The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-03
LAND STILL LEFT.
Some 1858, 143 Acres of Unappro-
priated and Unreserved Lands
in Minnesota. 81.
In North Dakota There Are 1901.
AZ Acres and 1883, Alb in 81
South Dakota.

rFrom The Journal bureau. Room So. Ioa
Guiding, Warrington.
Washington, Nov. 3.-There are 1858, :
14S acres of unappropriated and unre-
served lands In Minnesota, of which 1885,
$50 acres are surveyed and 2.O19.5OS, acres
unsurVeyed, according to the annual re-
port OF Land Commissioner Hermann,
made public to-day. The area of reserved
land is 5.o05.5OS acres. and IL, 644t29 acres
are already appropriated.
The report says that the survey work
authorized in Minnesota during the year
included three contracts, with aggregate
liability of S. 100, and thirteen small sur
veys of islands under special instructions,
the average cost of which was SIS each.
oil being payable from the general APP
Dropriation.
There is also contract of $4,000 for
surveying a remnant OF Chippewa Indian
lands tract which was long Of uncer-
tain status, at the northwest angle Of the
Lake Of the Woods.
The surveyor generals report states
what progress has been made in eNamin-
Ing and plating the returns received from
these and prior contracts. The surveys
approved at that office during the year
contained 1,01S miles Of line with a new
area Of 1882 acres, and requiring the
plating Of seventeen townships in tripli-
cate
The report omits to make the usual eX-
hibit Of disposition Of pending contracts
during the year. The following facts are
therefore given:
The commissioner has accepted eight
small island surveys and nine other sur
Neys under contracts. Five Of these We're
by Deputy Ogaard. the others by Mullgan,
McGilvray and Croswell. He has sus-
pended five quite extensive contracts for
defective and erroneous work found by
field examiners and rejected two others
for the same condition after reported cor
Tection.
A large amount Of the most severe and
exhauseing labor performed by any Of the
office examiners has been done in the
forests and marshes Of northern Mime
sofa at all seasons Of the past fiscal year.
The retracement of deputies lines In the
heavy snow and coolest weather in winter
has been found more practicable and en-
durable by the agents of the department
than to endure the wading and heat and
insects Of the summer season.
In North Dakota.
In North Dakota there are 1901, AT
acres of unappropriated lands, Of which
10.121,977 acres are surveyed and 4,949,5O0
acres are unsurveYed The reserved area
embraces 1926. 400 acres, and the APP
propriated lands 26,51S, 113 acres.
The report Of the surveyor general gives
data Of four surveying contracts, about
equal in extent, covering the amount OF
the appropriation Of $4,000 for the past
fiscal year. No other class Of surveys or
office work. except those on public lands,
belongs to this district.
The field work which was examined,
approved, plated and otherwise COM
pleted. from prior contracts, gave total
of 3,120 miles. Township pats to the
number Of 127 were made, and II books
Of transcripts. while the correspondence
involved the issue Of III letters
The replacing Of the records of the Of
fee which were destroyed by fire has been
continued and will soon be completed. The
c,'Ses., Of the field notes, correspondence
;hystc; Fats necessarily had to be made at
r sGs' hseneral land office and transmitted
to the surveyor general for binding, in
dexing and filing.
In South Dakota.
South Dakota has 11,3S3,413 acres Of
nnreserved and unappropriated land, of
which 10.985,547 acres Is surveyed and
S97S68 acres unsurveyed. The surveyor
general reports that the field work in his
district has been of three kinds-namely
surveys In the Pine Ridge Indian reserva-
ton, mineral surveys in the Black Hills
and surveys Of claims for homesteads
by metes and bounds. under a special act
with forest reservation.
One contract was awarded for work
in the Indian reservation. The office
work performed on previous contracts
lines In Indian reservations. All of this
work has been accepted by the genera
land office except two sets Of returns re.
Gently filed.
In the matter Of mineral surveys, de.
posts for office expenses have amounted
to s1o,41O. The returns from mineral dep
uties which were approved and plated II
the year embraced ats locations for min
ing purposes. At the date Of the repor
there was only one such survey awaiting
office disposal.
The surveyor general renews his forme
urgent recommendation for official in
spection Of mineral surveys before &C
ceptance, and refers to departmental de
csons which impose new conditions o
great Importance. This subject affect
all cases Of incorrect or questionable sur
veys that have gone to patent, whethe
mineral or otherwise.
Other Matters.
The report shows that the Northern Pa
cific Railroad company received patent
for 1918, 007 acres Of land under its gran
during the year. Under the provisions o
grants to aid schools and other state in
stitutions, South Dakota received patent
FOR 25.9S7 acres.
In regard to unlawful fencing of pub
lie lands, the commissioner says: "Stren
uous efforts have been made to break u
the practice of controlling the publ
lands by fencing. Special agents have In
vestigated 1853 unlawful Enclosures, con
tanning 1852, S44 acres, of which nine in
closures, embracing 24,564 acres, We're re
ported removed, and the remainder +
process Of removal, or the cases laid be
fore the proper United States attorne
for prosecution Of the persons maintain
ing the Enclosures in violation Of law
None Of these unlawful Enclosures wa
reported in the Dakotas, but there wer
nine cases in Montana, embracing 1914
acres. Six were removed on notice fror
SlNpIE RENfnY EnR cATARRN