REPORT. STATE LAND OFFICE, Lansing, December 1, 1863. SIR-In compliance with the provisions of the law establishing the State Land Office, and regulating the sales of public lands, I have the honor to submit my report of the official proceedings of this office for the fiscal year ending November 30th, 1863. A reference to the tabular statements herewith submitted, exhibits the actual sales of the public lands, the amount received therefor, the amount of principal and interest money received to the credit of the several funds, the amount applied upon the State roads and ditches, and the amount granted under the license law to actual settlers. There is also a statement showing the amount reserved for State roads and ditches. PRIMARY SCHOOL AND OTHER TRUST FUND LANDS. The quantity of Primary School Land sold since my last report is 15,528.27 acres, for the sum of $61,584 43, against 2,594.88 acres for the year 1862, sold for the sum of $10,378 52. The receipts on account af principal have been $102,304 24, against $35,030 74 for 1862. The receipts of interest and penalty are $64,959 87. The quantity of University Land sold is 213.80 acres for the sum of $2,565 60. The receipts on account of principal have been $28,445 54 against $13,668 81 for the year 1862. The receipts for interest and penalty are $17,196 40. Of Asset and Internal Improvement Lands we have sold 1,532.28 acres for the sum of $2,560 35. SWAMP LANDS. The quantity of this class of lands sold amounts to 25,224.85 acres; the amount sold for $31,534 51, against 4,150.66 acres sold in 1862 for $5,188 30. The entire receipts from this class of lands during the past year have been $162,451 91, against $38,966 31 for 1862. Of this amount, $101,040 66, the value of 80,832.52 acres, have been applied for the construction of the different State swamp land roads, organized by act 117, session laws 1859, and the different acts amendatory thereof. The quantity licensed to actual settlers during the past year is 22,673.07 acres, slightly exceeding in amount the quantity granted last year. Of the amount of cash receipts a large per cent. were derived from the public sales of lands recently patented, which were advertised and offered on the 30th day of July last. The amount selected and reserved, to apply on roads and ditches, is quite large, amounting to 353,673 acres. The combined operations of these two benificent measures, the license or homestead law, and the State road, are destined to work wonderful changes in the condition of our northern counties, hitherto almost inaccessible to the actual settler, at once opening up channels of communication with and access to the richest timbered lands on the continent, and placing the key of a competence within the grasp of the frugal and indus trious of all classes. Of swamp lands licensed,... ... •22,673.07 "act 175, of law of 1861, G. A. S., city of Detroit,. 25,000.00 On account of Primary School Lands, principal,.. $102,304 24 exclusive of the lands selected and reserved, to apply on con tracts for construction of roads and ditches. The total receipts from all sources in 1862, were, including value of licenses,..... $213,182 77 It is believed that the transactions of this office for the past year will contrast favorably with the operations of any similar period since the organization of the State. Very respectfully submitted. SAMUEL S. LACEY, Commissioner. His Excellency AUSTIN BLAIR, Governor of Michigan. |