The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-30
THEINTERIOR OFFICE
Summary Of the Annual Report
Of Secretary Noble.
PUBLIC LAND GOING RAPIDLY.
Laws to Govern Irrigation Needed
Enormous Pension Payments-Twsn-
ty-Thrss From Revolution.

WASHINGTON CRY, Nov. 2e.-Ths annual re-
port of Secretary Of the Interior Noble was made
publio today. Nearly all of the statistics con-
tanned in the report have been anticipated by
the bulletins issued from time TO time BY the
census bureau.
The Public Lands.
Thirty-two pages are devoted to the public
lands. During the present administration 3D.
3l7,949 acres OF land have been added to the pub
lie domain by treaty with Indians, at cost oil
s6,sSs, COO Land has been allotted to 1882 In
dians, who have thus gained title to l,5ls,6s4
acres.
Claims OF settlers upon the public lands have
been satisfactorily disposed OF since the fiscal
year ending June 30 1858. IN his annual report
for that year the then secretary OF the interior
stated that upon thorough examination OF the
unfinished business of the general land ofiice
the information acquired "carried heavy re-
proach against the government" that OF
final entries there were pending on Juno 80. 1883,
DIS, I56, and the number of such entries made
during the year was 20 1868; that this latter num-
Der exceeded all the final entries disposed OF by
patent during the last year, so that instead OF
"diminishment' of arrearages the accumulation
OF cases had increased; that of original entries
there were on hand June 80, 1885, $50 1858, Of
which 2l7,640 were for homesteads. And the
secretary states:
SIT is obvious, however, that II il OF great i'm
portsuce to ali honest and rghtful claimants
that the evidence 10 their title should be speedily
issued. Yet how dreary is the prospect opened
to the settler by the figures now exhibited by the
arrears OF business"
Instead OF the lamentation so Justly INDUCED
In by the secretary under the preceding admin
istration, the present commissioner of the gen.
eral land office predicts that with the present
Office force, the business of the bureau Will prac
tically be brought up abreast with current work
by the end of the next fiscal year." The number
of agricultural patents which includes those for
homesteads, issued for 1859 was 40 14l; for 1880,
7247, and for 1891, ia, 800; and there were left
OF final entries for such lands at the end of the
last fiscal year, June so. 1891, only S4,l72
II appeared from the secretary report for 1880
that not including Alaska or the Cherokee out
let and other small exceptions, the vacant lands
OF the United States amounted to 5S6,2l6,Sl6
acres. The amount remaining on June 80, 1891,
with same exceptions, was 579. ,6S3 acres, of
which 294. 027,773 are yet unsurveyed.
1t Ia estimated that at least 300000,000 acres OF
these vacant lands are useless for agriculture.
but that l20,000oO0 that are now desert may be
redeemed by irrigation SO as TO produce the
cereals, fruits and garden products possible in
the climate where the lands are located. The
commissioner is OF the opinion that the wisest
plan would be to transfer the land and water to
the direct control of the states, subject to such
limitations and restrictions as would insure the
reclamation OF the land by the states and the
transfer of title from the states, in the first in
stance to actual settlers in quantities not to cx-
coed l6o acres OF land to each settler, with pro-
visions for forfeiture TO the United States in
case of any violation by the state of the condi-
tons OF the grant.
Under the statute permitting associations to
enter desert lands and construct canals to irri-
gate them there have been already filed maps of
location for sixty-one reservoirs and forty-six
canals, the canals and bitches being 631.65 miles
In length.
Under the desert land law of 1877 reclamation
has been made and final proof produced in 1865
entries, with area of LII, 100 acres.
