, 1897-10-27
UNCLE SANS ACRES.
COMMISSIONER HERMANN MAKES
REPORT SHOWING HOW
THEY ARE HELD.
The Largest Acreage of The Governments
Domain Now Lies in Alaska.
Montana and Nevada-Importlnt
Legislation Recommended-AnJth>
err Alaska Ofiica Wanted.

sioner Of rhe general land office. Bingel
Hermann, has submitted his annual re,
port to the secretary OF the interior
Compared with the previous year it
shows a decrease of 3,24S original home
stead entries, aggregating 1886 acres
In the entire disposais OF public land
here was a falling off of 500 0G
acres. The areas sod for cash reached
4l9,O52 acres. and miscellaneous entries
aggregated 1884, 554 acres. The receipts
from disposal of public lands amounted
to 81 $3.50 $50, and from disposal Of In
dian lands. $43S..l6. There were pat
ented, or certified with the effect of pat
enting for the benefit Of railroad COM
panies. under congressional grants, 81
1O1 $50 acres. a decrease d over II ,OOO.-
600 acres from the previous year. An
approximate estimate Of The number of
acres Of vacant public lands in the sew
eral state and territories at the close OF
lie fiscal year is as follows:
Alabama. 532,339: Arizona, 81. 400, 21l;
Arkansas. 1922. 042: California. 43,S41,-
O44; Colorado, 40,O37, 2O4: Florida. L.
1871. G62: Idaho. 5 1867, S55; Kansas. l.,
O46.5 Louisiana. S45 1920: Michigan,
522,43l: Minnesota, 6.240, S09: 'Missis-
sippi. AL .22O: Missouri. 479. 1854: Mon.
lana, T,432,917; Nebraska, 1869. 1858
Nevada, 81, 57S. $50: New Mexico, &c.
9S3,O47; North Dakota. q 1856. 293; Okla
homa. S.105. 23S: Oregon, 1892, 31S:
South Dakota, 1890, us: Utah. 44,2O5,-
O7O; Washington, 1855, 536; Wisconsin,
454,1O7; Wyoming. 1891, 5SS: Alaska,
1868, 500 500 acres. The figures above
given do moi include the vacant land
embraced in military. timber and Indian
reservations, reservoir sites. tracts COW
cred by selection. filings. railroad
grants, etc.
Touching the famous Benson surveys
in California, Commissioner Hermann
says six surveying parties under Mr..
Benson's direction are now in the fed
correcting the surveys under the recent
agreement.
The report calls attention TO the ne
cessity for some further legislative en-
The Carey act, which should tend to
make ecure the capital invested in the
reclamation OF the arid land. Owing to
he recent financial depression, especial.
ly fe.t in the arid land states, but
comparatively little advancement has
been made toward reclamation, but now,
he report says, with the revival OF in
dustries generally and the more ready
supply OF money for investment pur-
poses, there also has been a revival Of
ne former interest in this subject.
The mining industry reached its low
est point during the past year, but is
now "a tle increase. In view O: the
expected filing OF many locations Incl
dent to the opening up Of the upper Yu-
kon district, the commissioner favors
the establishment O. another land dis
trict in A..aska. No;ing the fact that
numerous mining syndicates are already
IN the field. competing for title to ,he
many individual locations made on The
rich mineral discoveries in Alaska, ii is
recommended that the law be so amend
ed as to prohibit the including OF more
than one lode claim or more than 100
acres OF placer ground in a single appli-
cation Or entry.
There were $40 cases Of depredations
on public timber reported. involving a
value of $685., O64 recoverable 10 the gov
ernment. Nearly 800 permits have been
issued to cut public timber since the
passage OF the permit law, with an est;-
mated amount OF timber thus allowed
TO be cut OF 300, OOO, 900 fee. Commits
sioner Hermann says:
Large corporations and companies
have secured permits at different times
to cut many millions Of feet. notably the
Big Blackfoot Milling company. Bitter
Root Developing company and Anacon-
da Mining company, all Of Montana.
Since my induction l have refused to
allow any license or use to exceed one
quarter section. and any further guam
tity only upon showing OF real neces,
sity.
AT the present time timber dealers
yearly sweep vast quantities OF timber
from the public lands in the interests
OF specuiations, without paying a dollar
to the government. and conflagrations
rage through the public forests without
government effort to check destruction.
The timber loss yearly from these
sources co%nservatively runs up into the
millions Of dollars. 1t is impracticable
to protect and administer the forests up
on the timbered lands and execute these
laws"
lA.mong the recommendations are: For
prompt action by congress to terminate
the suspension Of Arkansas land claims;
a change in the course Of proceedings
for the adjustment Of mineral lands, a
modification OF the law imposing penal
ties for depredations on public timber,
and ample appropriations for protecting
and administering, existing and pros
pectfve forest reservations.