Page images
PDF
EPUB

tors for the north and south wings; also, for a structure connecting the north and south wings through center of court-yard.

Six hundred dollars were offered for the design deemed best and recommended by the skilled architects acting as a commission for the examination of the plans submitted.

The commission consisted of James K. Wilson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Richard M. Upjohn, of New York, and H. W. Hartwell, of Boston, Mass.

These gentlemen entered upon their duties on the 22d of July, and after a careful examination and earnest consideration of the various plans before them submitted a unanimous report on the 9th of August, recommending the design which had been submitted by J. A. Vrydagh, of Terre Haute, Ind. All the plans were examined by the commission without knowledge on their part of the names of the competing architects. The award was thereupon made to Mr. Vrydagh, and $600 paid to him in accordance with the terms of the circular and the act authorizing the payment. He was invited to visit Washington for the purpose of conferring with the department in relation to the work, and was subsequently authorized to complete the detailed drawings and submit estimates of the work in detail; also, the total cost of the reconstruction.

This labor was performed, and the detailed drawings, together with the estimates, were received at the department on the 14th of the present month. The total cost of the reconstruction upon the plan recommended by the commission is estimated at $973,931.90. The reconstruction of the building upon this plan would secure an addition of at least seventy commodious rooms and other conveniences not now possessed, and would make the entire structure practically fire-proof.

In view of the short time intervening between the completion of the detailed drawings and the meeting of Congress, and the further fact that no obligations can be incurred beyond the amount of money appropriated, I have deemed it proper to delay further action until the plans and estimates shall have been submitted to Congress, and such additional legislation had as will provide for the prompt prosecution of the work. While I recognize the absolute necessity of providing more room for the growing wants of the department, I have not felt authorized to begin a work the completion of which would so materially change the style and architectural proportions of the building as it now stands.

The plans, estimates, and all facts necessary to a thorough understanding of the work will be transmitted to Congress at an early day, with the recommendation that, in the event of the design being approved or other direction given, a sufficient appropriation be made to cover the estimated cost of the improvement, so that the reconstruction of the building be no longer delayed.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. SCHURZ, Secretary of the Interior.

The PRESIDENT.

REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

LETTER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE TRANSMITTING HIS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1878.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
October 28, 1878.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual report of this office showing the business transacted during the fiscal year ending with the 30th June, 1878. This report shows

First. The extent of surveys, exhibiting the area surveyed during the fiscal year as 8,041,011.83 acres, the whole area surveyed since the beginning of public surveys as 724,311,477 acres, and the area of the States and Territories containing public lands which remains unsurveyed as 1,090,461,171 acres.

Second. It shows the extent of the disposals of public lands during the fiscal year. Under this head it appears that the whole number of acres disposed of during the year is 8,686,178.88 acres, showing an increase of 3,836,411.18 acres over the area disposed of during the previous fiscal year. The total of disposals for the year is made up of the following items, viz:

Cash entries....

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 136,868.57 acres. Homestead entries....

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 2,240,336.75 acres. Timber culture entries....

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 1,349,760.79 acres. Desert land entries under act of March 3, 1877, this being the first entire year of its operation........

Agricultural-college scrip locations.

Being a decrease of 640 acres as compared with the previous fiscal year. Locations with military bounty land warrauts, under acts of 1847, 1850, 1852 and 1855

Being a decrease of 12,480 acres as compared with the previous fiscal year.

State selections approved:

For school indemnity

For internal improvements...
For agrienltural colleges..

For universities.

For salt springs

....

50, 142, 59
17,420, 39
24, 097.40

44, 44.43

24, 114.56

Acres. 877,555. 14

4, 41, 344.92

1,870, 434. 18

310, 553, 05 640.00

84,720.00

For public buildings

29, 146.33

For penitentiary

25, 226.83

....

214,992. 53

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 59,354.80 acres.

tors for the north and south wings; also, for a structure connecting the north and south wings through center of court-yard.

Six hundred dollars were offered for the design deemed best and recommended by the skilled architects acting as a commission for the examination of the plans submitted.

The commission consisted of James K. Wilson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Richard M. Upjohn, of New York, and H. W. Hartwell, of Boston, Mass.

These gentlemen entered upon their duties on the 22d of July, and after a careful examination and earnest consideration of the various plans before them submitted a unanimous report on the 9th of August, recommending the design which had been submitted by J. A. Vrydagh, of Terre Haute, Ind. All the plans were examined by the commission without knowledge on their part of the names of the competing architects. The award was thereupon made to Mr. Vrydagh, and $600 paid to him in accordance with the terms of the circular and the act authorizing the payment. He was invited to visit Washington for the purpose of conferring with the department in relation to the work, and was subsequently authorized to complete the detailed drawings and submit estimates of the work in detail; also, the total cost of the reconstruction.

This labor was performed, and the detailed drawings, together with the estimates, were received at the department on the 14th of the present month. The total cost of the reconstruction upon the plan recommended by the commission is estimated at $973,931.90. The reconstruction of the building upon this plan would secure an addition of at least seventy commodious rooms and other conveniences not now possessed, and would make the entire structure practically fire-proof.

