first step taken, accompanied 10y provis-
ion of quarters suitable to the performance
of the work. Neither an increase of force
nor reorganization Of the bureau can be
made with much increase of efficiency
n. Ix.l.. - l. al. IL, Il xval-
luminous papers are huddled and crowded
in the unsatisfactory apartments now oc.
cupied by the land Office.
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
In regard to railroad land grants the
secretary saws that there are many .embar-
RAISING instances of litigation by the con-
ficting claims between companies under
the same or different grants the limits of
whose roads overlap and conflict. Many
cases of this kind are In existence. Two
may be mentioned: The conflicting limits
of the grant to tho Atlantic q Pacific
Railroad Company and of that to the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company cover
u distance of about 200 miles, involving a
very large amount of land, which being
divided into six different classes presents
as many different questions of grave inn
portance; and this situation has been fur
ther complicated by the forfeiture of a
portion Of the grant TO the Atlantic IL
Pacific Railroad Company under the act
Of July g.. 1885. raising new questions
touching the respective rights Of the
under the forfeiting act. There Is little
probability of any settlement Of most of
these points being arrived at except
through the fundamentally of the courts
remote day, even this day of Judgment.
NORTHERN PACIFIC CLAIMS.
kindred difficulty exists in relation to
the Northern Pacific graft, in addition to
the fact that vast areas along it's line ure
unsurveyed. and will so remain until con.
Qress provides the means for SURVEYS. But
in Minnesota, where the lands are sur.
veyed. the limits OF the grant to the North.
ern Pacific Railroad Company conflic,
with those of the Saint Vincent Extension
of the grant now owned by the St. Paul
Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Com.
pany, involving an area of, approximately
100000 acres. Litigation is pending be.
tween the two companies to determine
their respective rights to the land in con.
Aict. The Northern Pacific Railroad
Company claims under its charter the
along its line of over 1000 miles for lands
lost at any point; that il there be deficiency
in Minnesota, the right of selection tc
make the loss good attaches to all indem-
nifty lands from Wisconsin to Puget
Sound, regardless of the political divisions
Of states and territories. Moreover, above
225 miles of the general route as fixed
by the Northern Pacific railroad remain
unconstructed in Washington territory,
the lands opposite TO which unconstructed
portion are yet in reservation because Of
the statutory mandate in the granting act
Along this hiatus or gap the company
claims the lands by virtue OF its grant,
and also the right to select lieu lands fol