Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-11
LAND OFFICE REPORT.
Commissioner-Genera Croft Reviews the
Work in His Office.

wOrk III nlS OIHces
WASHINGTON, October 10th.-The annual
report of Commissioner of the General
Land Office Croft shows that the number
of agricultural patents issued during the
fiscal year ended June 30th was III, 247 en-
bracing Is, 759 $50 acres, as against 20, 141 is
sued in 1885, with an aggregate area of 220,-
526. Ofmineral and mill.site patents ,407
were issued, showing an increase in the
year of 494. Of coal patents 224 were is
sued, an increase of SO patents, represent
ing 1876 acres. The State school selec.
tions aggregate $50, 779 acres. The selec-
tions for the previous year aggregated only
132 $50 acres.
The acreage OF swamp lands patented to
the several States during the year was 109,-
351. There were patented or certified to
under the law for the benefit of railroad
companies during the year 1863, S62 acres.
This is decrease for the year of 81, 1873
acres. Total cash sales during the fiscal
year, 3,202, ,S46 acres. Original homestead,
timber culture, State selections, school and
swamp, railroad selections, and others of q
miscellaneous character, 1852 2S5 acres.
The Indian lands disposed of aggregate
133, ,305 acres, making grand total of 12,-
| 79S, ,S37 acres.
| The total cash receipts of the office from
was 81 ,7S0,517. OF this amount, Sc, ,349, ia
were received from cash sales.
| On June 20, 1889, there were 276, 751 final
entries of all kinds pending. and at the
close of the fiscal year 1890 there were
| 20S, 269 pending showing q decrease as
compared with the previous year of 6S, ,667
entries. Railroad sections amounting to
%, ,776 955 acres were pending at the close
of the year. an increase over the previous
year of 332, ,704 acres. There were also
Oregon wagon road selections pending to
the amount of 304 942 acres. Ex parte
mineral entries are in arrears about two
and half years. Contest cases, quasi con-
tests and ex parte coal entries are up to
date.
The mileage Of land grant railroads
actually constructed up to the close of the
last year was 500 miles.
Surveys have been accepted after exami-
nation in the field of 4 362, SOL acres, includ-
ing Arizona, 597,740 acres; California,
1862 OBJ Colorado, 473 ,457; Dakota, 929 992;
| Montana, $40, 161; Nevada, 40S Ss7; New
Mexico, 237 ,1S1; Utah, 76,525; Washing
ton, $50 122; Florida. 2,519; Idaho, %,
14S Minnesota, 144, ,S55 Nebraska, 23,039;
Oregon. 84 100.
Upon the subjects of forests on the pub
lie domain, the Commissioner finds the
| uOSl fdludUlt Ou Tue ldDuS
| being rapidly exhausted, and the laws re-
lating 10 the subject entirely inadequate
to properly protect either the public forests
from unlawful appropriation or the inter-
ests of settlers Over s83, 900 were received
last year from timber depredations.
Provision should be made for a legiti-
mate procuring of timber from public
lands by mill men and lumber manufact-
urers for sale to an extent necessary to
supply the community in the location in
which they operate. with lumber and other
| timber products needed in the settlement
thereof, but the expectation of public tim
Der should be prohibited, as also should
the removal of timber from any reserved
lands and from mountainous regions and
! other wood lands at or in the vicinity OF
| the headwaters or sources of streams which
for climatic, economic or public reasons
| should be held permanently as forest
reserves, the exception being made in favor
of settlers or miners for their personal ne
| cessities.