Town-site activities.-Among the more notable movements in this field may be mentioned the sale of town lots at Harding, Fla., for approximately $386,000, the highest price realized for any town site opened thus far by the Interior Department.

The opening of Ford town site, California, sale of forfeited Flathead villa sites, the issuance of patents for the town sites of Rowood and Dos Cabezas, Ariz., reappraisal of unsold town lots at Omak, Wash., are also noted. In Alaska the town sites of Craig and Hyder were approved for patenting; the fourth addition to Anchorage, embracing 401 acres, was opened to entry, and an acreage addition to Nenana involving 788 acres was also opened.

During the year, 984 town lots in the public-land States and Alaska have been approved for patent.

Minnesota and Arkansas drainage acts.-Provisions of these acts are restricted to the State of Minnesota and the counties of Poinsett and Mississippi, in the State of Arkansas. Under these laws there have been patented during the year 86 cash entries in addition to 28 final homesteads covered by drainage charges involving approximately 7,240 acres. Under the said acts there have been patented about 1,048,000 acres.

Rights of way.-One hundred and fifty-nine railroad rights-ofway applications were received, which together with those pending at the beginning of the year made a total of 191. Thirty-two cases are pending at the present time.

Stock-watering reservoirs.-Two hundred and thirty-six stockwatering reservoir cases were received during the year, which, with those pending at the beginning of the year, have been the subject of action in the office.

All other rights of way.-Six hundred and fifty-seven miscellaneous applications were received, which with those on hand made a total of 719. Under action taken, 32 cases remain for consideration by the office.

Forfeiture. The number of approved rights of way of all kinds subject to forfeiture July 1, 1923, was 3,313. During the year 33 new cases were received and 1,720 cases upon which interlocutory action had been taken, making a grand total of 5,066 cases. Of these, after action taken on approvals, cancellations, judicial forfeitures, and other actions, there now remain 1,923 cases.

State irrigation districts. Since the passage of the act of August 11, 1916, applications by 27 irrigation districts have been submitted for approval. Of these, one application involving approximately 10,427 acres, was received during the past year. Since the passage of the act applications by 13 districts embracing 1,128,393 acres have been approved; 7 having a gross area of 129,367.97 acres have been finally refused approval.

Private irrigation projects.-During the year reports on the projects of 43 irrigation companies and districts have been considered and finally disposed of. In 18 cases affecting approximately 131 desert-land entries and applications conclusions were favorable; in 14 cases affecting 149 entries and applications the conclusions reached were unfavorable, while 11 cases were disposed of without any definite conclusion, it appearing that there were no longer any desertland entries or applications involved.

Hydroelectric water power.-Notices of withdrawals of public lands of the United States and lands within national forests were received from the Federal Power Commission under 78 applications for water-power development and transmission. Over 1,300 elections under section 24 of the Federal water power act were filed during the year. A large number of applications for restoration from powersite withdrawal or classification under said section 24 have been received. The Federal Water Power Commission is now practically up to date in this class of cases, and its "determinations are being promptly handled.

Carey Act.-Carey Act segregations aggregating 344,077 acres were finally disposed of during the year. Of this area, 67,700 acres were patented to the several States as reclaimed and 33,688 acres representing segregations which were canceled.

Irrigation of arid land in Nevada.-Of the total number of 378 cases pending during the year 214 were approved, 45 canceled, 29 otherwise disposed of, and requirements made in 72 cases, leaving 23 pending.

Desert-land entries.-The disposals are summarized as follows: Applications to make entry, 1,438; original desert-land entries, 769; annual proof, 699; assignments, 74; extensions of time, 815; final entries, 1.281; relief act March 4, 1915, 115.

United States reclamation projects.--Entries pending at the beginning of the year, 17; received during the year, 579; examined and accepted, 65; canceled, 76; claimants called upon for additional evidence, 201; otherwise disposed of, 170; pending at end of year, 84; final entries approved for patent, 304.

Reclamation withdrawals and openings.-During the fiscal year the office promulgated 41 orders of restoration and 9 orders of withdrawal under the reclamation act, one adjustment of a former withdrawal order, four changes of the form of withdrawal, and one partial restoration of a bird reservation within an area withdrawn for reclamation purposes. The area withdrawn amounts to 118,440 acres, and the area restored totals 129,640 acres.

Opening of Indian lands.--On September 18, 1923, there were opened to homestead settlement and entry 9,404.72 acres of ceded Chippewa cut-over land. Other openings have been limited to small tracts restored from former withdrawals.

Withdrawals and restorations.-During the past year 3,594,055 acres of public lands were withdrawn or placed in a state of reservation under the various acts applicable thereto, and 3,551,530 acres theretofore withdrawn or reserved were restored to entry or other proper disposition. An itemized statement of these withdrawals. and restorations is furnished by the commissioner.

Restoration of shore spaces in Alaska.-Twelve restorations of the 80-rod reserved shore space between claims abutting upon navigable "or other" waters in Alaska have been promulgated during the year.

Restorations and openings subject to the preference right of exservice men.-During the fiscal year the public lands in areas restored to entry or opened on survey aggregated 214,554 acres and 2,489,150 acres, respectively.

Swamp and overflowed lands.--During the past fiscal year there were patented under this act 33,821.49 acres to the several States entitled thereto.

Abandoned military reservations.-By Executive order No. 3893, dated August 13, 1923, 25 abandoned military reservations in the States of Washington and California were turned over to the Interior Department for disposition under the act of July 5, 1884. Six of these reservations are now in process of being surveyed and appraised, 4 reservations are being appraised, while the status of other reservations is being investigated, due to the fact that some of the lands, it is alleged, were disposed of prior to their reservation for military purposes. Other reservations or parts of reservations included in said Executive order are desired by different Government departments for their needs.

