pector, through whom these discoveries are usually made, has no incentive to prospect thereon, and the existence of rich mineral deposits may remain undiscovered and unknown.

The appointment of a commissioner to adjust these claims would involve some additional expense over the present method, but I believe, on the whole, it would be far more satisfactory, and certainly the magnitude of the interest involved both to claimant and the Government would amply justify Congress in adopting this method for the settlement of private land claims in New Mexico, where such a considerable number yet remain to be adjudicated; and I hope that Congress will take early action in the premises.

There is another feature in these grant cases which I again desire to call attention to, and which should receive the early consideration of Congress; I refer to the right to the mineral on unconfirmed grants.

The local Spanish and Mexican authorities were empowered to make grants for agricultural purposes, but they were not authorized to alienate the right to the mineral; hence the latter was by force of law reserved to the Spanish or Mexican Government, and upon the acquisition of this Territory by the United States the right to the mineral within the limits of these grants became vested in this Government. Yet there is no statutory provision permitting the miner to acquire a right to what mineral he may discover thereon.

There should be some legislation by Congress whereby the Government can realize from the mineral interest in grants and the prospector secure to himself the benefits of discoveries upon tracts of this character, on payment to the claimants the value for agricultural or pastoral purposes, of the area claimed as necessarily used in mining, together with such other reasonable compensation for such damages as the proprietors of the grant may sustain in the premises by virtue of an easement to the miners, whereby they can have ingress to and egress from the mines over the lands of the claimants, and the appropriation of necessary timber for mining purposes.

MILITARY RESERVATIONS.

I again call attention to the fact that there are several military reservations that have been abandoned for many years that should be vacated and the lands embraced therein restored to settlement. The military reserve in T. 18 N., R. 20 E., has never been used by the military.

The Fort Butler Reservation, embracing 76,800 acres on the Canadian fork of Red River, in T. 12 and 13 N., R. 27, 28, and 29 E., has never been used by the military. The Fort Thorn and Fort McRea military reservations on the Rio Grande have not been used by the military for a number of years and should be restored to settlement.

FORESTS.

The beneficial results of the action taken by the department in the effort to prevent the unnecessary waste of timber, will be fully appreciated in years to come, if not by the present generation.

New Mexico has ample timber for necessary home requirements, if preserved from waste, and the beneficial results of the work of your special agents in preventing wholesale depredations upon timber far exceeds the value of collections made for timber cut. The large extent of country to be looked after has rendered the duties of your special agents quite arduous and dangerous, and I can bear testimony to their zeal and energy in the discharge of their duties.

ACCOMPANYING EXHIBITS.

A.-Statement of public surveys executed under Congressional appropriations. B.-Statement of public surveys under sections 2401, 2402, and 2403, Revised Statutes.

C.-Private land claims surveyed and under contract for survey.

The usual exhibits showing statement of expenditures on account of salaries and incidentals are omitted as directed by you, but reference is made to my quarterly reports showing condition of the same.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. N. C. MCFARLAND,

Commissioner of the General Land Office.

HENRY M. ATKINSON, United States Surveyor General.

Mls. chs. lks.

Between 11 and 12 E.

179 Sept. 13

13 E

1 70 30

179 Sept. 13

Closings

30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 E.

6550

Between 20 and 21, 21 and

180 Oct. 9

.do

Subdivisions.

Frac. 6 and 7 S

1 E

180 Oct. 9

180 Oct. 9

do

.do

16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 S

28 E

HENRY M. ATKINSON,

Surveyor General.

B.-Statement of contracts made under sections 2401, 2402, and 2403, Revised Statutes of the United States, for surveys, &c.-Continued.