REPORT.

STATE LAND OFFICE,

Lansing, December 1st, 1864.

To the Legislature of the State of Michigan:

In compliance with the provisions of the law establishing the State Land Office, I have the honor to submit my report of the official proceedings of this office, for the fiscal year ending November 30th, 1861.

Schedules hereto annexed, exhibit the sales of the public lands; the amount received for land sold; the amount received to the credit of the several funds; the amount of swamp land applied to the construction of State roads and ditches; the amount licensed to actual settlers; the amount selected to apply on roads when completed, and a statement showing the amount of swamp lands granted to the State, and how it has been disposed of thus far.

PRIMARY SCHOOL AND OTHER TRUST FUND LANDS.

The State has sold, during the past fiscal year, 24,770.93 acres of Primary School lands, for the aggregate sum of $107,171 99, against 15,528.27, in the year 1863, for $61,594 43.

The receipts for principal have been $176,706 04, against $102,304 24, in 1863.

The receipts for interest and penalty, have been $60,806 53, against $64,959 87, for previous year.

Of University lands, 368.35 acres have been sold for $4,420 20, against 213.80 acres in 1863, for $2,565 60.

The receipts to this fund, on account of principal, are $32,934 02, against $28,445 54, in 1863.

The receipts for interest and penalty, are $15,298 08.

Of the Normal School lands, the State has sold 200 acres for $800, against 80 acres for $320, in the year 1863.

The receipts for principal, interest and penalty, have been $8,025 81.

Of Salt Spring lands, the State has sold 240 acres for $960. The receipts from this class of lands, are $5,226 70.

Of Asylum lands, the State has sold 193.03 acres, for $772 12. The receipts from this class of lands, are $6,897 62,

Of Internal Improvement lands, we have sold 942.15 acres, for $1,177 69.

Of Asset lands, the State has sold 240 acres, for $500.

Of State Building lands, the State has sold 209.75 acres, for $1,678.

The lands belonging to the several classes above enumerated, except the Primary School, are nearly all sold; but few now remain to be disposed of.

SWAMP LANDS.

The quantity of this class of lands sold for cash, amounts to 26,087.28 acres, for $33,804 49, against 25,224.85, in 1863, for the sum of $31,534 51.

The quantities applied to the construction of roads and ditches, during the past year, amounts to 110,147.72 acres, of the value of $137,684 64, against 80,832.52 acres, in 1863, of the value of $101,040 66.

The amount licensed to actual settlers, has been only 10,224.08 acres, about half the quantity licensed in the previous year.

This may undoubtedly be attributable, in part, to the fact that a large amount of this class of lands most desirable and accessible for settlements, have been selected and reserved from market, to apply on road contracts, when the work shall be completed.

The amount selected to apply on road and ditch contracts, during the years 1863-4, when the work shall be completed, is 426,517.68 acres.

It is believed that a liberal policy in granting and selling lands to actual settlers, and appropriations for the opening of important lines of intercommunication, have been productive of much good, in attracting to our State large numbers of industrious and enterprising emigrants.

On account of Primary School Lands, (Principal,) $176,706 64

On account of State Building Lands, (Principal,)

$1,371 58 979 17

The amount of swamp lands now selected on road contracts, and reserved from market, is..

$517,254 11

426,517.68

An'al Sales and Rec'pts, 1861, 15,721.06 acres, for $ 72,533 84

There has been about 8,000 acres of land confirmed to actual settlers, since the 15th of May, under the provisions of Act 229, laws of 1859, and patents have been issued to the actual settlers.

The Act, however, does not make any provision for the forfeiture of the land for a non-compliance of the conditions of settlement and occupancy.

Some legislation is needed by which the land licensed, but unsettled upon, shall be forfeited to the State, and placed in market.

This could probably be effected by advertisement and sale,

unless proof of settlement and occupancy should be furnished, at the same time and manner that State lands are now sold for non-payment of interest.

Under the provisions of Act 145, laws of 1863, all the lands, except such sections as were reserved, a list whereof is hereto annexed, were offered for sale, on the 12th of May, at public auction, a few pieces only having been sold above the minimum price.

From the information in this office, and in the State papers, (reports,) upon this subject, the reserved list is supposed to contain locations of great vaule-of a value almost beyond computation-yet it requires capital and labor to develop these immense resources, and make them available to the State or to individuals.

An examination of the reserved list, as contemplated by the above act, has been found impracticable, partly from inadequate compensation to agents, and partly because of the character of the country, and of the dense undergrowth, that makes it extremely difficult even to prospect portions of the mineral range, without great labor.

It is no part of my official duty to present, in this report, the arguments urged for and against an immediate offering of these lands.

It can hardly be doubted, however, that the public good will be best promoted by the immediate and successful development of every mineral location in the iron and copper ranges, and that our Legislature should offer every facility which will tend to increase the production of copper and iron.

It is very questionable whether any examination of the above class of lands, involving less than the actual working of the mine itself, can be so conducted as to be of much practical yalue. I am, therefore, inclined to recommend such a modifica. tion of the Act of 1863, as shall permit the public offering of the mineral lands, leaving to private enterprise and individual sagacity, the work of seeking out and developing the exhaust