Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-10-18

Annual Report Of Commissioner stockslager,
Of the General Land 0fiice.

WASHINGTON, Oct. rs. NJ. Stock
Slayer, commissioner OF the general
land office, has submitted to the sec-
retary OF the interior his report forthe
fiscal year ended June 30 1883. The
figures showing the amount of lands
covered by new entries during theyea
and the gross cash receipts have al
ready been made public. The report
shows:
During the year 5000, 1874 aeres Of
land have been conveyed from the
government, either by patent or by
cert liicat,on under specific grants. \
detailed tabular statement shows The
number Of patents of each class ISSUED,
10y states and territories, from which
it appears that ~ 80 patents have
been issued during the year. Dakota
received the largest number. 1864,
and Kansas next. S,1I4. This state
ment does not include mineral pat
ents. 81 which ,O3I were issued.
Lands were patented or certified to
railroad companies TO the amount of
S2!', 1862 acres in the states OF Arkan-
sa-, Iowa. Wisconsin and Minnesota.
NtFt DN lnt stNtT;tl
states under the swamp grant tn the
amount of W,5l5 acres. and under
school selections 99, ,2O5 acres. After
showing in detail the conveyance OF
title to the public lands, the commits
siOner calls attention to the accumu-
lat ion OF work in his office, undispOsed
OF. July ! there were pending and un-
patented 23S, 80 final entries and
I = = nj ont
proof. The number of original entries
made during the year was az, s54 and
the final proof was made on 7O,46S.
Railroad selections aggregating 20
429 S66 acres, swamp select ions to he
amount of Isl ,S57 acres, and educa-
tional and internal Improvement Sc
lectiOns agsr,gating | $50, 900 acres,
were also pending. The statement OF
lands restored to the public domain
during this administ ration is brought
down To the close of the fiscal year
and shows "a total OF ~, / -. $50 acres
rest ored and ~, 900, 3:;S acres recon-
mended fOr restoration. Surveys Of
2.3l2.3l2 acres We're accept ed, after
n careful examination in the field by
| { he agents Of the land office 1t is
stated that IT is impossible to obtain
bids for the surveying Of lands at cs-
tablished rates, and an increase Oi
rates is urged. Urgent recommenda-
tiOn Is also made for an appropria-
tion OF S:HO,WW to carry on the work
of surveying the public domain. The
commissioner discusses at some length
he necessity for extending the public
surveys. The de,ision OF Secretary
Villas i'm the GuilfOrd- Miller case is re
ferred to, and it is stated that there
are 1000 similar cases pending in the
land office; and lands in the indem-
nifty limits Of the Northern Pacific, the
Atlantic x Pacific. the southern Pa
ciiic, the California * Oregon and the
Oregon Il California roads, to the ex-
tent Of IL $50 600 acres, are affected
by said decision. The report saws that
Of the %, i23. S66 acres of land COW
cred by selections pending at the close
OF the fiscal year, ~ $3.50. SAG acres
were selected by railroad companies
whose roads We're not completed in
the time required by their respective
grants. The forfeiture OF all lands
cOterminous with those parts of the
respective roads which were uncom-
pleted AT the expiration Of the time
limited for their const ruct ion il recon-
mended. Attention is called to the
fact that no authority OF law exists
for compelling the attendance of wit
nesss- to testify in hearings had on he
hall OF the government or in contest
cases, IN proceedings before registers
and receivers, to ascertain whei her
entries are legal or whet her the law
has been complied with. Congress l.
urged TO supply some legi>lati ion on he
subject. legislation l. recommended