Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1880.djvu/33

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The cash receipts were $2,290,161.60, an increase of $407,048.04. During the fiscal year 15,699,253 acres of public lands were surveyed, and 652,151.37 acres of private land claims, an increase of 7,253,471 acres. The total area of public lands surveyed up to 30th June last is 752,557,195 acres, leaving still unsurveyed an estimated area of 1,062,231,729 acres.

The Public Lands Commission, appointed in conformity with the act of March 3, 1879, and consisting of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, the Director of the Geological Survey, and Messrs. John A. Powell, A. T. Britton, and Thomas Donaldson, was duly organized on July 8, 1879, and submitted to me on the 24th of February, 1880, its preliminary report, which I had the honor to transmit to you on the 24th of February, 1880, for submission to Congress.

In compliance with the provisions of the law, the work was subdivided into two principal parts&#8212;first, the codification of the present laws relating to the survey and disposition of the public domain; and, second, investigation of the whole subject, with a view to recommend new legislation.

The preliminary report above referred to contains a carefully-prepared bill providing for the survey and disposal of the public lands of the United States.

Before preparing the bill the commission distributed a circular letter making inquiries of various intelligent persons throughout the States and Territories as to what legislation might be required regarding the disposal of the public domain.

This circular letter contained, among many others, inquiries in regard to rainfall, irrigation, water rights, the area of pasturage, timber, and mineral lands; also as to the climatic conditions in various localities, and so on. The commission visited all the Western States and Territories, and as much as possible personally informed themselves upon these various topics on the ground.

The proposed legislation as embodied in the bill accompanying the report is predicated upon the information elicited by the circular, as well as personal inspection and investigation.

The importance of the passage of this or some similar bill by Congress cannot be overestimated. Existing laws for the survey and disposal of the public domain, were enacted mainly while the government was disposing of public lands east of the Missouri River. The climate, soil,