REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

GENERAL LAND OFFICE,

Washington, D. C., October 1, 1896.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following as the annual report of this office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896.

The operations for the survey and disposal of the public lands of the United States for that period have been carried on with the aid of the offices of the surveyors-general in 17 surveying districts and the registers and receivers' offices in 114 land districts. For details of the business in these offices reference is made to the reports in full of the several surveyors-general and to the tabulated statements showing the business transacted in the district land offices, which are given elsewhere. There is here presented a summary of the official business for the fiscal year, with other matter deemed proper for consideration in connection therewith.

The result shows a decrease in the number of original entries of 591 and of 142,238.38 in acres. In the number of final entries a decrease appears of 1,768, and in acres of 425,486.47. In receipts there was an increase of $72,907.64.

DISPOSAL OF PUBLIC LANDS.

The following is a statement of the acreage disposed of during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896: