St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-08


multiplied injuries inflicted on him by
maladministration, demanded patent,
a title to the land he had, by settlements,
cultivation and compliance with the
law fully earned.
'Ihus, by reason of this erroneous
and mistaken policy, the legitimate
channels of business in this Office had
become clogged, and by reason of
hM ad sfsn aelIaXs {ast amount Of w?Ek
close of the fiscal year ending June 80,
1883, 95O,953 entries of all kinds pend
ing or awaiting consideration. Under
tnese circumstances change of policy
was deemed necessary. Hence, shortly
after March 4, 1889, new administra-
i've policy, based CD liberal and en-
lilghtened Interpretation of the public
land laws. was adopted by you, and has
Deen continued during the intervening
nscal years. Under this new policy
settlerS are presumed to be honest and
well disposed towards the government
ana the laws, and public land business
mas been expedited with marked benefi-
Gent results.
A Check on Fraud
ION March 8, 1891, law was passed
entitled AN act to repeal the timber
culture law and for other purposes
III which congress manifested it's ap-
prevail OF the new policy. Under and
by virtue Of section of that law large
numbers of cases long suspended on the
merest suspicion of fraud, or under
harsh technical rulings. have been and
are being passed to patent in manner
which. while greatly facilitating bust
ness, also supplies ample safeguards
against all possible fraud.
In virtue of this marked and benefi-
clal change of policy and under the
favorable legislation mentioned, the
large number of accumulated entries
above stated, together with an addition
OF 3lS,O16 entries received since the
present policy was inaugurated. had, OH
June 80, 1892, been carefully considered
and proper action taken thereon
Comparative tables accompanying the
report show an excess during the four
nScal years ending June 80, 1892, over
the four years ending June 80, 1883, in
the number of acreage of agricultural
patents issued of nearly las per cent,
substantially clearing the docket and
leaving the Office OH July 1, 1892, virtu-
ally free to attend to current business
as it arises.
Mineral and Coal Lands
AS to mineral and coal patents. the
report shows an excess, under similar
comparison in the number of mineral
patents issued, of 50 per cent, and iu
the number of coal patents issued of
224 per cent, clearing the mineral and
and states and nation millions of per-
manent wealth. During the period
from 1889 to 1892, there were
S,425,395 acres of the public do
main surveyed, as against 2,714,302
during the preceding four years. Dur
ing the last fiscal year the cash sales.
according to the report, aggregated
1,511. 47S acres, the principal item of
which was 913. 7S9 acres, which were en-
tered under the presumption law. The
total acreage disposed of during the
year. was l3.664.0ls. Three thousand
two hundred and fOrty-two mineral site
patents were issued during the year,
as against 1872 during the year 1891.
The report shows that the vacant pub
lie lands in the United States aggregate
567, $50, 1888 acres.
The commissioner recommends lib
eral policy in reference to surveys of
the public lands in all the states.
A general law on the subject of public
forests is, the report says, unquestiona-
BILE demanded. which shall make ade-
quate provision in respect to both, forest
reservation and the cutting and re-
moval of timber to supply the public
necessities, and shall also repeal all ex-
listing acts or parts of acts inconsistent
with the provisions thereof.
Forests or Timber.
AS regards the leading features of
such an act he is of the opinion that the
same should be on line with the fol-
lowing general suggestions:
Provision should be made for the i'm
mediate reservation of all public lands
bearing forests or timber, except for
entry under the homestead mining
laws.
Individual settlers, farmers and To-
caters of mines should be authorized to
procure from the public timber lands
such timber as may be imperatyely
needed to supply their actual personal
necessities for fuel, building fences and
the improvement of their claims.
The cytting or removing of public
timber should be prohibited for purposes
OF transportation or expectation, or for
sale or disposal or for any other use or
purpose whatever, except as above
stated. or under laws enatcted and rules
and regulations prescribed by the local
legislature of the state or territory in
which the timber is located, and unless
permit to cut timber has first been pro-
cured from the secretary of the interior.
A penalty should be provided for
wasting or destroying timber growing
or being on public lands, whether by
fire, telling or otherwise, with the pro-
vision attached that of all sums collect
ed as fines, penalties or damages under
ed as fines, penalties or damages under
the act, One-half shall be paid to the in
former, if any, and the other half to the
school fund of the county or counties in
which the Otfense was committed. In
the opinion of the commissioner, the
passage of general act of this nature
will effectually, dispose of all material
questions relating to the forest reserva-
tions and the cutting and removing of
timber from public lands and render
further legislation on the subject un-
necessary.