The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-20
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Few Profit BY Fraudulsat En-
tries on Land.
ABUSES OF THE SWAMP LAW.


WASHINGTON. Sept. l9.-The annual n
Port o. Acting Commissioner Of The Gen.
eral Land Office W. II. stone ha. besn sub-
nisted TO the secretary OF the interior. In
opening his report Commissioners Stone re
iers 70 tne accumulation OF bosinsss In the
osace which had been left over ffon former
COMMUNICATIONS. and which is partly due
70 tne increasing work of local Land ofices
Inc system in force, he says is not peomo-
i've oi speedy dispatch of business. espe-
c'aiis In the case OF the board OF review
created hy Commissioner Sparks, which he
abolished as hindrance to good quick
work in the osf1ce.
Commenting on Mr.. sparks unfortunate
and unwarranted suspicious that . wide
spread system Of fraud prevailed, and Mr..
SPARKS assertion that the PROPORTION OF
fraudulent filings to the total number of
niings made and reiinquished may be es-
Iiinaied IN round numbers at 10 per cent.
Mr. Stone says: This unjust reflection on
claimants TO the public domain shouDd not
have bern made without conclusive ev3dence
TO sustain il" The report says no eeneral
misconduct on the part OF Western s8stlers
has heen found.
During the rear q. LII agricultural phfents
were issued, covering Il,79ili9 aetss of
land. IN increase over the preceding year
OF more than 100000 acres. lDnerai
patents - the number Of 9l3, coveE1ng an
acreage OF l7.00a. were issued. There were
patented for the benefit of railroads, under
land grants. AS .o46 acres, and under the
swamp land grants TO the states, 80 72l
acres. State selections under educational
grants we're approved to the extent Of l23.-
$50 acres. ard lands patented under various
acts TO the amount of 80 800. Total cash
receipts o. the othce from sales of land and
fees were $9,2.0a2o5 decrease Of more
than IS 00o 00D as compared with tue pre-
vious year. During the year surveys we're
accepted to the amount Of 4,Hi,37y acres,
principally in Dakota, Montana and New
Mexico.
Commissioner Stone calls attention TO
certain allowances made to deputy survey
ors by the first comptroller OF the treasury
IN the years 1856 and 1887, which in his
opinion were grossly irregular and pal
pable usurpation of the powers and duties
specially belonging To the commissioner Of
the general land office.
Tie report refers to the unsettled condi-
ton OF private land claims i'm New Mexico
and Arizona, and the urgent need q con
gressional action TO settle titles in 6ese
territories.
Referring to the &C; OF March 3, 1850,
which authorizes the secretary of the inte-
rior to adjust each of the railroad grants,
and II any had been enormously certified
or patented TO commence proceedings 70
cancel them, the report states that Of the
pending selections 2t,66O,8a, acres hare
been suspended awaiting action of COMPASS.
Attention Is called 70 the fact that more
than 30 900 acres OF land has been
claimed under the swamp land act in vari-
ems states, Florida alone. while having
total acreage of but 81 93l go, having lists
filed for 22,22l .460 acres Is swamp land.
There can he no doubt, says the report,
that large quantities of land, amounting to
millions Of acres, have been patented 20
states enormously as swamp land. when in
fact they were and are good agricultural
land
The work OF the examining experts on
mineral entries is said to he two and one
half years in arrears. The report resumes:
When the homestead or pre-enipiion
claimant receives a patent. and mineral Is
discovered subsequently on the claim, his
certificate of entry shall act as bar TO any
mining claim upon q discovery make sub
sequent To entry"
The report recommends the repeal OF all
laws relating to public timber. and the en-
actment of general law. plain. concise
and unmistskable in meaning.
Fewer fraudulent entries have heen made
during the year than for many years PAST
owing TO increased vigilance. but several
cases are mentioned IN the report where
syndicates sought 10 obtain coal lands by
fraudulant means, and in one case bad they
succeeded the commission alone would have
amounted 10 $50 o0o.
The opening OF Oklahoma is referred to
as the most important event for several
Years in the administration of the land
office.