Details of proceedings in a number of cases pending before the General Land Office are furnished by the commissioner.

Chippewa logging operations.-During the past year there were cut from ceded Chippewa lands in Minnesota under the act of June 27, 1902, 19,614,610 feet of timber, for which the purchasers paid $158,548.03. The purchasers had been granted extensions of time to complete their contracts, and under their agreements paid $7,723.75 as overhead charges and $15,849.54 as interest, to compensate the Indians. There were also cut in trespass 32,510 feet of timber. The total receipts from all these sources the past year was $183,760.94.

State grants and State selections.-Selections were made by the States of indemnity school lands amounting to 321,847.64 acres of lands in satisfaction of grants in quantity for specific purposes amounting to 48,235.60 acres. During the year 274,236.83 acres of indemnity school lands and 19,209.61 acres of quantity grant lands. were conveyed to the States, while 13,053.79 acres of indemnity school land selections and 440.12 acres of quantity-grant selections were

Private irrigation projects.-During the year reports on the projects of 43 irrigation companies and districts have been considered and finally disposed of. In 18 cases affecting approximately 131 desert-land entries and applications conclusions were favorable; in 14 cases affecting 149 entries and applications the conclusions reached were unfavorable, while 11 cases were disposed of without any definite conclusion, it appearing that there were no longer any desertland entries or applications involved.

Hydroelectric water power.-Notices of withdrawals of public lands of the United States and lands within national forests were received from the Federal Power Commission under 78 applications for water-power development and transmission. Over 1,300 elections under section 24 of the Federal water power act were filed during the year. A large number of applications for restoration from powersite withdrawal or classification under said section 24 have been received. The Federal Water Power Commission is now practically up to date in this class of cases, and its "determinations" are being promptly handled.

Carey Act.-Carey Act segregations aggregating 344,077 acres were finally disposed of during the year. Of this area, 67,700 acres were patented to the several States as reclaimed and 33,688 acres representing segregations which were canceled.

Irrigation of arid land in Nevada. Of the total number of 378 cases pending during the year 214 were approved, 45 canceled, 29 otherwise disposed of, and requirements made in 72 cases, leaving 23 pending.

Desert-land entries.-The disposals are summarized as follows: Applications to make entry, 1,438; original desert-land entries, 769; annual proof, 699; assignments, 74; extensions of time, 815; final entries, 1.281; relief act March 4, 1915, 115.

United States reclamation projects.--Entries pending at the beginning of the year, 17; received during the year, 579; examined and accepted, 65; canceled, 76; claimants called upon for additional evidence, 201; otherwise disposed of, 170; pending at end of year, 84; final entries approved for patent, 304.

Reclamation withdrawals and openings.-During the fiscal year the office promulgated 41 orders of restoration and 9 orders of withdrawal under the reclamation act, one adjustment of a former withdrawal order, four changes of the form of withdrawal, and one partial restoration of a bird reservation within an area withdrawn for reclamation purposes. The area withdrawn amounts to 118,440 acres, and the area restored totals 129,640 acres.

Opening of Indian lands.--On September 18, 1923, there were opened to homestead settlement and entry 9,404.72 acres of ceded Chippewa cut-over land. Other openings have been limited to

small tracts restored from former withdrawals.

Withdrawals and restorations.-During the past year 3,594,055 acres of public lands were withdrawn or placed in a state of reservation under the various acts applicable thereto, and 3,551,530 acres theretofore withdrawn or reserved were restored to entry or other proper disposition. An itemized statement of these withdrawals and restorations is furnished by the commissioner.

Restoration of shore spaces in Alaska.-Twelve restorations of the 80-rod reserved shore space between claims abutting upon navigable "or other" waters in Alaska have been promulgated during the

year.

Restorations and openings subject to the preference right of exservice men.-During the fiscal year the public lands in areas restored to entry or opened on survey aggregated 214,554 acres and 2,489,150 acres, respectively.

Swamp and overflowed lands.-During the past fiscal year there were patented under this act 33,821.49 acres to the several States entitled thereto.

Abandoned military reservations.-By Executive order No. 3893, dated August 13, 1923, 25 abandoned military reservations in the States of Washington and California were turned over to the Interior Department for disposition under the act of July 5, 1884. Six of these reservations are now in process of being surveyed and appraised, 4 reservations are being appraised, while the status of other reservations is being investigated, due to the fact that some of the lands, it is alleged, were disposed of prior to their reservation for military purposes. Other reservations or parts of reservations included in said Executive order are desired by different Government departments for their needs.

Details of proceedings in a number of cases pending before the General Land Office are furnished by the commissioner.

Chippewa logging operations.-During the past year there were cut from ceded Chippewa lands in Minnesota under the act of June 27, 1902, 19,614,610 feet of timber, for which the purchasers paid $158,548.03. The purchasers had been granted extensions of time to complete their contracts, and under their agreements paid $7,723.75 as overhead charges and $15,849.54 as interest, to compensate the Indians. There were also cut in trespass 32,510 feet of timber. The total receipts from all these sources the past year was $183,760.94.

State grants and State selections.-Selections were made by the States of indemnity school lands amounting to 321,847.64 acres of lands in satisfaction of grants in quantity for specific purposes amounting to 48,235.60 acres. During the year 274,236.83 acres of indemnity school lands and 19,209.61 acres of quantity grant lands were conveyed to the States, while 13,053.79 acres of indemnity school land selections and 440.12 acres of quantity-grant selections were