The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-17

gsre stability to the titles to all Of tho
lands originally pcoplcd by the adj
vcnturcrs from European countries un.
der patents from potsntatcs. Here arc
the maps and plats of original location
and entry of every aorc of ground which
has been taken under the homestead and
other land laws in the territories which
have become states during the past ten
decades. To this bureau of the interior
department all registers and receivers
OF land Offices throughout the country
must make their reports, and from this
Office they receive orders There are
one hundred and nine local land Offices
now IN operation. In each one of these
offices there is Il register and Il receiver,
and there are one hundred and eighteen
clerks employed us assistants, making
total of three hundred and thirty-siX
employees who seldom if'cvcr are seen in
Washington There are also three in
spcctors, four examiners of surveys,
seven examiners of swamp lands,
thirty special agents to examine fraudu-
lent entries, twcnty-scvcn inspectors
of timber dcprcdations and seven GUS
todians OF abandoned military rcscrva-
tons; total of seventy additional en-
ployes, making u grand total of four
hundred and forty-four officials in the
field who arc seldom if ever seen by the
commissioner, yet all arc under his di-
rection ind supervision You NAV well
imagine that it requires great deal of
executive ability to properly manage
such an army, keep them we'll disci-
plined and prevent improper action on
their part in every case.
There arc upwards of two hundred
and fifty employees on duty in the gem
cral land office under the supervision of
the commissioner, deputy commissioner
and chief clerk. There arc law clerks,
law examiners, receiving clerk, and
chiefs of subordinate divisions, to whom
various duties ere assigned. and the en-
tire working force is SO arranged that
the tremendous and growing business
Is transacted smoothly and expeditions
~ Owing to the present rules, how
ever, there are thousands of contest
cases pending, and the work of the of
fec is nearly two years in arrears, in
Some particulars There is and has
been for years crowded condition of
affairs, and relief cannot be had until
congress shall provide Il separate build
ing for this Office alone.
One room in the general land office is
set apart for the use of attorneys who
practice before the office, and their
name is legion Almost every settler is
Obliged to employ an attorney to look
after his interests here before final pat
cnt to his homestead is issued In addi-
ton to their personal appeals for action
in many cases these attorneys file not
less than seven hundred letters each
week, calling upon the office for writ
ten statements concerning the condi-
ton of pending cases, These letters
are forwarded by the attorneys to their
clients and great part of their work is
done in what is called ''thc attorneys
room" y clerk is detailed especially
to attend to this room, whose duty it is
to receive cards of request from daily
accredited attorneys for permission to
personally examine papers in important
cases These papers are official and
cannot be taken from the department,
but they may bc examined in the attor-
neys' room in the presence of the clerk
In charge and hence it is almost impos-
sible for any attorney to ahscnt-mindcd-
~ carry any papers away with him.
Copies of papers, however, are often
furnished attorneys by tho clerk in
charge.
Commissioner Carter is the Youngest
man ever honored with appointment to
this position He is only thirty-scven
years OF age, and being of an exceedingly
fair complexion, with light hair and
beard. he looks even Younger Although
of nervous temperament, given to
quicl.neSs, alcrtncsS and promptness of
decision, he possesses at the same time
a dclibcrativr quality of mind which
prevents him from ill-advised conclu-
sions and decisions. He is a lawyer,
and his training has developed judicial
intellectual bias which will prove valu-
able in the administration of his office.
where everything is based upon statute
~ Law. Gifted with e sunny. cheerful
disposition he easily makes friends, and
even III this city where politicians dwell
he has friends who hold him in high
esteem regardless of differences upon
national topics. SMITH d. Fry.