390 ANNUAL EEPOETS OP DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



variety of other services was rendered during the fiscal year. Papers 

 and the findings of the Secretary of Agriculture in 289 appeals and 

 1 dispute involving the grading of shelled corn under the act were 

 reviewed. Eighty-nine forms of inspection certificates submitted 

 by licensed inspectors were examined and passed upon. Nine service 

 and regulatory announcements and 16 information bulletins of the 

 X)ffice of Markets and Eural Organization were examined and 

 changes suggested when necessary. The laws of 9 States were con- 

 sidered with reference to questions arising under the act, particu- 

 larly as to the status of applicants in such States for licenses as 

 inspectors. Aid was furnished in the preparation of the first semi- 

 annual publication, required by the act, of certain facts reported by 

 licensed inspectors and furnished by grain warehousemen. A special 

 study and a report were made, in cooperation with a specialist of 

 the Office of Markets and Eural Organization, of the handling and 

 - inspection of sacked grain in four markets. Numerous conferences 

 were attended in Washington with members of the trade and with 

 the Office of Markets and Rural Organization, and also with newly 

 appointed grain supervisors, for the purpose of preparing them for 

 their duties. During the course of the year, in connection with the 

 administration of the act, representatives of this office visited 30 

 cities, eight of which were visited twice and two, 3 times. 



The close cooperation extended to this office by the Office of Mar- 

 kets and Eural Organization was an important factor in promoting 

 the efficiency of this office in carrying on its part of the work. 



THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



Land Claims. 



Six hundred and eighty-seven cases, involving about 166,855 acres 

 of land claimed under the homestead, timber and stone, mineral, lieu 

 and railroad selection, and other general and special land laws of the 

 United States, were handled. 



One hundred and eighty-eight decisions were rendered, including 

 those of registers and receivers and the Commissioner of the General 

 Land Office, subject, respectively, to review by the commissioner and 

 the Secretary of the Interior. The registers and receivers decided 

 41 cases for and 32 against the Government. The commissioner de- 

 cided 61 cases for and 23 against the Government, and the Secretary 

 decided 29 for and 7 against the Government. Of the 188 cases, 139 

 were closed during the year, 86 by decisions for and 27 against the 

 Government, 9 by voluntary withdrawal of Forest Service protests, 

 4 by withdrawal of final proof after protest by the Forest Service, 5 

 by cancellation of the entry in part, 5 by relinquishments after pro- 

 test by the Forest Service, 2 upon elimination of the land from the 

 forest, and 1 upon a finding that the land was outside of the forest. 

 As a result of the 84 decisions for the Government, approximately 

 11,573 acres of land, supporting a stand of more than 302,574,000 

 feet of timber, valued at more than $686,736, were retained in the 

 National Forests. 



The remaining 548 cases received attention varying in degree with 

 their progress in the Forest Service and in the Department of the 

 Interior. 



