Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-21
.GENHRAL LAND OFFICE.
Annual Report of the Acting
Commissioner Submitted
to the President.
Last Years Cash Receipts
OF the Office Show a
Great Decrease.

WAsHrseFnN, September 19.-The an
nuaI report OF Acting Commissioner-Gen-
eral Of the Land Office VIM. NJ. Stone. has
been submitted TO the secretary OF the in
terior. In opening his report, Commits
sioner Stone refers to the accumulation OF
business in the Office which has been left
over from former administrations, and
which was partly due to increasing the
work of local land offices. The system in
force, he says, was not promotiye OF
speedy despatch OF business, especially il
tEs case Of the board OF review created by
0ommissioner Sparks, which he abolished
as hindsrance to quick work. Omitting
Mr.. Sparks unfortunate and unwarranted
suspicion that a widespread system offraud
prevailed. and Mr.. Sparks asserted that
the proportion of fraudulent filings to the
total number OF filings made and relin-
anished may be estimated in round num-
bers at 100 per cent. Mr.. Stone says:
'sThis wholesale arraignment OF claimants
on the public domain should not have been
made without the most conclusive evidence
W bu6GdAu Avs AhO AOpOAo 6SGC VI w soy
no general misconduct OF western set
tiers has been found. During the year
7O,14l agricultural patents were
issued covering 11,791, 1l9 acres, an in
crease over the previous year OF more than
three million acres. Mineral patents TO
the number Of 913, covering an acreage OF
II ,O96, were issued. There were patented
benefits to railroads under the law of 1885,
O46 acres, and under the swamp land
grants to states, 259, ,721 acres. State se-
lections under educational grants were ap-
proved to the extent OF 132, $50 acres and
lands to Indians patented under various
&C to the amount OF 159, 800. The total
cash receipts of the Office from sales
OF land and fees were 80 ,2SO, ,225, de-
crease of more than three million dollars
as compared with the previous year. Dur.
ing the year surveys were accepted to the
amount OF A, ,544, 372 acres, principally in
Dakota, Montana and New Mexico. Com.
missioner Stone calls attention to certain
allowance made to deputy surveyors by
the first comptroller Of the treasury in the
years 1857, which IN his opinion were
gross, irregular and palpable usurpa-
ton OF powers and duties specially
belonging to the commissioner OF the gen.
eral land Office. The report referred to the
unsettled condition of private land claims
in New Mexico and Arizona and the urgent
need OF congressional action to settle titles
in these territories. Referring to the act OF
March 3, 1889, which authorizes the secre.
tary Of the interior to adjust each OF the
railroad grants, and il any have
been enormously certified or patented
to commence proceedings to can.
eel them. The report states that
OF the pending sections, 21 ,66O, ,S46
acres have been suspended, awaiting action
by congress. Attention is calledto the fact
that more than 8O,0O0,OOO acres of land
have been claimed under the swamp land
act in various states. Florida alone while
having total acreage of but 81, ,931 $50
acres, is having lists filed for 20, ,221, ,469
acres as swamp land. There can be no
doubt. says the report, that large quanti-
ties of land amounting to millions OF acres
have been patented to the state errone-
ously as swamp land, when in fact they
were and are good agricultural lands.
The work OF examining mineral entries
10 said to be two aud hall years in arrears
The reports recommends when homestead
or pre-emption claimant receives patent.
and mineral is discovered subsequently on
his claim, his certificate OF entry shall act
az bar to any mining claim upon discov-
cry made subsequent to entry. The report
recommends repeal of all laws relating to
public timber and the enactment of q gen.
eral law. plain, concise and unmis-
taxable in meaning. Fewer frandu.
lent entries have been made
during the year than for many years past
owing to the increased vigilance but sew
eral cases are mentioned in the report
were syndicates sought to obtain coal
lands by fraudulent means, and in one
case had they succeeded the commission
alone would have amounted to $500, 900.
The openinog OF Oklahoma is referred to
as the most important event for several
years in the administration o: the land OF
fee. ....