REPORT

OF THE

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,

WITH

ACCOMPANYING PAPERS.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1866.

REPORT

OF

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIor,

Washington, D. C., November 19, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following exhibit of the operations of this department, and of the various and diversified interests connected with the branches of the public service committed to its supervision.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1866, public lands were disposed of as follows:

During the same period 6,423,984.18 acres were offered for sale. The cash receipts from sales and other sources were $824,645 08. The number of homestead entries exceeded that of the preceding year by more than sixty per cent.

There are sixty-one land districts and ten surveying departments. During the past year surveying operations have been prosecuted with energy in Minnesota, Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, California, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington, but have been deferred, on account of Indian hostilities, in New Mexico and Arizona. The anomalous condition of affairs in Utah has prevented any surveys there since the year 1857. At that date two and a half million acres had been surveyed. In order that they may be disposed of, it is recommended that a land district be created in that Territory.

The entire amount of the public domain is 1,465,468,800 acres, of which 474,160,551 acres have been surveyed.

The attention of Congress is again respectfully invited to the expediency of making early provision for the adjustment of claims to land situate in New Mexico and Arizona, arising under the laws of Spain or Mexico. The act of July 22, 1854, directs the surveyor general to ascertain the nature and extent of such claims under the laws, usages, and customs of Spain and Mexico, and to make a full report on all such as originated before the cession of the territory to the United States by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Congress reserved