The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-06

Office. in his annual report, shows there
has not been as much activity in public
i "a tbe ma hard times inns ye ia t fs P West snyd the the
consequent decrease in immigration. The
most important accommodations relate to
Wisconsin, and what shall be done with
the timber on public lands. On this sub
Ject the report says.
These fires extended over vast areas
OF country. causing great loss OF life and
property and inf1icting sore distress upon
thousands OF Inhabitants. whose homes
were Ia many instances destroyed and their
means Of subsistence cut off. These fires
seriously affected valuable public timber
bearing land In the region OF country over
which they extended. A great part OF the
land burned over is now held by settlers
who are lin process of perfecting title 10
the premises occupied by them: but who
have not yet resided sufficiently long there
on to permit them to Immediately prove up
and complete their titles under existing
statutes. The timber affected by these
fires has been left in such a condition that
il not cut and disposed of in a short time
it will become worm eaten and worthless,
thus depriving the land OF a great portion
of its value to the settler seeking title.
Applications have been made by the suffer-
ers from these fires for permission to cut
the timber from their land and sell IL at
once before il becomes worm eaten, de-
cayed and worthless. This Office has not
felt warranted by law TO grant the permis-
sion asked for, inasmuch as standing tim,
ber,' whether green and growing or burned
and dead, is a part of the realty, and can
not be disposed of separate from the land
in the absence of special provision Of law.
From the facts stated IL is clear, however.
that unless some authority is given by
which settlers may utilize the timber on
their respective claims much additional loss
and suffering must ensue TO them and mil
lions of feet of now valuable lumber must
go TO destruction. / therefore urgently rec
ommend that. promptly upon the reassem-
bling of Congress, a law be enacted by
which the settlers shall be allowed to per-
feet their claims by Communication Thereon
to cash purchase at the legal price per
tunity would be given TO cut and dispose
of the burned timber during the early part
OF the approaching winter and before II
from destruction and In some degrees re-
lieving the suffering TO which the settlers
ing confagration. II would seem that the
instincts of humanity and justice demand
such legislation. l would further recon-
mend that such other provisions for the
deem proper may be made by following the
precedent set in a similar case or hires IN
the same States by the act OF Congress OF
June 8. 1872"
Commissioner Lamoreaux recommends an
innovation in survey work. Instead of the
contract system under which public lands
are now surveyed. he says that the gov
eminent should make the surveys. He sug-
gests that the work be lone by the geolog-
ical survey. and points out that the pres
ent geological survey is compelled TO so
over the same ground which has been pre-
viously gone over by the contract survey
or. The geographical survey and the topo-
graphical survey can be made at the same
time, and with much less expense. He also
that the surveys be made as
fast as possible.
The disposal of land for the year ending
June 80 was as follows: Sold for cash,
6l3. S6 acres; miscellaneous entries, 9,76S, 39S
acres: Indian lands. 2S,S6 acres. a total de-
crease. compared with last year. of l,4S.-
DAB acres. The total cash receipts of the
office were 81. 767, S24, a decrease of 81, III, 909;
total agricultural patents issued. 1920, a
decrease of S,429. Mineral patents. 1858;
railroad land grants patented, S65,556 acres:
approved to States under public grants.
Sl9.9 acres; Indian and miscellaneous pat
ents, 305,592 acres; total number of acres
patented. 2,533, 135. Surveys amounting TO
6.923. 4s7 acres have been approved during
the year.
The Commissioner recommends that an
appropria ton be made for at least six at
torneys to supervise and direct the pro-
ceedings of the special agents operating In
the districts. to be designated by the Com
missioner, the attorneys to have charge OF
the prosecution of cases discovered by the
special agents. He renews his recommen-
dalton of last year that the law authoriz-
ing permits to cut timber on public lands
he rpnpaied