The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-01

Minnesota ......... ....... 10 900
gontann.. .-.-.-...-.-.--.-.-.. J3,W
south Dakota. ......................... $1,000
New Mexico ............ ......... 1000
North DAKOTA. ............... 10000
Oregan 9o,o
............, 5000
WASN'T gton OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 5000
wyoming. .................-. 2,OO0
Reserve fund OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1900
Examinations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10000
Total 025, 600
Considerable space is given TO the subject OF
irrigation for the arid lands. Among the modi-
ficstions that have been made in the laws since
the last annual report one to which especial
attention II callei, is the provision in the act
prr'priatiug Ss250oo. passed August 80. which
reserves from all public lands wet of the one
buudredth merd an q right-cf-way for bitches
or canals for irrigation made by the United
States. The seer tsry recommends the enactius
by congress Of comprehensive laws. det rmin-
ing the national policy concerning the segre-
gazing OF lands for reservoirs, aud the building
of the reservoirs and the bitches or canals for
irritation.
During the past year, In the matter OF swamp
lands. cash indemnity accounts were allowed
to the amount of s32,47AS3. and 7,90663 acres
patented to the several states
Ffty.fve agents were employed during the
year In the protection of the public timber
were reported. involving %. 067. &c. The sums
recovered during tre year amount to
500, II is believed that were the force
OF agents withdrawn depredations would
greatly increase and for the most part escape
punishment or detection
The commissioner of the land ONCE states
from an examination OF the annual reports Of
his once for the past eight years ne finds that
the most valuable timber on the public lands IL
being rapidly exhausted, and that the several
laws now In force are wholly inadequate to pre-
vent the public forests from illegal appropria-
ton, or to protect the interests of the settlers
who may need to use them In the devo lopment
Of the country. The people Of Canada have made
great roads into our forests. and the timber il
taken out on the river, whore many steamers
are engaged In this illicit business. There has
been sent TO those regions an expedition, fitted
for . winter campaign, to detect and arrest
these depredhtors. The commissioner rtcom-
mends the enactment OF q law repeating
statutes that prohibit the entry OF rugged.
stony, or other timber lands unfit for cultiva-
ton, except under the mining or town site
laws, and allowing the settlers to use the tim
Der on such lands which they may actually need
in developing the country; aud that the several
states ana territories be invited to enact concur
rent legislation prohibiting the destruction OF
the timer on the public lands, and prevent 1t
from being removed or passed into the hands of
U
The protection OF the timber upon the public
domain is o. the first Importance. The gre at
commercial value OF this proluct, the ease VITA
which q may be illegally appropriated, the diff
Guilty OF protecting the larg forests from ravages
by IRE. which destroys annually q very much
larger amount OF wood on III public lands than
all other causes combined, seem TO require ad-
ditonal legislation by congress.
In the secretary's last annual report IL was
earnestly recommended "tnat congress appoint
commission 10 take into consideration the
subject OF the public timber lands, with view
of ascertsinug the best method for their treat
ment, management, preservation. or of their
disposal" The reasons are still in full force
why such a commission should be provided for
by congress. and he recommendation is there
fore renewed aud emphasized.
The following table, taken from the report OF
the commissioner of the general land office,
shows the present condition OF the contests now
pending in his bureau:
Cases
Received during the year. 1881
Cases fi0ally disposed of.........,.......s4 sac
Leaving pending July l, 1890 7,s4s
Involved in these pendi 7346 cases is en-
braced an acreage of LIS 500 acres
OF cases where no appeal was taken from the
local land officers, counting those ON maud July
1. 1889. and those received after there were IL
500, of which 1874 were disposed OF during the
year.
All the special force now authorized is stu re-
CURED to detect aud defeat, and In many in.
stances 10 pa Iisn the m,stak aud frauds IN
furious to the just admin stratlon OF the ma
tional land system. During the past year there
have been six special ageats in the field making
personal ex animation OF laud claimed under
gha I'D I'D
of testimony offered by the several states, show
ing the character of the lands claimed. There
have been also sixty-one agents employed In in
vestiga'iDg fraud lent lapd entries and protect.
ing the pubic lands from illegal appropriation
during the year. From them nave been received
du'lng this time 2o27 repor 8, which, with 27s
pending July 80, lss9, made for the yesr $780,
l.7sS of them have been acted on leaving SIS
pehdins June 50 1890
The commissioners report exhibits in detail
the results of the work dep ndlng upon the
sufci ncy and intell sence OF the steeis al agents
appointed for the investigation of fraudulent
land claims and also of those Tor public timber
depredatioas
The change in the system of checking the
cash accounts oil receivers of public moneys,
made soon after the Inauguration of the pres
ent administration, vii prevent, il is believed
the loss OF vast sums OF money TO the govern
ment The loss through receivers. appointed
by the previous administration, amounted To
over 5000 Prosecutions have been instituted
aud it is hoped that the greater part will be re-
covered.
The WORK OF the general land Office Is LARGELY
In arrears, aud The result IN loss aud inconven-
fence 10 the people is very great The who q
public and system has fo- lis aim 20 bes,ow the
lands apou the setiers under the most !syora.
bic eons iiions, 50 tost they may be encouraged
to develop the resources Of our country. but
this benign purpose is t. o very great degree de-
iea:sd by the want of Sufficient apr iprfations
for the employment OF CLERKS in the land Office.
and by not giving thai oiiee sach space 10 work
In that it may be done correctly and expedi.
tiou ly. The settler commits himself In trus.-
Ing confidence 20 The promises OF the govern
ment, bat after he . eaiitle3 to his patent he
finds himself vithoa, the evidence of hi. right
ruacQuairted with the vast demands sir,Gla- TO
bis own pressing fer attention. he blames TIE
general lana oflys for what Is TO him an inex-
riscaele delinquency. This delay and the
criticism IL ensenders Is unjust and needless
with the vast resources ct its command AID TIE
usnsy receipts obtained frcn the public lsnds
themselves. 10 10 unreasonable for the national
leetssaturs 70 withhold the means OF siyinr the
owner, within reasonable time. the evidence
OF bis riga, 70 the hand. u u conspicuous in