Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-12-14
IN THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Work of the Secretary Is Especially
Recommended.

Work OF the secretary Is Especially
Recommended.
The report of the secretary of the in
terror exhibits the situation of the nu
merous and interesting branches of the
public service connected with this de-
partment. | commend this report and
the valuable recommended lions of the
secretary tn the careful attention of
congress.
The public land disposed of during the
year amounted to 10, 406, l0077 acres, in
Guiding %, S67. 05 of Indian lands. 1t is
estimated that the public domain still
remaining amounts to a little more than
900 900, 900 acres, excluding, however,
about 800 600. 900 acres in Alaska, as well
as military reservations and railroad
/ and other sections of lands yet unad-
Indicated. The total cash receipts from
sale of lands amounted to $2,674, 2S5, 10,
including $91.9S1. 03 received for Indian
/ lands. Thirty-fiVe thousand patents
were issued for agricultural land and
/ 3,100 patents We're issued for Indians on
/ allotments of their lands in severalty,
/ the land SO allotted being inalienable
! by the Indian allottees for IA period of
1 % years after patented.
There were certified and patented on
/ account of railroad and wagon road
grants during the year 6S3, 556.46 acres
of land, and at the close of the year
20 600. 600 acres were embraced in the
lists of selections made by railroad
| and wagon road companies and the
awaited settlement.
The selections of swamp lands and
that taken as indemnity therefor since
the passage of the act providing for the
same in 1S49. amount to nearly or
quite 81 sol, 900 acres, of which $4,000, 600
have been patented to states. About
i3S, 900 acres were patented during the
last year Nearly so, 900 acres of school
and educational grants We're approved
during this yer. and at its close 1,250,-
1881 acres remained unadjudicated.
PROTECT THE LANDS
1t appears that the appropriations fOl
the current year on account of specia
service for the protection of the publ,
lands and the timber thereon is mu9i
is.ss than TIC Sc for previous years am
inadequate for an efficient perform
ance of the DIRK. A larger sum If mon
ey than has leen appropriated dnriu;;
. number of Years past on this accom-
: | has been IT turned to the government a
a result of he numbers of those eli,
=, ployed in the particular service men
=, lioned, and hope ii vii, not be cripple
= by an insufficient appropriation.
= cheerfully indorse the recommends
> tons Of the secretary tLat appropr Il
- protection provided for our fJlc-
reserve. and that a comprehensive ..
estry system be inaugurated. sue
keepers and superinten@ents as ar, n.
= r, ssary to Protect the forests ALREADY +
serN ed should be provided | am d 81
opinion that there sh Il be an dIa'
bonment Of he policy sane oned by Il
l. present laws under W licG the go -
. ment fer Il very small ct.',4 .'trauo
: raTidly losing title to immense tract,
land covered with timber which sh ~
be propehly reserved IS permanent. j.
sources of timber supply.
- The eugoestion tbs a chang |
:" made in the manner of securing ST.
y veys of the public lands is espa : Al
, worthy of consideration Lam satisn,
~, hat these surveys should be ma e
40 a corps of competent surveyors und
the immediate control and directio
% the commissioner of the general laI
"a Office.
of LAND LITIGATION.
iit An exceedingly important recor