The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-24
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
A Decision of Vast Importance by Commits
sioner Stockslager.

a decision OF y ast importance Dg CoHltuAe-
sioner Stockslager.
The National Domain, a newspaper published
in Washington, D. c., and devoted, as its name
indicates, TO public land matters, in its issue Of
April l. makes the following editorial comment
upon an important decision Of Land Commis-
sioner Stockslager:
We publish in full in this number the decision Of
the comm ssi0ner in the case OF the TumacacOri
private land claim In which, for the first time in the
history OF the land department the question OF
Arizona their legality and limitations
sidered. II appears that great quantities
OF land have been, Tor many years,
by the clerical act Of marking the words ''re-
served" on the tract books without authority of law.
The bases for the sid marking are the plats Of so
called preliminary surveys" These are surveys OF
claimed exterior boundaries procured by grant
claimants after the surveyor generals examination
ana report and as shown IN the case menuOneds
have been smugged into the printed reports part
OF the original exam nation. They are known 70 be
grossly excessive in quantity and as held by Com
missioner Mcfarland 'are unauthentic Tor any pur-
pose. Yet all the assumed private land claim res
ervations in the territories mentioned rest upOr
these fraudulent surveys.
Commissioner Stocksager in his decision rejects
and sets aside the preliminary surveys in
lne lne Iumacaeorl case and oy TINS act ana oy ths
prime pies Of law laid down has opened way Tor
the redemption from illegal reservations of several
millions Of acres Of public land in the garden dis
tricts Of Arizona and New Mexico
II is amazing that practice unfounaed in Law
and reason so unjust To settlers so ruiuous TO the
interests Of the government and absurd as a mat
ter ot executive admnstra. that of holding ia
assumed reservation great bodies OF public land iOf
the benefit OF exaggerated and often mythical claims
should 50 long have prevailed in the practice OF the
general land Office Il can be accounted for only,
from the fact that heretofore but side
was presented TO heard by the department.
Private claimants have been represented by abun-
dant counsel. The government has had no repre-
seniatiOn. and settlers residing upon the claimed
lands have not known the necessity for a repre-
sentation OF their interests Grant claimants have,
therefore, had their own way in impressing their
wishes upon the department and in mOlding Official
come when those who want TO preserve lands from
private land claims speculation and for those who
seeking public lands for settlement, % rouse
themselves and Join hands in the issue which Com
missioner StOcksagers decision has opened for their
benefit.
The Hon. George w. Julian, the able and efi-
cient surveyor-general of New Mexico. referring
to the foregoing decision of Commissioner Stock
slayer is reported as saying:
Mr. Stockslager has almost immortalized himself.
II will go down in history Of the great move
ments in favor of the just rights OF the governmen.
and the people by the Cleveland administration.
and One too, which the present republican sLminis
traton cannot afford to gainsay. II carried cut 70
It's timate conclusions, will restore more tha1
hee million acres Of land, now Illegally held BY
grant claimants. 10 the public domain for the benefit
OF actual settlers. IL is the most important step
taken under the Cleveland administration. It was
the great opportunity that opened Up before Mr.,
StOckslsger and he seized it with a bold hand, and
fortified his position by unanswerabe arguments
His other work. compared with this,
routine work, faithfully and honestly performed,
which reflected credit upon him efficient officer,
but this latter act, restoring 20 the people these mile
lions OF acres OF land, places him above all his pre-
decessOrs in its farreaching effects for public good