The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-05
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Commissioner LamOreaux Makes
His Report 10 the Interior
Department.
Creation Of a National Irriga.
ton Commission Among the
Recommendations.
Decline in the Land Office Busi-
ness of the Country Very
Marked.

LaunOTedu, COIllIIllSSIOuer VI tuc Scuerd1
land office has made his annual report
to the secretary of the interior. The
decline of land Office business, as noted
in the last report, still continues. Com
pared with 1894, there has been a de-
crease in land entries of 19,095, and of
6,O16,6S5 acres entered upon; decrease
of final entries to 1854, and a decrease
of cash receipts of $734,3 ,347. The bust
ness of of<he office for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1895, was as follows:
Cash sales 4l7,S7S acres; homestead
entries 5000, ,49l acres; state selections
626, 1859 acres; railroad selections 1857
479 acres; swamp land patents 244, TIA
acres; Indian allotments S5,455 acres;
Indian lands sold AZ, ,54S acres; total cash
receipts 2,O33, 454, patented or certified
with the effect of patenting to railroad
companies S, 1S4, 1886 acres; surveys ac-
cepted by the land office 123, 1858 acres.
Suggestions As to Surveys.
The commissioner recommends that
appropriations for the surveys Of public
lands should be made continuous in
stead of annual, as under the rules Of
the treasury department it had been
found that when extensions had been
made upon contract the extension op-
crates as a new contract and must be
made out of the appropriation OF the
year for which it was made.
Commissioner Lamoreaux also renews
his suggestion of last year that surveys
of public lands be made by the govern.
ment direct, instead of under the
contract systems at present, His sug.
gestion is that the surveys be
made under the supervision of
the director of the geological survey
upon recommendation of the commits.
sioner. He refers to the fact that large
surveys have been under this system in
Indian territory with success. The com.
missioner also points out the difficulties
encountered by the surveyor general OF
Alaska and says there should be addi-
tional land legislation for that territory.
Vacant Lands.
The total area Of vacant public land
in the United States in acres is as fol-
lows: Surveyed, 313,S37 1888; unsur-
veyed, 2S5, ,245,6 ,6O7. The land Office has
examined and has in process of adjust.
ment % land grants to railroads. The
interior department has approved the
findings of the land Office regarding the
land grant adjustments in II cases and
10 other cases for final adjustment have
been submitted to the department.
Discussing the act of the last congress
granting lands to states for irrigation
purposes, Commissioner Lamoreaux says
that he believes the necessity will arise
| in the near future for the creation of a
national commission whose function
| shall be to regulate the distribution OF
these waters which have their origin in
one state and have heretofore been used
by the people of that and superadjacen,
states.
| Other Recomme ndations:
A law to compel the attendance OF
witnesses at land offices in contes,
| cases.
An appropriation Of $4,000 annually
for making examinations necessary fol
the establishment of forest reservations
and for the protection Of reservations
already existing.
An appropriation for six attorneys te
supervise and direct the proceedings OF
special agents operating in as many diff
ferent districts to be designated.
Legislation for the protection and dis
posal of public timber.
Placing the surveying Of public lands
surveys under the geological survey.
Legislation creating the Office of sur
veyor general of Alaska.
An appropriation for so copyists t.
transcribe the press copy records of thu
land Office into permanent records.
The establishment Of a district lant
Office for Alaska, with q register ant
receiver, having the same duties as hk,
officers in the other states and territor
les.
That appropriations for survey b
maze continuous. Legislation for tn,
appointment Of a board Of examiners O
surveys instead of having examination
under the present system.
| Increased Gold Production.
| WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-The treasur,
department has received information
| that the gold prOductiOn IF Siberia fo