2,812,624 acres were allowed under the stock raising act of December 29, 1916.

The area patented during the fiscal year 1924 is 8,826,039 acres, a decrease of 569,777 acres as compared with the fiscal year 1923. Of the above area, 5,530,781 acres were patented under the homestead laws, a decrease of 779,149 acres, not including as homestead 1,417 acres patented as soldiers' additional entries.

Cash receipts and expenditures.-The total cash receipts from sales, leases, and other disposition of public lands (including receipts for copies of records, sales of Government property, etc.), for the fiscal year 1924 were $16,013,915.07, and from sales of Indian lands, $359,088.97, an aggregate of $16,373,004.04, all of which was deposited in the Treasury.

Five per cent of the net proceeds from cash sales of public lands are paid to the public-land States within which such sales were made, and the balance of such net receipts from States included within the reclamation act, together with the net receipts from fees and commissions from these States, are paid into the reclamation fund; 90 per cent of the net receipts under the mineral leasing act from lands outside of naval petroleum reserves are divided between the States from which the mineral (principally oil) were taken and the reclamation fund; the receipts from sales of reclamation town sites and royalties and rentals from potash deposits are deposited directly into the reclamation fund; the receipts from sales of Indian lands are deposited to the credit of the various Indian tribes. All other moneys received were covered into the Treasury to the credit of the general fund. The following table shows the disposition of these moneys:

It may be noted from the above table that after the deposit of receipts for the benefit of special purposes, reclamation fund, State fund, and Indian trust funds there remains a balance of $2,857,220.34 to the credit of the general fund, subject to appropriation by Congress. As the total expenditures for the conduct of the business of the General Land Office, including the expenses of district land offices for salaries and commissions of registers and receivers and incidental expenses ($674,379.86), for the fiscal year 1924 amounted to $2,936,238.29, it will be seen that the cost of operation of the General Land Office was $79,017.95 more than the amount credited from its receipts to the general fund.

Disbursements from the following trust funds and reimbursable appropriations are not included in the above figures as receipts or disbursements: From deposits by individuals for surveying public lands, $72,029.97; from completing surveys within railroad land grants and surveying within land grants (reimbursable), $4,617.08; from opening Indian reservations (reimbursable), $33.49; from surveying and allotting Indian reservations (reimbursable), $34,850.93; from Indian moneys, proceeds of labor, surveying, etc., Crow (act of June 4, 1920), $336.55; and from allotments to nonremoval, Mille Lac Indians, Minnesota, $1,506.71.

Field service.-The total amount of cash collected and turned into the Treasury as the result of the work of the field service was $67,835.29; of this amount $26,385.70 was in settlement of timber trespass cases and $10,525.57 was secured from timber sales; $30,924.02 was recovered through civil and criminal action brought by the Department of Justice in cases of depredations on the public land and violation of the public land laws through proceedings instituted by the service.

As the result of investigations 170,400 acres were restored during the year to the public domain through proceedings based upon special agents' reports. Special agents have investigated and reported 13,680 cases, of which 3,169 were adversely and 10,511 favorably reported; 286 hearings in Government contest cases have been held. Civil suits in 101 cases were recommended to the Department of Justice; 50 suits were won and 5 lost. As a result of successful prosecution during the year $27,474.02 was recovered and 2,852.83 acres were restored to the public domain. Seventy-six indictments were reported for offenses under the public land laws. Of the criminal cases tried during the year, 27 resulted in convictions, under which there were 17 prison sentences imposed and fines amounting to $3,450 paid.

Surveys. The public-land survey was extended during the fiscal year in 21 States and in the Territory of Alaska under 233 separate groups, and resurveys of all classes were made in 17 States under 80

groups. In addition, miscellaneous surveys, including work for and in cooperation with other Government agencies, were executed in every part of the public domain. Original subdivisional surveys, which in later years have been largely restricted to isolated areas in mountainous and desert country, and which are gradually becoming more fragmentary in character, together with such resurveys and other work as can be measured on a mileage basis, aggregated 22,450 linear miles at an average cost of $19.60 per mile. During the year there have been accepted and placed on file plats representing 5,151,820 acres of original surveys of public lands, and in addition 1,441,628 acres of lands resurveyed.

Map making and drafting.-The United States map for 1923 was printed, mounted, and a congressional quota delivered. Copper plates for 1924 edition have been corrected and are now in the hands of the contractor for lithographing, printing, and mounting. A State map of Washington has been issued, and maps of Kansas, Utah, and New Mexico are in process of compilation. Eight thousand seven hundred and forty-five photolithographic copies of township plats were sold, for which $4,373 was received, and 8,373 copies furnished to this and other Government agencies for official use.

Tract book notations.-The total number of notations for the year was 271,710. This includes 95,876 appeals and other miscellaneous cases; 843 Indian allotments; 18,878 final and cash certificates, and 16,463 original entries; plats posted, 1,193.

Homestead and kindred entries.-Approved for patenting 17,013 final entries of all kinds, as against 19,138 the previous year. The work is current and all cases received acted upon in the order of their reception.

Soldiers' additional homestead rights.-Sixty-seven new cases were received during the year; 41 entries were approved and patented and 26 applications finally rejected, with 114 cases now pending.

