New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-20
GENERAL LAND OFFICE REPORT.
WHAT ACTING COMMISSIONER STONE HAS
ACCOMPLISHED SINCE JUNE /.
LARGE ARREARS OF CASES DISPOSED OF AND
BUNGLING BUSINESS METHODS CORRECTED
WORK OF TIE OFFICE FOR THE YEAR.

BUNGLING BUSINESS METHODS CORRECTED
WORK OF THE OFFICE FOR THE YEAR.
Washington. sept 19-w. NJ. Stone. the Acting
Commissioner OF the General Land Office, IN his annual
report the Secretary OF the Interior says that en-
terlng upon his duties Acting Commissioner on
June 1, 1859, he found himself confronted with an
enormous amount of unfinished business left over
from former Administrations in all the divisions Of
the office. This great accumulation of official work In
he found TO result partly from the constantly
increasing returns OF the 1O7 local Offices in the
several publc-land sites and Territories, which had
been met By no corresponding increase OF clerical
force and IN great part also by the prevalence In
the Office OF mistaken methods and practices which.
in his judgment, have had the effect Of Obstructng
rather than facilitating the proper transaction OF
business The Acting Commissioner discussed az
some length Commissioner spaFkss well known order
of April B. 1883, suspcnding final action In large
number OF cases, and the subsequent orders supple
mentary thereto. including the creating the Board
Of Review. ON assuming the duties Of his Office
Mr.. Stone continued the Acting Commissioner found
that there was accumulation OF between 1000 and
$1,000 pending before this Board Of Review; but
he succeeded IN recognizing It's mode Of doing busi
that by the sixth day OF July following the en-
tire Of pending was fully disposed Of and
acting under the authority OF secretary Noble he i'm
mediatcly issued order abolishing the BoarJ.'
The report shows that in the year there were issued
Tor cIdsSeu as aO,l4l
increase Of 22 961 over preceding year, and
Increase Of 1888 the year ended June 30 1857.
OF this number 1851 final hOmestelds, 0,o63
cOmmuted homeseats, 1872 pre-emption cash
entries, 1904 private cash entries. The largest
number of entries made In Dakota, 1887.
Kansas was next with 1l,74l The report further
shows that during the year title has passed by patent
from the United States to l,79l 1l9 of agIi-
cultural land, against $500 1914 during the pro-
ceding year. The largest acreage patented was In
DAKOTA, 2,ol2,336 acres; Kansas being with
l,s7S,560 Patents TO coal lands have been issued
covering 1906 acres. There patented certi-
fed under the law Tor the benefit of railroad conf
panies 046 acres. The swamp land patents
aggregate 81 099072 During the year 49,, $50
approved under various grants to tho
several States under educational grants.
The cash receipts of the Office ior the year aggre-
gate 80, GS5,0Ol decrease OF 80 o6l, 230 from last
year. The receipts from cash sales a., obs 2jl;
hOmeSte fees and commissions, T133,912, TIMBER
culture fees and commissions, T-32, AZ; fees pre-
emption and other filings, 4l369o3. surveys have
been accepted, after eNamnatiCs aggregatng Dr.
372 acres: of which 1.3O9, O0l I'm Dako n,
Upon the subject of fraudulent entries, the Acting
Commissioner says that the fact that fewer new
fraud have been reported Is indicative that the
practice Of making fraudulent entries has altogether
ceased On the contrary, his Oiic" has information
showing that the practice f. still continued I'm some
what different form. Among the frauds discovered and
exposed by the special agents none he says are moro
deserving Of attention than the speculative scheme Of
certain wealthy individuals and corporations % ac-
qure title large tracts Of coal lands In violation Of
and NiSng Department regulations. several
cases OF attempts appropriate Illegally large tracts
Of coal lands cited.