476 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



fungicide act; United States v. Atlantic Coast Line Eaiload Co., 

 United States v. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Kailway 

 Co., United States v. New York, New HaA^en & Hartford Railroad 

 Co., and United States v. Adams Express Co. (3 cases), all involv- 

 ing violations of the 28-hour law; United States v. 432 bottles 

 " Knoxit," United States v. Nashville Medicine Co., United States v. 

 Hall's Texas Wonder, United States v. Nestle's Food Co., United 

 States v.^0 dozen bottles "Knoxit,' United States v, Kar-ru Chemi- 

 cal Co., all involving violations of the food and drugs act. 



Tabulated statements showing- in detail the facts and status of the 

 principal prosecutions originatmg in the department in which the 

 United States attorneys have commenced proceedings and of the 

 claims and other cases affecting the National Forests are retained in 

 this office for reference. 



In addition to the opinions expressed in letters and memoranda to 

 the various officials, bureaus, offices, and divisions of the department, 

 frequent daily conferences were had with them with reference to legal 

 questions involved in their work. Informal conferences between this 

 office and the other bureaus, offices, and divisions of the department 

 Avere more frequently held during the fiscal year than previously, 

 and resulted in much saving of time to every office concerned. 



The work of the office, considering its nature, Avas current at the 

 end of the year. 



Somewhat detailed statements of the principal activities of the 

 office, without unnecessary reiteration of what has been fairly covered 

 by the foregoing summary, follow. 



THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



LAND CLAIMS. 



At the commencement of the fiscal year there Avere pending 401 

 cases. During the year there were adcled 174, and 231 were closed, 

 leaving 344 pending. A total of 575 cases were handled, involving 

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

 and railroad selections, and other general and special land laws. 



Two hundred and sixty-one decisions AA^'ere rendered, including 

 those of registers and receivers and the Commissioner of the Gen- 

 eral Land Office, subject, respectively, to review by the Commis- 

 sioner of the General Land Office and the Secretary of the Interior. 

 The registers and receivers decided 13 for and 13 against the Gov- 

 ernment, the commissioner decided 106 for and 57 against the Gov- 

 ernment, and the Secretary decided 31 for and 37 against the 

 GoA^ernment. Fourteen were suspended for further action and 18 

 for taking additional testimony. Of the 231 cases closed during the 

 year, 80 Avere by decisions for the claimant and 96 by decisions in 

 favor of the Government. In 5 cases the proof Avas rejected or 

 withdrawn. Thirteen Avere canceled by relinquishment, and in 37 

 the protests were withdraAvn. In 29, such Avithdrawals were made 

 after the commissioner had reduced the area required to be cultivated 

 under the homestead laws. As a result of the 96 decisions in favor 

 of the Government, approximately 9,129 acres of land, supporting 

 a stand of approximately 53,813,140 feet of timber, valued at approxi- 

 mately $161,439, Avere retained in the National Forests. The remain- 



