Williams news., 1907-03-30
INCONSISTENCIES BENEFIT

to CommlsslOner Balllnger, of the general land office, intended to expedite to the utmost, the issuance of patents to 3O.OOO entrymen whose applications have accumu lated in the general land office The order is based on President Roosevelrs recent action making easier the process of ''proving up" under the law. It directs the com missioner of the land office ito take up for action all loca tions, selections and entries upon which final cer- tificate has been issued, and if the proof is found complete. and there is no pending protest or objection, the seme will be passed to patent in the regular order"
 'The local officers" continues the order, twill proceed in accord ance with the circular of December Z, 1905, governing the manner of giving notice of final proofs and he action taken thereon. You will furnish the maps defining the mineral areas within their respect i've districts as soon as they are provided by the geological survey
 "All loca tions, selections and entries of lands in non mineral areas will be considered by the local officers under the above circular, with view to final action by them and the issuance of final certificate in the regular order.
 "Locations, selections and entries for lands in the mineral areas may be made under existing rules, but shall not pass to final certificate or approvol except upon the report of a field officer.
 You will instruct local officers that it is equally their duty to facilitate the issuance of final cer- tificates to bona fde settlers, as to guard the interests of the public and government in preventing illegal entries and that. in the per formance of their duties they will be held 10 strict account for the ! # 1;,orot,o,> good judgment. It is expected that registers and receivers in their respective districts will obtain knowledge of the general character and quality of the public land over which their jurisdiction extends, and in the disposition of cases be fore these officers they should make use of such knowledge. either in aiding the entrymen or in prevent ing an illegal entry, as the case may be.
 ''In accordance with the con ference which we have had, you will at once take such action as is necessary so as 10 organize your field office force, either by way of redistribution or concentration, as will make it possible to most effect ually carry out the order of the president:
 "All regulations or instructions in conflict herewith are revoked" " In discussing the order, Secretary Garfield said:
 "This order is one of unusal i'm portance to the citizens of the pub lie land states, involving as it does about 3O,OO0 entries and a large number of locations and selections which have accumulated in the general land office pending ex animation before the issuance of patents. Included in these are about 10000 homesteads, 1000 timber anu stone and other cash entries made under specific laws, 1000 desert land and 500 mineral entries.
 "To bring the work up to date the clerical force of the general land office are working overtime and will be employed fully ten weeks.
 "The order does not affect coal land areas, but these will be covered immediately by subsequent orders and directions.
 Because of the failure of con- gross to provide an additional