Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1882 — THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. [ARTICLE]

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Abstract of the Report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The Commissioner of the Land Office, in his annua! report, states that tl*e lands now embraced within the limits of the public domain amount to 900,000,000 acres, including Alaska. He recommends that the Pre-emp-ti n law be abolished, as the Homestead laws cover all cases now arising. Public sales of land last year amounted to 7,931 acres, embracing 5,016 acres near Toledo, Ohio which were sold for $16,735, an average of $3.38 per acre. Respecting the forfeiture of railroad grants the Commissioner says: “ The status of various grants for railroad purposes where roads have not been constructed within the time prescribed by law was reported to Congress March 28 last. The absence of legislative action touching the renewal of these grants or declaring the forfe ture thereof seriously embarrassed the work of this office. It is not deemed expedient to certify additional lands to the railroad companies, nor to award to the companies lands in dispute between them and settlers or other claimants, pending the determination of Congress in the premises. Large numbers of settlers occupy such lands, and it is important to know whether they can receive their titles from the United States, or whether they will be required to purchase from the railroad companies. Commissioner Macfarland submits an estimate for the salaries and contingent expenses of the next fiscal year, amounting in the aggregate to $453,940, which is an increase of- the amount appropriated for the current fiscal year of $33,940. The increase is distributed generally among the bureau officers, and 'includes $3,000 for an Assistant Commissioner. In accordance with an act passed at the last session of Congress, the Commissioner of the General Land Office is now preparing for publication a volume containing the codified Land laws and the history of the public domain of the United States, compiled and S fired by the Public Land Commission, all of the subsequent Land laws passed up to the day of adjournment of the last Congresa There will be a limited number of volumes published for general distribution, and many applications for them have already been received from lawyers and persons engaged in the land business, to whom the book will be of much value. Amite- county, Miss., has neither paupers nor prisoners.