David R. Francis

“ VI REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. The national domain is the whole area, land and water, lying within the national boundaries known as the United States. The public domain, or public lands-the property of the nation, and subject to legislative control and disposition by Congress alone-is the area known as public lands acquired by treaty, capture, cession by States, conquest or other acquisition, and purchase. ”

“ That homestead claimants who have made bona fide settlement upon public land, and who are living upon, cultivating, and improving the same in accordance with law and the rules and regulations of this Department, with the intention of acquiring title thereto, may cut and remove, or cause to be cut and removed from the portion thereof to be cleared for cultivation, so much timber as may be actually necessary for that purpose or for buildings, fences, and other improvements on the land entered. ”

“ The expenses of maintaining the land department are considerable, aggregating at present nearly $2,000,000 annually. They can be materially curtailed when the railroad land grants shall have been adjusted.
Unusual diligence has been exercised by the Commissioner of the General Land Office during the past year, as well as from the beginning of his incumbency of that office, in patenting lands granted by Congress and in facilitating in every way the settlement of the vacant lands of our public domain. ”

“ We hope that no act of ours has caused you unnecessary trouble or annoyance; that the kindly feeling you have manifested for our nation will go with you in the further discharge of your onerous duties. ”

“ Of the 114,000,000 acres granted to railroads but not patented, as shown above, there can be no objection to transferring possession and control of whatever portion has been earned by compliance with the grants and may be available thereunder (estimated at 70,000,000 acres) with as much promptness as the facilities of the Government will permit ”

“ THE BECBETAB! OF THE INTERIOR. ‘V Hiscelkneons: Library, Department of the Interior. ... . . ... .. .... .r $500. 00 Repairs Interior Department and Pension buildings . 5, 000. 00 Payment for Supreme Court reports . 608. 00 Government Hospital for Insane. . . . 260, 740. 00 Columbian Institute for the Dent on on . 53, 500. 00 Maintenance Howard University .. . 34, 500. 00 Miscellaneous items and reliefs. 661. 21 Publishing Biennial Registerv .. . . . 4, 000. 00
Expenses special lend inspector, Department of the Interior. .. . 2, 000. 00
Postage to Postal Union countries ................... ”