Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-02-26

were H1aue, tne respective compensation
allowed to each individual, so employed,
and the whole expense thereof to the
United States and also, that he report
the manner in which the same duty has
been performed since the said lst CT
January, 1878, together with the names,
professions, stations, and place Of resi-
dence, of the persons who have been APP
pointed to make such examinations !;
what Offices each was appointed to ex-
amine-the reports made by each--the
accounts presented for their respective
services, the amount Of money allowed
to, or drawn, or retained by each of Them;
whether any OF them have during the said
period been allowed, or received, any
other compensation from the govern
ment; ii SO, how much, and for what
service rendered, or duty performed /;
and whether some plan may not be de-
vlsed whereby the same duty may be
performed with equal advantage and less
expense to the government l have the
honor to submit the enclosed statements
marked A and B, which shew the
amount that has beenspaid for examining
the Land Offices during the two periods
OF time described in the resolution, and
exhibit the names, stations, and profess
sions of the persons, by whom such ex-
aminatons were made, as far as they are
known 10 this department..
have also the honor to transmit CO.
pies Of the reports of the state OF those
offices, which have been made from the
lst of January, 1878, to the 3lst day OF
December, 1921, as far as they have
been received.
Prev iously TO the year 1916 the Land
Offices had been examined by persons
residing in the vicinity of their location.
AS the examiners were generally the
friends and neighbors OF the officers
whose bookc and accounts were to be
examined, and most commonly unac-
quain.ed with the forms in winch they
were required 10 be KEPT, the reports
made by them furnished out little oilhe
information which 1t was The object Oh the
Department TO obtain. They were there
fore annually made, rather as mater Of
form, in compliance with The injunctions
of the law, than from conviction thai
the information obtained, was of any in
trlnsic value To the public service. 1t
may be proper also to observe, that dur
ing the whole interval Of lime from the
establishment of those Offices 10 The year
1916, the annual receipts from the pub
lie lands were inconslderable, compared
with what they nave been since that time.
The indueement to incur expense, in
order to obtain the best Information of
which the nature OF the case admitted,
was not SO strong, as it has been since Inc
great augmentation which has occurred
IN those receipts.
Under the influence OF these coDsidera-
tons, in the year 8l6, the late Mr.. Dali
las, who was then Secretary OF the Irea-
sury, directed that the principal land
Offices in the state of ONO, ana fcrr.,o-
rics west Of it, should be examined by
one of the Clerks of the General Land
Office. The same person was permit
ted to examine them in 1917, upon the
assurance of the Commissioner, that his
absence from his clerical duties would
not be detrimental TO the public service.
For this service he received in both
years, at the rate of three dollars per day,
during the time he was thus employed,
in addition to his salary as Clerk, which
was not affected b. his absence from the
office.
Since that time, the Offices have been
examined by persons unconnected with
the Department, who have been COM
pensated for their services at thc rate of
six dollars day whilst engaged in the
examination, and SIX dollars day for
every twenty miles travel performed in
The execution of this service. 1t has
been the practice to furnish them with
letter of credit to the Receivers, who adj
vance to them upon their bills such sums
as may be necessary to defray their ex
penses. The great press of business
which the law granting relief to the
purchasers of public land, has brought
upon the land officers, has prevented
them from making their returns, which
will, when made, shew the amount that
has been received by the gentlemen who
have examined the Land Offices, during
the year 1921. Until these returns are
received, their accounts cannot be adj
justed +; but the compensation which will
be allowed will not exceed the rates
above mentioned. Owing to the delay
which occurred in transmitting instruc-
tons from the General Land Office, the
gentleman who has been employed TO
examine the southern offices, has not yet
forwarded his reports.
The gentleman who examined the
Land Offices in the states of Ohio, In