The National tribune., 1908-01-16
GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
Report of Commissioner General BnIIin-
Eer-Brief Statement of Land Condi-
tiOns.


Eer-Brief Statement of Land Condi-
tions.
Commissioner Ballinger, of the Gem
eral Land Office. in submitting to the
Secretary of the Interior for submis-
sion to congress, through the Secretary
of the Treasury, his annual estimates
for appropriations for the work of his
Bureau. asked for an appropriation Of
$500, 900 to carry on effectively the field
work of his Bureau in the protection
of the public lands. an increase of
$250,000 over the current appropria-
ton, and in this connection has pre-
pared some interesting data as to that
part of the work of his Bureau for the
fiscal years 1905-1907. The number
of entries of all classes within coal
areas, not treated of in the following
statement, which will have to be ex-
amined to determine the character of
the land, ETC.. will largely increase the
amount of field work to be performed
by the agents of the General Land
Office during the ensuing fiscal year.
During the fiscal years 1861 there
were entered Of record for investiga-
ton on the field dockets of the special
agents of the General Land Office "a
459 cases of all kinds. OF these the
agents Investigated and disposed of
12,104 cases, and 1886 cases remained
for examination July l, 1907. Since
then ihe number of cases has largely
| increased.
OF the above 24,459 cases, 1919
arose upon complaint by citizens Iiv-
| ing near the lands, 5.532 cases were
originated by agents while making in
vestigatiOns in the field, and s,778 cases
originated upon general orders of sus-
pension by the Department and Gen.
eral Land Office.
| A short summary of some of the
results of the above work shows 2,242
land entries were relinquished after the
case was in the hands of the special
/ agent for investigation; 80 patented
| land entries were reconveyed to the
Government after suit brought on re-
port OF special agents; 353 entries were
Cancelled after hearings had upon
| special agents charges. Three hun
dred and sixty-seven unlawful in
closures of public lands were
removed restoring 1,94O,12O acres
to the open range; rs persons
were indicted, of whom 29 were
brought to trial, with 27 convictions
and two acqufttals; 46 to be tried
Seventy-two fencing cases, covering
| 511,O76 acres. We're referred to the De-
partment of Justice, but not acted upon
July 1 last. OF timber trespass cases
| investigated by special agents S1I9,-
1
Office. s1S9,61S.03 was paid into the
Department of Justice. s26.539 paid
to the Forester; $60,547.47 in PROPOSE
tions remained to be acted upon, and
s3S,436.74 in judgments remained un-
| collected; 1S5 indictments for timber
| trespass were secured; 1913 trials had.
with 113 convictions and 10 acquittals
] and disagreements, and 81 cases not
brought to trial. For conspiracy to
defraud the United states of public
lands there were 1877 indictments, 55
convictions and IA acquittals, and 12S
cases awaiting trial.
In criminal cases s6S,015.65 in fines
We're levied, of which s20,590.65 was
paid.
The total of moneys recovered by
the Government on all special agents
cases was s386,251.62. and 2,372,223
acres of land was either freed from
| fraudulent claims of title or released
from unlawful inclosure and occupancy.
| The above summary shows that the
present force of agents is large enough
to handle about One-half of the normal
amount of work requiring action in the
| field before this office can pass upon
and finally adjudicate all pending cases.
In an endeavor to in a measure over
take the i.-cunulating field work hear
ingS before registers and receivers were
postponed during the last Summer AS
| a consequence there are 1,129 such
trials now set or at issue, to reach
which both men and funds are made
| OlIate.