The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-09-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Upon reports recently received from
the various local Ian offices in the public
land States, and including Alaska, the,
General Land Office has compiled its
annual statement showing the area of the
public domain remaining undisposed of
on July l, 1908
From the statement it appears that the
Government still has an area of 54,8o5,.
2o6 acres of surveyed and nnsurveyed
public lands. Alaska, of course, has an
immense acreage-368, OF 500. The
balance is to be found in twenty-five
States, Nevada leading with an acreage
of 6I,I77o5o.
The Rosebud Indian lands to be dis
posed of by lottery on October 19 are
located on the south line of South Dakota
and adjoin the lands in Gregory county.
which were opened in 1904. They are
very desirable for farming and stock
raising.
AT the opening of the nearby Gregory
county lands four years ago more than
100, 900 persons registered. This time
people will be peruittedSto send in their
applications by mail or otherwise to the
superintendent after they have been
sworn to in one Of the towns on the list.
Soldiers who served for three months
during the Civil War, the Spanish. Amer
lean War or the Philippine insusrection
will not be required to visit the towns
mentioned for the purpose of registering,
but may register through an agent.
~
The carpet on the floor of the adjusting.
room at the San Francisco mint Is about
worn out, and a requisition has been sent
to the Treasury Department for new
one. After the old covering has been
taken up, it will be handled with far
more care than the'new one.
The old carpet will be burned, and
from the ashes the Treasury Department
officials expect TO realize anywhere from
$4,000 to $4,000
In the adjusting-room files are used to
trim off the surplus gold from embryo IS
and $40 pieces. The gold is first run off
into blanks and later stamped; SO it FIRE.
quently happens that a piece is over
weight. Parts of the filing thus taken
off filter to the floor and become i'm.
bedded in the grain of the carpet. The
very best carpets are, purchased for this
room, SO that the closely woven material
will hold securely the scattered bits OF
gold.
1t is nothing unusual for the authorities
to get $1,000 worth of gold out of the
ashes resulting from the burning of one
of these carpets
Employees who haudle bars of the
yellow metal are not permitted TO dis.
pose Of the apron, oyeralls and gloves
with which they are provided. These
articles are all burned after they have out
lived their usefulness and yield a rich
harvest.
~
The United States Government will pay
to all claimants for land overlooked or
otherwise damaged by the construction
OF the Panama Canal less than 5000, 900.
The damages awarded by the joint CON-
mission which recently went over the
claims at Panama amounted to $I43, o8o.
The award of the umpire, Edwin DENLY,
amounted TO $4,000. In certain claims
previously adjusted damages amounting
to about $50, 900 were awarded, making
grand total of $254,eSo. This amount
may be increased somewhat when final
payments are made. but will not reach
5000, 600.
The prices agreed upon by the joint
commission <tanged from SIS gold a
hectare for improved lands to 10 cents a
hectare for swamp lands, hectare being
about 2H acres.
An interesting report has been received
from Vice.Consul James L. A. Burrell at
Magdebnrg respecting the increase in the
population of Germany. He reports that
at the middle of the present year the
population of Germany amounted 10
g oI7ooo, in comparison with 81, oo7. 900
at the middle of 1907, and 6I,I77.ooo in
The middle of Inn6 The ;.,n..... E.