Stock-raising homesteads.-During the present year 7,006 stockraising homestead entries have been allowed, which cover an area of 2,812,624 acres. Total number of entries allowed since the passage of the act, 98,048, covering a total acreage of 38,478,606 acres.

Stock driveways.-The area withdrawn during the year for this purpose aggregates 137,087 acres and that released from such withdrawal 52,780 acres. The total gross area included in driveway withdrawals at the close of the fiscal year is 9,108,839 acres.

Grazing on public lands.-The commissioner renews his recommendation of the previous year for legislation that will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to set apart public lands suitable chiefly for grazing and lease the same under regulations, and in such bodies as will insure the preservation of the pasturage or forage values.

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It may be noted from the above table that after the deposit of receipts for the benefit of special purposes, reclamation fund, State fund, and Indian trust funds there remains a balance of $2,857,220.34 to the credit of the general fund, subject to appropriation by Congress. As the total expenditures for the conduct of the business of the General Land Office, including the expenses of district land offices for salaries and commissions of registers and receivers and incidental expenses ($674,379.86), for the fiscal year 1924 amounted to $2,936,238.29, it will be seen that the cost of operation of the General Land Office was $79,017.95 more than the amount credited from its receipts to the general fund.

Disbursements from the following trust funds and reimbursable appropriations are not included in the above figures as receipts or disbursements: From deposits by individuals for surveying public lands, $72,029.97; from completing surveys within railroad land grants and surveying within land grants (reimbursable), $4,617.08; from opening Indian reservations (reimbursable), $33.49; from surveying and allotting Indian reservations (reimbursable), $34,850.93; from Indian moneys, proceeds of labor, surveying, etc., Crow (act of June 4, 1920), $336.55; and from allotments to nonremoval, Mille Lac Indians, Minnesota, $1,506.71.

Field service.-The total amount of cash collected and turned into the Treasury as the result of the work of the field service was $67,835.29; of this amount $26,385.70 was in settlement of timber trespass cases and $10,525.57 was secured from timber sales; $30,924.02 was recovered through civil and criminal action brought by the Department of Justice in cases of depredations on the public land and violation of the public land laws through proceedings instituted by the service.

As the result of investigations 170,400 acres were restored during the year to the public domain through proceedings based upon special agents' reports. Special agents have investigated and reported 13,680 cases, of which 3,169 were adversely and 10,511 favorably reported; 286 hearings in Government contest cases have been held. Civil suits in 101 cases were recommended to the Department of Justice; 50 suits were won and 5 lost. As a result of successful prosecution during the year $27,474.02 was recovered and 2,852.83 acres were restored to the public domain. Seventy-six indictments were reported for offenses under the public land laws. Of the criminal cases tried during the year, 27 resulted in convictions, under which there were 17 prison sentences imposed and fines amounting to $3,450 paid.

Surveys.-The public-land survey was extended during the fiscal year in 21 States and in the Territory of Alaska under 233 separate groups, and resurveys of all classes were made in 17 States under 80

groups. In addition, miscellaneous surveys, including work for and in cooperation with other Government agencies, were executed in every part of the public domain. Original subdivisional surveys, which in later years have been largely restricted to isolated areas in mountainous and desert country, and which are gradually becoming more fragmentary in character, together with such resurveys and other work as can be measured on a mileage basis, aggregated 22,450 linear miles at an average cost of $19.60 per mile. During the year there have been accepted and placed on file plats representing 5,151,820 acres of original surveys of public lands, and in addition 1,441,628 acres of lands resurveyed.

Map making and drafting.—The United States map for 1923 was printed, mounted, and a congressional quota delivered. Copper plates for 1924 edition have been corrected and are now in the hands of the contractor for lithographing, printing, and mounting. A State map of Washington has been issued, and maps of Kansas, Utah, and New Mexico are in process of compilation. Eight thousand seven hundred and forty-five photolithographic copies of township plats were sold, for which $4,373 was received, and 8,373 copies furnished to this and other Government agencies for official use.

Tract book notations.-The total number of notations for the year was 271,710. This includes 95,876 appeals and other miscellaneous cases; 843 Indian allotments; 18,878 final and cash certificates, and 16,463 original entries; plats posted, 1,193.

Homestead and kindred entries.-Approved for patenting 17,013 final entries of all kinds, as against 19,138 the previous year. The work is current and all cases received acted upon in the order of their reception.

Soldiers' additional homestead rights.-Sixty-seven new cases were received during the year; 41 entries were approved and patented and 26 applications finally rejected, with 114 cases now pending.

Stock-raising homesteads.-During the present year 7,006 stockraising homestead entries have been allowed, which cover an area of 2,812,624 acres. Total number of entries allowed since the passage of the act, 98,048, covering a total acreage of 38,478,606 acres. Stock driveways.-The area withdrawn during the year for this purpose aggregates 137,087 acres and that released from such withdrawal 52,780 acres. The total gross area included in driveway withdrawals at the close of the fiscal year is 9,108,839 acres.

Grazing on public lands.-The commissioner renews his recommendation of the previous year for legislation that will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to set apart public lands suitable chiefly for grazing and lease the same under regulations, and in such bodies as will insure the preservation of the pasturage or forage values.

17221-24-4