The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-07-20
Government Retains Title to
462,157 Acres in
Michigan.
DECREASE OF 1886 ACRES
From Last Year-All of the Upper
Peninsula Counties Still
Have Large Tracts.


Marquette land Office, according to
the Mining Journal, has just CON-
pleted the compilation of his report
on the acreage OF United States
lands which now compose the public
domain of the state of Michigan.
The aggregate for all, the counties
on July l, 1901, was 462, 157 acres.
Last year the total acreage COM
prised in the public domain was
3,0l3, so it would appear that the
decrease in the past twelve months
has been but 1886 acres.
This figure does really show the
aggregate decrease in the landSmak-
ing up the public domain, but, ow-
ing to cancellations and the reclaim
ing of the lands affected, it does not
furnish fair index to the business
Of the Marquette land Office, which,
for the year ending July /, 1901,
handled 36,921.15 acres of govern
ment lands, this being the total of
the homestead entries.
The cancellations are continual, (,
the land which reverts back to the
government only TO be taken up by
new homesteaders causing con-
stant fuctuation in the acreage of
the public domain. 1t would appear
from the figures cited above that
the total of these cancelled claims
taken up exceeds that Of the new
claims filed on by homesteaders.
Following is the acreage of the
public domain by counties:
Alcoua, Z 536 acres; Alger; 6,6T2;
Alpena, 2,934; Antrim, go; Arenac,
e9l; Baraga, IL, ,363; Benzie, 2,444j !
Charlevoix, 2.j5i; Cheboygan, 8, 9,06l;
Chippewa, 60, Clare, 2,s24;
Crawford, 20,511; Delta, 16,Ol9;
Dickinson, 1853; Gladwin, $4,000;
Gogebic, 925; Grand Traverse, ,0S0;
Houghton, 3.6Sl; Iosco, 36,6ls;
Iron. 8,6I5; Kalkaska, ISIS; Ke-
weenaw isle Royale), 1862; Lake,
2,542; Leelanau, 3,G26; Luce, 20, AGA; ;
Mackinac, 9,019; Manistee, 943;
Marquette, 47,482; Mason, 2,2S6;
Menominee, 1913; Mecosta, 24O;
Missaukee, 3,l20; Montmorency,
-, 100; Newaygo, 403; Oceana, 2,059;
Ogemaw, 3,322; Ontonagon, $50;
Osceola, 500; Oscoda, 49, 353 ;Otsego,
900; Presque Isle, 11,l77; Roscom-
mon, 1894; Schoolcraft, 21,4S3;
Wexford, 2l0.
UPPER PENINSULA FILERs.
The important business of the
land Office is transacted in connec-
tion with upper peninsula lands. 1t
will be observed that the several
counties of this section have good
acreages of public lands left. In the
southern part of the state practi-
cally all the desirable homesteads
have been taken up, the lower pen
insula having been settled when the
northern section was yet wilder
ness and it is now supporting the
vast preponderance of the state S
I population. 1t requires careful
search below the straits to find a
tract OF government land worth
filing on and the number of home.
steoders is constantly decreasing.
1t will be observed that many
lower Michigan counties 90 not ap.
pear on the list published above.
| In all these cases the government
land has been entirely preempted
1t will also be observed that each oI
the upper peninsula counties is still
listed and that, without exception
they have good acreages of land
such as it is,still available for home
stead entry.
! OF course it is understood that
the 462, l57 acres remaining OF the
public domain includes the leasl
desirable land of the enormous
acreage once owned by the govern
ment. Every homesteader is look
ing for the best land to be found j.
the commonwealth. Those wh'
fled first picked the choice tract