The evening times., 1899-10-30
MILLIONS OF ACRES LHfT
Whole Counties Of Land in This
Country Unclaimed.
An Annual Report to the Secretary
of the Interior Shows Much Iniml-
grafton Is Still Needed I'm the West.
Where the Property Is Located.
Deserts That Cannot Be Utilized.

That there is no danger Of this country
becoming overcrowded for centuries, and
that immigrants are needed, especially
those of the agricultural class, is made
apparent from the annual report Of the
Commissioner of the General Land Office
submitted to the Secretary of the Interior.
At the Office of the Commissioner today 1t
was announced that there are still 579,-
PA acres unappropriated and unre-
served public lands in the United States,
exclusive of Alaska, and 359, ,492. .76o
acres unsurveyed in that territory,
making a total OF 93S.s61,034 acres unap-
propriated and unresedved. OF this asea, ex-
cepting Alaska however, 546.54s,655 acres.
are in the so-called desert land States and
Territories. -'
OF the vacant lands in these States and
Territories, il is estimated that 332, 900
are of a character that may be demoni-
mated desert" under the law providing for
the disposal of desert lands-that is, lands
that do not produce native grass in suf1i-
cient quantity to make an ordinary crop
of hay in the usual seasons, and lands
which without irrigation, do not contain
sufficient moisture to produce natural
growth of trees, or make an agricultural
crop possible.
Notwithstanding very large percentage
of these lands do, at some season OF the
year. produce grasses and herbs Of some
value for grazing. but with inconsiderable
exceptions they are valueless for other
purpose without irrigation.
The unappropriated land is divided as
follows:
Arizona-Total area, 54,369,O23 acres;
desert and grazing. 29,s47. 900 acres; barren,
Ia CT n
woodland and forest. 1922, O23 acres; esti-
mater water supply necessary to reclaim
this land, 100000 acres.
California-Total area. AZ, ,503,023 acres;
desert and grazing 10 ,S75, 600 acres; barren,
irreclaimable wastes, 19,OOoOO0 acres,
woodland and forest, S62s,o23 acres; esti-
mated water supply necessary to reclaim
this land, 100000 acres.
Colorado-Total area, S9,IOS,55l acres
desert and grazing, 21S0S.0O0 acres; wood
land and forest, IL .900,55l acres: estimated
water supply necessary TO reclaim this land,
5000 000 acres.
Idaho-Total area, 44,2O7949 acres; des-
ert and grazing, Ii, ,475,000 acres: woodland
and forest. 26. 6.732. .949 acres: estimated wa
ter supply necessary to reclaim desert land,
100000 acres
Montana-Total area, 1907 GIG acres;
desert and grazing, 4905S,000 acres; wood
land and forest, %, ,539, 616 acres; estimated
water supply necessary 10 reclaim desert
land. 10000 900 acres.
Nevada-Total area, 61,S5S. 509 acres;
desert and grazing, s,506, 600 acres; barren,
irreclaimable wastes, 20.00O,000 acres;
woodland and forest, 2,S52 COS acres; esti-
mated water supply necessary to reclaim
land. 1900, 0G0 acres.
New Mexico-Total area, 56,Sil,S35 acres;
desert and grazing 46.SS3,000 acres; wood
land and forest, 1894, 1885, acres.
North Dakota--Total area, 20,574,613
acres; desert and grazing, 20,402, 600 acres;
woodland and forest. 1888 acres; esti-
mated water supply necessary to reclaim
desert land. 100000 acres.
Oregon-Total area 35,S9I .S69 acres: des-
ert and grazing, 1851 900 acres; woodland
and forest, 1880, ,S69 acres: estimated wa
ter supply necessary to reclaim land, g.
000, 900 acres.
South Dakota-Total area 1889, ,S26
acres: desert and grazing, 12.O13,OOO acres;
woodland and forest, 909,S26 acres; esti-
mated water supply necessary to reclaim
land. 100000 acres.
Utah-Total area, 43, ,937, 1896 acres; desert
and grazing. 1913. 600 acres; barren, ire
claimable wastes, 10000, 600 acres; wood
land and forests, 1761S, 1896; estimated wa
ter supply to reclaim land, 1000. .000 acres.
Washington-Total area. 13,442,5s2 acres;
desert and grazing, 3.S47,oOO acres; wood
land and forest, 1856. $50 acres; estimated
water supply to reclaim desert land, 3,000,-
005 acres.
Wyoming-Total area, 49,0S1,263 acres;
desert and grazing, 33,006000 acres; bar
ren irreclaimable wastes, 100000 acres;
Woodland and forests, II, OK, ,263 acres; es-
timated water supply to reclaim land, g.,
900, 900 acres.
OF more than 300, O,OOO,O 600 acres of desert
lands requiring irrigation TO render them
valuable farming lands, the available water
supply is sufficient for but 600 acres,
thus leaving an estimated area Of 260,676,-
600 acres suitable only for grazing pur-
poses.
The average price of land in the sections
mentioned is s1.25 an acre, but land that
has been cultivated is valued ct a greater |
price. Four of the States mentioned are
the greatest gold and silver mining States |
in the Union. They are Colorado, Califor- |
mia, South Dakota and Montana.