have no value greater than other lands should be disposed of under the general land laws. The lots contained in the Detroit Arsenal grounds, Michigan, can by law be sold only at public offering. So few of them have been sold as to render certain the fact that they were appraised at too high figures. He suggests that Congress provide for a reappraisement and the disposal at private sale at the appraised value of such lots as remain unsold after public offering. He renews his recommendation that Congress should take action as to railroad grants that have long since lapsed by non-completion of the roads, and either enforce a forfeiture of the lands granted or extend the time for the completion of the roads. As they now stand, large bodies of land are withheld from sale or entry, and there is no mode by which actual settlers can obtain title to them.
The consolidation of the pre-emption and homestead laws is again recommended by the Commissioner as demanded by the public interests.
He expresses the opinion that in view of recent decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States in the cases of Atherton vs. Fowler and Hosmer vs. Wallace, there should be additional legislation in order to protect settlers in good faith on the public lands.
These recommendations have the approval of the department.
DEPREDATIONS ON THE PUBLIC TIMBER LANDS.
I deem it my duty again to invite the attention of Congress to the depredations committed on the timber lands of the United States and the necessity of the enactment of laws calculated to arrest the indiscriminate distruction of our forests, especially in the mountainous regions of the country. Since my last annual report the only action taken by Congress toward the suppression of timber depredations consisted in the appropriation of $40,000, provided for by the act of March 3, 1879. Under this appropriation a maximum force of fifteen special timber agents was employed to investigate trespasses in the various public land States and Territories. These agents were from time to time transferred from one field to another as it was thought that they could best serve the public interests.
The labors of these agents have been fruitful of good results in two directions: first, in collecting testimony for the prosecution of trespassers and for the recovery of the value of timber unlawfully taken from the public lands. It was predicted by many opponents of the policy pursued in this respect by the department that the cost of the investigations and prosecutions would not be covered by the proceeds, and that therefore the money appropriated and spent for this purpose would in great part be money thrown away. This prediction has not been justified by results. The sum covered into the Treasury during the last fiscal year on account of timber depredations was largely in excess of the sum appropriated, and a considerable number of cases is still pending in the courts
