Fergus County argus., 1889-10-03
STONES ANNUAL REPORT.
Fewer Fraudulent Cases Than for Many
Years.

The annual report OF the Acting
Commissioner General of the Land
Office. VIM. NJ. Stone. has been sub
mitted to the Secretary OF the Inte-
riOr. In opening his report Commis-
sioner stone refers to the accumula-
ton of business in the office, which
| had been left over from the former ad-
ministration. This was partly due to
| the increasing work OF local land
offices. The system in force, he says,
was not promotive OF speedy dispatch
i'm business, especially in the ease OF
the Board of Review, created by Com
missioner Sparks, which he abolished
as hindrance to good, safe and quick
| work in the Office. Commenting on
Mr.. Sparks unfortunate and unwar
ranted suspicious that a widespread
system OF fraud prevailed, and MIR.
Sparks assertion that the proportion
Of fraudulent filings TO the total num-
ber OF filings made and relinquished
may he estimated in round numbers
at 100 per cent, Mr.. Stone says, "This
| wholesale arraignment OF claimants
on the public domain should not have
been made without the most cOnclu-
sive evidence I o sustain it," The report
goes on to say no general misconduct
on the part of Western settlers has
been found.
During the year 7O,1 agricultural
patents were ISSUED, covering III, ,191,-
l19 acres of land, an increase over
the preceding year OF more than
5000, 900 acres. Mineral patents to
the number OF 913, covering an acre
age of 7,O96 were issued. There were
patented for the benefit OF railroads
under the law 425, ,O46 acres and under
the swamp land grants to the states
259, 12l acres. State selections under
educational grants were approved to
the extent OF 1928, $50 acres and
lands to the Indians, under various
acts to the amount OF 1890 The
total cash receipts OF the Office from
sales OF land and fees were SO, ,27O, ,225,
"a decrease OF more than So, 100000
rs compared with the previous year.
During the year surveys were COM
pleted to the amount OF 4,544,3 1872
acres, principally in Dakota, Montana
and Arizona.
Commissioner Stone calls attention
10 certain allowances made to deputy
surveyors 10y the First Comptroller OF
the Treasury in the years 1856 and
1887 which IN his opinion were grossly
irregular and palpable usurpation OF
the powers and duties specially be-
longing to the Commissioner of the
General Land Office. The report re-
icrred to the unsettled condition OF
private land claims in New Mexico,
Arizona and Montana and to the
I g 4 -. Il
les i'm these Territories.
Referring to the act of March 81,
1889, which authorizes the Interior
Department to adjust each OF the
railroad grants, and # any have been
enormously certified or patented, to
commence proceedings to cancel them.
The report states OF pending selec-
tions II $50, SAG acres have been sus-
pended, awaiting action by Congress-
Attention is called to the fact that
more than SO.OOO,OOO acres of land
have been claimed under the Swamp
Land act in various States. Florida
alone, while having a total area OF
but 81. .93l 800 acres, has n list filed
for 22 22l ,460 acres as swamp land.
There can be no doubt, says the report,
that large quantities OF land, amount
itlS W vi lluNt Decn
patented to the State erroneously as
swamp, where in fact there were and
are good agricultural lands. The work
| OF examining ex-parte mineral entries
is said to be two and a half years in
arrears. The report recommends that
when homestead or pre-emption
claimant receives n patent and min
eral is discovered subsequently on his
claim, his certificate OF entry shall act
as bar to any mining claim upon dis
covery made subsequent to entry and
the report recommends the repeal OF
all laws relating TO public timber and
the enactment OF IA general law, plain,
concise, and unmist akable in meaning
Fewer fraudulent entries have been
made during the year than for many
years past owing to increases vigilencs
, but several cases are mentioned in the
report where syndicates sought to OBJ
tam coal lands by fraudulent means,
and in one case, had they succeeded,
! the commission alone would have
amounted to S55O,OOO. The opening
of Oklahoma was referred to as the
most important event Tor several
Years in the admnistrati ion OF the
/ land office.