The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-20
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Points from the Annual Report Of the General
Land Office Commissioners.

Points from the Annual Report of the General
Land Office Commissioners.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-The annual re-
port of the acting Commissioner of the Gen.
eral Land Office, NJ. NJ. Stone. has been sub
mitted to the Secretary of the Interior. In
opening his report the Commissioner refers
to the accumulation of business which had
been left over from the former administra-
tion, and which was partly due to the in
crease in work of the local land offices.
The system in force he says was not promo
tive of speedy dispatch of business aud
especially in case of the board OF review
was abolished as hindrance TO the good,
safe and quick work in the office. Com
menting on Mr.. Sparks's unfortunate and
unwarranted suspicious that a widespread
system of fraud prevailed. and Mr.. Sparks's
assertion that 1.-The proportion of fraudulent
filings to the total number of filings made
and relinquished may be estimated in
round numbers at 100 per cent" Mr.. Stone
says: This wholesale arraignment OF
have been made without the most con-
elusive evidence to sustain It." The report
goes on to say no general misconduct on the
part of the Western settlers has been
found.
During the year 90 141 agricultural pat
ents were issued, covering 1l,09l.1l9 acres
OF land, an increase over the preceding ear
of more than 100000 acres. Mineral
acreage of IL ,o96 were issued. There were
patented for the benefit of railroads.
under the law. 425.046 acres. and under the
swamp-land grants to the States 259, 12l
acres. The States sections under the edu-
cational grants were approved to the ex-
tent of 1S2. $50 acres. aud lands TO the In
dians, patented under various acts,
to the amount of l5s.69o acres.
The total cash receipts of the
Office from the sales of lane and fees were
s., ,270. 225. decrease Of more than s5.OO0,OOO,
as compared with the previous year. Dur
ing the year surveys were accepted TO the
amount of 4.5i4.S72 acres, principally In Da-
kota Montana and New Mexico
Commissioner Stone calls attention Ito
certain allowances made 10 the deputy sur
veyor by the First Comptroller of the Treas
ury in the years OF 1886 and 1857, which, N
my opinion, were grossly irregular and pal
pable and usurpation of power and duties
specially belonging TO the Commissioner oil
the General Land Office"
The report refers TO the unsettled condi-
tion of the private land claims in New
Mexico and Arizona. and the urgent need
| of congressional action to settle the claims
| in these Territories.
Referring to the act of March 3, 1887.
| which authorizes tie Secretary OF the In
terror to adjust each of the railroad grants.
and if any have been erroneously certified or
patented to commence proceedings to can
| eel them, the reports states that OF the
| pending selections, 81 500, $40 acres have
been suspended, awaiting action by Con-
gress.
Attention Is called to the fact that more
| than S0000,000 acres of land have been
| claimed under the swamp-land act IN vari-
Gus States. Florida alone. while having a
total area of but 1881 $50 acres. having
lists filed for p, 22l 469 acres as swamp land.
| ssThere can be no dou bt." says the report.
that large quantities of land. amounting
| to millions of acres. have been patented to
the State erroneously as swamp. when, In
fact. they were. and are. good agricultural
lands.n
The work Of examining the ex parte min
eral entries is said to be two-and-a-ha