Congress has so far acted that private CORPORA
tons and associations now substantially
given the field OF the water supply for that vast
domain that may be redeemed By irrigation, and
TINS field Is being rapidly seized upon. II Is one
thing for the individual to own his claim on
which he resides; IL is quite another for him to
bea member In large association, or stock
holder In corporation controlling the water
necessary for the cultivation of his claim. The
united states by existing legislation does not
retain any control, and but weakly and
insuffciently establishes the authority OF
the states or territories. The control
OF the water is handed over to cor
porations or associations. These individual
associations will be driven to incorporation by
the necessity there will be to avoid the frequent
changes of ownership and other difficulties
arising from death or assignment of interests;
and the owners OF the water and the owners of
the farms may be expected to soon become dis
tinct bodies, with almost opposite interests
The states or territories may be expected to
exercise. under the reservation of authority ex-
pressed in the statute, some control OF these
companies, and protect their citizens from Cd.
preston; but the United States government.
from whom these vastly important and far.
reaching privileges emanate, should not release
altogether It's hold upon the water supply and
us ultimate distribution. No one can now COM
pute the money value that will concentrate in
these reservoirs and canals andditches conveying
the water TO the fields of the husbandmen and
upon which the people must depend for their
prosperity. Tho efficiency of local legislation
may be impaired by private interests, and a few
may be enriched at the expense OF the MANY
And i is also to be remembered that the rivers
and streams running through these deserts pass
from states TO states territories and that there
is no provision made for any regulation of the
use by one state or territory in proportion to
what may be reasonably demanded BY another
1t has been said by an eminent writer on the
future OF our country that the child is already
born who will see 10000 900 of Inhabitants in
the United states. Long before this stage of
our development is reached the question OF the
water supply and its distribution will be one of
vital Interest, and its proper solution should be
given now.
Legislation is recommended TO reserve for set
tfement lands about the heads of streams There
should be other legislation to prevent timber
cutting and il Is recommended that congress
take proper action to have the reservations that
are proclaimed by the president established as
national public parks or granted to the states to
be preserved unimpsired and used for the bene-
fit OF the public only.
In the unprecedented increase Of population
and stu more extraordinary advance in values
o. property may be found the cause of the great
demand for new homes and the concentration
OF 50 many thousands upon the places where
vacant lands may be found. This demand will
increase with each succeeding year. aud il il
submitted that there should be no relaxation in
such administration OF the government as ill
give fair field for the development of the
nation.
The commissioner OF the general land Office
reports that during the last year 2,l4S,0gO IS
acres we're disposed of by cash sales: SPA 40 %
by miscellaneous entries, and l20,47S 81 acres of
Indian lands. aggregatlng I0477,7u0S 81 acres
The total cash receipts from various sources Tor
tie year amounted 20 $40, ID IL. The number
OF agricultural patents issued during the wear
were 1880, which, allowing loo acres 10 each
patent. would embrace an aggregate of 1927
afaHaH I'D 4.
of railroad companies under congressional
grants during the year 3.0SS 67g 13 acres. During
the hsea year ending Juae %, 1891, an area of
AlA, l&3.A3 acres patented 20 the states an in
crease OF -S,1Ioeo acres over the fiscal year pre-
Ceclng. The approvas during the year under
the different grants 10 the several states for edu.
catlouAl purposes and under the saline grant,
having the effect Of a patent, embraced Au area
OF f56,l14sl The area of land patented during
tue year on private claims. donations, and In
dian aItotmeuts, or selections in severaltv aud
scrip ,oSAuons hnally approved, amounted TO
244.6lV.l4 acres.
surveys q S75,oii acres were accepted in the
state Of Washington.
The commissioners report shows q marked de-
crease IA the amount Of work pending in the
contest division. The unappealed cases are
prae'!ealAS up 10 Date, and tie appealed cases
have been reduced 10 81.
Adjustments OF the grants TO aid IN the con.
strucfi0n OF railroads have been approved by the
department IN number o. cases and others are
Ia progress, The hst of railroad selections
awaiting examination a. the close OF the fiscal
year amounted 20 2S,SA6 So IS acres. the selse.
uons for wagon roads amounted 70 Gl5 2t6 e.
acres. mailing - 81, 50 3 acres embraced in
pending lists OF selections for railroad and
wagon road construction.
b. the act Of congress approved September
y. iSo, all lands heretofore granted To Aav
state or Cogperztlon 10 AID "a the construction
Of railroad opposite 10 snd coaterainous
with the portion OF sny such railroad not com
peted and in operation al the date of the pasS.
age Of said act, were forfeited, and proper in
strGcuonS have been issued 10 the local officers