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2d Session.

No. 103.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,

TRANSMITTING

Letter of the Commissioner of General Land Office, stating that information called for by Senate resolution of February 26, 1885, cannot be furnished during the present session of Congress.

MARCH 3, 1885.-Referred to the Committee on Public Lands and ordered to be printed

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, March 2, 1885.

SIR: Senate resolution of the 26th ultimo, directing me "to furnish the Senate copies of the reports of special agent of the Land Department, Wilson T. Smith, with accompanying affidavits and papers sent to the Commissioner of the General Land Office in August and September, 1883, which reports, affidavits, and papers referred to the illegal timber-land entries and fraudulent issuance of titles under the act of June 3, 1878, in the Humboldt land district, California, said entries being confined to townships 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 north, ranges 1 and 2 east, Humboldt meridian, and townships 7 north, range 2 east, and 13 north, range 1 east, Humboldt meridian, and embracing over 100,000 acres of red wood timber land; also copies of the reports of Special Agents George D. Orner and W. H. Goucher, of the Land Department, sent to the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of the General Land Office, which refer to the same illegal timber-land entries in Humboldt County, California, and inform the Senate what action has been taken by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Interior as to the cancellation of the illegal timber-land entries in the above-described townships; and if any patents have been issued by the Commissioner since June 1, 1883, under the act of June 3, 1878, for timber lands in the above-enumerated townships, to give the date of their issuance, name of entrymen, and description of land," was received and referred to the Commissioner of the General Land Office for report. I have the honor to transmit herewith his letter to me, of this date, in which he states that said resolution calls for copies and information which could not, with the clerical force at his command, be prepared in less than two weeks, and that it is, therefore, impossible for him to answer the call during the present session of Congress.

Very respectfully,

H. M. TELLER,

Secretary.

The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE PRO TEMPORE.

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SIR: I am in receipt by reference from you on the 27th ultimo, for report, of Senate resolution passed 26th ultimo, as follows:

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

February 26, 1885.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be directed to furnish the Senate copies of the reports of special agent of the Land Department, Wilson T. Smith, with accompanying affidavits and papers sent to the Commissioner of the General Land Office in August and September, 1883, which reports, affidavits, and papers referred to the illegal timber-land entries and fraudulent issuance of titles under the act of June 3, 1878, in the Humboldt land district, California, said entries being confined to townships 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 north, ranges 1 and 2 east, Humboldt meridian, and townships 7 north, range 2 east, and 13 north, range 1 east, Humboldt meridian, and embracing over 100,000 acres of redwood timber land; also copies of the reports of Special Agents George D. Orner and W. H. Goucher, of the Land Department, sent to the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of the General Land Office, which refer to the same illegal timber-land entries in Humboldt County, California, aud inform the Senate what action has been taken by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Interior as to the cancellation of the illegal timber-land entries in the above-described townships; and if any patents have been issued by the Commissioner since June 1, 1883, under the act of June 3, 1878, for timber lands in the above-enumerated townships, to give the date of their issuance, name of entrymen, and description of land. Attest:

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The resolution calls for copies and information which could not be prepared and transmitted within less than two weeks, with any force at my command. It is therefore impossible to meet the call during the present session of Congress, and I await your further instructions. The resolution is herewith returned.

Very respectfully,

Hon. H. M. TELLER,

Secretary of the Interior.

L. HARRISON, Assistant Commissioner.

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In part reply to Senate resolution of June 24, 1884, statements of the collections, receipts, and disbursements in various departments, from 1875

to 1884.

MARCH 3, 1885.-Ordered to be printed, and, with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
Washington, March 2, 1885.

SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia, in pursuance of the purpose indicated in their letter to the President of the Senate, dated February 24, 1885, have the honor to submit the several statements herewith, as a partial reply to the following resolution passed in the Senate of the United States, June 24, 1884:

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be directed to report to the Senate the aggregate amount collected from taxation for each of the fiscal years from 1875 to 1884, inclusive, in each of the four quarters of the city of Washington, in Georgetown, and in the county of Washington outside of said cities. Also, the aggregate amount expended in each of said six divisions for each of said ten years for street improvements of all kinds, including the replacement of wood, stone, and Macadam pavements, new pavements, laying sidewalks, regulating, grading, and filling up streets, repairs to concrete pavements and Macadam roadways, parking, for permit work, and for repairs to streets, avenues, alleys, county roads, suburban streets, &c. Also, a statement of the taxes that have been assessed or special assessments made against each of the railroad companies in the District of Columbia, whether operated by steam or other power, for each year since 1878, and the amount of taxes assessed and collected from each of said companies for each of said years, and the amount remaining uncollected, if any, for each of said years.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be required to report to the Senate a statement of the receipts and disbursements on account of the water department, or water fund, for each year from 1875 to 1884, inclusive, stating the amount received from each separate source, and when, where, and for what purpose the money has been expended.

The statements submitted include the following:

1. Statement of expenditures for streets and roads from 1876 to 1884.

2. Statement of receipts and disbursements on account of the water department from 1875 to 1884.

These statements have been prepared by Lieutenant Townsend, assistant to the Engineer Commissioner, after prolonged and laborious examination of the records of the Engineer office; they are to be accepted as the nearest approximation that can be arrived at without a re-examination of all original vouchers in the auditor's office.

3. Statement prepared by the collector of taxes, showing tax collections from 1875 to 1884, inclusive, in Washington, Georgetown, and the county.

4. Statement of special assessments charged against street railroads.

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