West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-10-18
LAND owlcn nrrour,

Tho report Of S. NJ. stockslager Commits
sioner OF tho United States Gonerat
Land O0lco, has just been inadopubllc and It
shows that during the year s,6Oj, l0l acres OF
land have been conveyed from tho Govern
mcnt, either by patent sor by certiGcationr
under sFeeifc grants. Tho number Of pat
onts issued was 81, 80 not including mineral
patentBTOf which 1871 wefe issued Lands
were patented on certified 90 railroad com
paniCs % the amount Of ~, 'G3 ncrca in the
states sot Arknneag, lown, Wisconsin. and
Minnesota. Lands wero certified 10 the sey-
eral. States under the Swamp grant TO the
amount OF q5.5l5 acres. aud under school
selections 81 3J5 acres The number Of orig
inul entries made during tho year was a.
eJl, and final proof was made on tu,4Os
Down to tho close of iho fscal year s3, l5Ab3J
acres were restored 20 the pubic domain, and
O. 5O2),3,6 acres Tocommcnded for restoro-.
ton
Urgent recommendation Is male FOR an
appropriation OF E5I1.OOD, which Is an in.
crease Of $3.50 000 over the present nppropror
tion, % carry on tho work OF surveying the
public domain.
Tho iofort says "Stryoyor Generals"
scrip has issued on claims in Louisiana 90
the amount Of POS acres. These are claims
for indemnity by reason OF faiufo in obtain
ing title % tle fuii amount Of tlg original
grants. An amendment of the at which
provides for tho issuing of ths.serip rs rec
fIlut Nltuf 80 Nh 20 NiDhliih Abf NH iA1 Hicilb
Or si.25 iu money fof cuch Hcra of the ori-
ginal grant which i8 lo-t o. thc grantee or
hla heirs o. assignee instee1 of Issuing Ger
tilCQtos cmitiuR Tire clninaHt 10 'lCcate'
on equivalent nWOuut ol land eiaaWhero.
Tho principal fengon given for this rc ON
incubation is that &c Is now the policy Of tho
Government 60 retain ths pubic lenis for
or.1Hi settcrs
Tie report sass Tint 0f tie a5,A91, ,8GG ocros
of land cover. d ly selections pending nt tho
Gloss of the fiscal year ~ COO ~ ncre5 weIn
ge.c0ied by raiiIopd cOmp1uIe5 Wuose roads
were rot completed in The tm' required ~
their respective grants Iho forfeiture ot
OH lnnGs 700 rmngu7 with iho parts OF tho
respective rolds HUich Wart untomplftrl 90
bis expiration of tho time limited ior their
cons rrct0n T. fco0mmcUd ad.
1he zine ~ fho sDgcaI % aTcutl employed 10
investigate fraudulent entries has Iccu priu-
opqliy occupied in che inH ostIgafl0u Of groHps
Or clusters of entries iile ally mais in thc In.
trlst OF single individuals or OF sgbdit8toy
inrgo bodies ~ land Ibcsn eutfi ar8 aHid
O. he. most Cf them oi avcral ycnrs t1nding
and it .s .rfo.l tsat tbi3 class Of frauds has
loon largely cHorked.
Tho ptudiuZ puhic lands bin. commonly
known us tho Holman billy is on9or od by
thc lomm .oner 10 wopo.e ihe rcpc7l Of
tie srre rnpuo1, timber cn.0re ani COM
nuied homestead inra
ctomui .i0Ier ril.a To 0' aiteuto o.
fno ugdn.ufry of ths clerical force lu 81 p
oNo. and to fin mood 0I nIdltJu0i O.iIc1
fC0na Whieh, he l0ya. greatly ics1ogs tho
cH.sry OF lbe forcc allowed h.w et present.
Ic recommends thc feurgnnZat0u oi t1e
l0r fll ~ Hla ucccs.Hry divisions nY law. q
fooe io pfof.d compensation Tor tue oiIciuls
of the bUrcru commemorate with Csc ci2ss OF
strVlcesfenderod