Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1872.djvu/14

10 within a very short time, they must lose faith in the power of our aggressive civilization if they refuse to accept the truth or forego their efforts in this direction until complete success is attained.

Even though the success we hope to attain may be but partial, yet the very efforts the Government is making in so righteous a cause must redound to the substantial good as well as to the honor and glory of the country by attracting public attention to so commendable a work, and educating the people into a higher conception of the duties of the nation.

During the last fiscal year public lands were disposed of as follows:

a quantity greater by 1,099,270.25 acres than was disposed of the previous year. The cash receipts, under various heads, amounted to $3,218,100. During the same period there were surveyed 22,016,608 acres, which, added to the quantity already surveyed, amounts to 583,364,780 acres, leaving unsurveyed an area of 1,251,633,620 acres.

The Commissioner's report is accompanied with the usual papers and tabular statements, showing in detail the transactions of his office for the past year. The reports of the United States surveyors-general, which form the appendix to his report, are replete with the most interesting information in regard to their respective districts. They all make mention of the fruitfuluess of the soil during the past season, and the increased yield of all manner of produce. Even in those States and Territories where mining is the principal pursuit, the agricultural products have so far exceeded the local demand as to cause large shipments of cereals to the Eastern States. The Commissioner's suggestions in reference to the propriety of consolidating into one statute the principal features of the pre-emption and homestead laws, are, in my judgment, specially worthy of the attention of Congress. The necessity of a re-organization of the clerical force in his office, and of vesting him with authority to appoint special agents who shall bring the subordinate land-officers more immediately under his supervision, is clearly and forcibly stated, and the matter will, I earnestly hope, receive the early and favorable action of Congress. I take great pleasure in bearing emphatic testimony to the marked zeal, integrity, and efficiency of the