Evening star., 1898-10-12

the extension of the rectangular system
over the territory or the adoption of any
system or method ,of carrying on the work
of surveying the public lands.
After CAREFUL 4sonsideration of the nature
OF the counSy ard the wide areas of noun
taincus landy the improbablity of many ap-
phcatlons fer surveys of tracts agricultural
in character. theSprobable isolation of the
So-acre lots. the Maximum amount allowed
to homestead settlers, and the impractical
Dlllty or fTming a connected system of
base and shndar1 lines which shall en-
brace the entire district. 1 have deemed it
best Tor the present to continue the deposit
system of surveys which was In existence
prior to the passage of the act above cited.
If 1t shall hereafter be developed that there
are large areas of arabic land amounting
to considerable, number of townships 1
shall adopt the system of Independent base
ana meridian lines, as is the practice in
other districts whenever it is found i'm
practicable to extend the exterior lines
over inaccessible portions. of thu country.
Through the courtesy Of the superin-
tendent of the United States coast and
geodetic survey, who has commissioned
several parties this summer to make sur
veys in Alaska, auxiliary meridians have
been established at points where observa-
tons have been taken and coast survey
monuments established by which means
valuable aid in the direction of accuracy is
given to the deputies who shall be called
upon to survey homes tead or other entries
Between one and two hundred applica-
ticns for surveys under the act of March
;, 1891, permitting entries for trading and
manufacturing purposes have been made
but owing to the inherent defects in the
surveys and failure to comply with the re-
quirements of the act very few of these
Alaska entries have been perfected so as to
receive patsnt.'
Railroad Land Grants.
There were certified and patented under
the land grants made by Congress to aid
in the construction of railroads during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, ,O32, ,534. "a
acres of land, a decrease of 4,069, ,434. Al
acres as compared with the acreage during
the year ending June 80 1897.
Mineral Patents.
Of mineral and mill-site patents l .259
were issued, as against 1,0S6 for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1897, an increase of
ia. OF coal patents fortythree were is
sued, against thrty-two for the preced-
ing year, an increase of IL, and included
an area of 49OI93 acres, against an
area of 3,606.5 acres, an increase of 1901 "a
acres.
In the number of original homestead en-
tries there is shown an increase of IL, 130
over the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897
and in the area embraced in such entries an
increase of LISA ,2f7.77 acres. In final home
stead entries there was an increase in
number of entries of 2.166. with an in
crease in area of land contained in such
entries of 73 3S10S4 acres.
The entire disposals of public lands show
an increase of GA, 1925 acres as COM
pared with the aggregate of disposals dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80 1897.
The total casn receipts show an increase
of $3.50 063.90.
other Recommendations.
The following recommendations are
made:
Recommendation renewed of an enactment
for the compulsory attendance of witnesses
at hearings in contested land cases before
the local land officers.
Recommendation of legislation for dispos-
ing of coal lands in forest reservation.
OF repeal of timber law of June ), 1878,
and August i, 1892,
OF withdrawal Of lands chiefly valuable
for timber f9r forest reservations.
OF general law, for the protection and
use of timber on unsurveyed lands.
OF increased force of special agents to
protect the public timber.