In view of the short time intervening between the completion of the detailed drawings and the meeting of Congress, and the further fact that no obligations can be incurred beyond the amount of money appropriated, I have deemed it proper to delay further action until the plans and estimates shall have been submitted to Congress, and such additional legislation had as will provide for the prompt prosecution of the work. While I recognize the absolute necessity of providing more room for the growing wants of the department, I have not felt authorized to begin a work the completion of which would so materially change the style and architectural proportions of the building as it now stands.

The plans, estimates, and all facts necessary to a thorough understanding of the work will be transmitted to Congress at an early day, with the recommendation that, in the event of the design being approved or other direction given, a sufficient appropriation be made to cover the estimated cost of the improvement, so that the reconstruction of the building be no longer delayed.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

/C. SCHURZ, Secretary of the Interior.

The PRESIDENT.

REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

LETTER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE TRANSMITTING HIS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1878.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
October 28, 1878.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual report of this office showing the business transacted during the fiscal year ending with the 30th June, 1878. This report shows

First. The extent of surveys, exhibiting the area surveyed during the fiscal year as 8,041,011.83 acres, the whole area surveyed since the beginning of public surveys as 724,311,477 acres, and the area of the States and Territories containing public lands which remains unsurveyed as 1,090,461,171 acres.

Second. It shows the extent of the disposals of public lands during the fiscal year. Under this head it appears that the whole number of acres disposed of during the year is 8,686,178.88 acres, showing an increase of 3,836,411.18 acres over the area disposed of during the previous fiscal year. The total of disposals for the year is made up of the following items, viz:

Cash entries..

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 136,868.57 acres. Homestead entries....

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 2,240,336.75 acres. Timber culture entries..

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 1,349,760.79 acres. Desert land entries under act of March 3, 1877, this being the first entire year of its operation....

Agricultural-college scrip locations.

Being a decrease of 640 acres as compared with the previous fiscal year. Locations with military bounty land warrants, under acts of 1847, 1850, 1852 and 1855

Being a decrease of 12,480 acres as compared with the previous fiscal year.

State selections approved:

For school indemnity

For internal improvements..

Acres. 877, 555. 14

4, 418, 344. 92

1,870, 434. 18

310, 553, 05 640.00

84,720.00

50,142.59

17,420.39

For agricultural colleges..

24, 097.40

[blocks in formation]

Being an increase over the previous fiscal year of 59,354.80 acres.

[blocks in formation]

Locations of scrip issued under the acts of June 2, 1858, and June 22, 1860, in lieu of lands embraced in private claims, but not taken in place

Lands patented to States as swamp under act of September 28, 1850, or approved as such to Louisiana, under the act of March 2, 1849, which has the effect of a patent

Being a decrease as compared with the previous fiscal year of 211,492.51 acres.

Lands certified for railroad purposes

Being a decrease as compared with previous fiscal year of

94,451.31 acres.

Lands certified for canal purposes..

7,788, 140.78

83, 143. 60

7,871, 284.38

202,925, 85

8, 074, 210. 23

606, 340.65

5,628.00

611, 968. 65

Total number of acres disposed of during the fiscal year......... 8,686, 178.88 The figures given show a great increase in the quantity of land taken up by the class of actual settlers as homesteads and for the purpose of timber culture.

The moneys received during the year amount to $2,022,532.16, for cash sales, for homestead and timber culture fees and commissions, and other fees paid, being an increase over the previous fiscal year of $569,562.93. Third. The report gives a statement of the operations of the surveyors general in the sixteen surveying districts during the last fiscal year, in which reference is made to detailed reports from them, which are appended. Under this head is included a statement of the survey of the Dakota and Wyoming boundary line, the survey of the boundary between the State of Arkansas and the Indian Territory, the survey of the Cherokee Indian lands in North Carolina, and the survey of townships 18 and 19 north, of range 1 west, in Michigan, pursuant to special acts of Congress therein mentioned.

Fourth. It gives particulars of the business connected with the disposals of public lands through the registers and receivers of the district land offices-ninety-eight in number-the examining, adjusting, and reporting of their accounts, and incidental business.

Fifth. It shows the work done in connection with the suppression of timber depredations on the public lands, adjusting of private land claims and transferring to parties entitled the land covered thereby, and pre-. sents information with regard to abandoned military and Indian reservations and miscellaneous matters.

Sixth. In the course of the report, the Commissioner recommends legislation as follows, viz:

1. That section 2262 of the Revised Statutes be so modified as to admit of the affidavit of the claimant in pre-emption cases, now required to be taken before the register or receiver of the district office, being taken before the judge, or in his absence before the clerk of any court of record in the county in which the land claimed may be situated, as the law now allows of homestead final affidavits and proof being taken.

2. He recommends the repeal of sections 2382, 2383, 2384, and 2385

« PreviousContinue »