The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-12

tory manner, and are rapidly drawing TO close in
several of the States. In Florida, however, much
delay and difficulty have occurred in locating pri-
vaie Claims owing to vague and imperfect calls, and
failure on the part of claimants TO indicate their
boundaries. After locations have been made from
the best data hand it often becomes necessary to
make corrections by resurveys, (thus producing al
teraons in the pats tending TO confuse them,) and
frequently causing conflicts with settlers To obvi-
ate these difficulties concur with the surveyor
general in recommending that provision be made by
law, authorizing the location of such claims accord
ing to the lines of the public surveys, and to
embrace the ancient improvements, where the claim
ants, after notice. fail to identify the calls of their
grants.
Great efforts have been made by this Office, which
are ably seconded by the surveyors general, to in
sure correctness in the surveys and promptness in
their return. The new system Of paying the depu-
ties direct from the treasury has contributed much to
effect this object, as IT requires the surveys TO be
examined, approved and the plats returned to this
Office with the accounts of the deputies, before such
accounts paid. This system gives general salts
faction, securing, far practicable, the interests
Of the government and Of the surveyors and at the
same time, avoiding the accumulation of funds in the
hands Of discussing agents.
Early provision should be made by law Gas the
surveys are now progressing IN that quarter) for
surveying and properly marking that portion of the
boundary between Michigan ard Wisconsin, from
the Menomonie TO the Montreal river, which is not
clearly defined.
The boundary question between Missouri and
Iowa. so far as this Office is advised, has not yet
been determined under the act Of Congress Of 18th
June, 1874 Its early settlement is certainly of the
utmost consequence TO the true interests of the par
ties in controversy
The thiTty-frst degree of north latitude, which
forms part of the south boundary of Mississippi
and Alabama, was originally surveyed by Andrew
Elliott, esq. On examining his journal, it appears
he marked his random line, which varied consider
ably to the north, and indicated the true line by off
sets at the end of each mile. In some cases, il is
believed, the deputies closed their work the
DOM and in others on the true line; and it is, per-
haps, owing TO this that doubt exists whether Flori-
da Alabama has jurisdiction the strip Of ter
ritory between them, called the ''neutra ground"
Wolf island, in the Mississippi river, between
Kentucky and Missouri, has been surveyed and
partly sold by the United States, and also by the
State of Kentucky. Measures were taken by this
Office to determine the shore to which this island
originally belonged In report from the surveyor
general Of Missouri il is held to be clearly within
the jurisdiction of Missouri. 1t has, however been
deemed proper to suspend sales of the land until
the final determination Of the matter by Congress.
invite attention TO the proprety of increasing
the salaries of the surveyorsgenera for the district
Of Arkansas and that Of Iowa and Wisconsin,
from 81 500 to $4,000 per annum-the latter being
the sum which others receive, whose duties not
more responsible; and, in consideration of the ex.
tremely arduous and augmenting duties of the able
and experienced surveyor-genera of Florida, refer
to the strong reasons presented by him for an in
crease of compensation in that district.
For details of operations the past year. in the sur
veying department, and also those contemplated in
the ensuing, refer to the reports herewith of the
surveyors general. The document marked HI, is
the estimate Of the expenses of surveying the public
lands and of the Offices Of the surveyors general for
the fiscal year ending the Both June l847; and that
marked is the estimate of the salaries and contn
gent expenses of this Office for the same period
am graiifed to be able to state, that the quarter
ly accounts Of the receivers of public moneys have
been examined and settled at this Office to the end
of the last expired quarter, (30th September, l845;)
and that the public money has been paid over by
those agents with commendable promptitude and
fidelity. The operations of the Office in other re-
spects have been conducted with great efficiency.
A large number Of patents has been issued on old
| claims, which, owing to variety of perplexing
causes, have remained for many years in state OF
suspension; most of these cases found to exist
in Louisiana, owing mainly to anomalies in the
| surveys, growing out of the peculiar geographical
features Of the country, and the negligent conduct
Of some of the former surveyors. Suspended cases
of presumption entries in that State have become
the subject of examination at this office, under a
resolution of the Senate the United States of the last
session, and special report has been prepared upon
the subject Cases suspension for various
list in all the States and Territories in which the public
lands are situated. These have been accommodating
since the commencement ofthe present public land
system, and give rise, at the present time, to an
amount Of correspondence very embarrassing to the
operations of the office. In many instances patents
are withheld from claimants for causes wholly ire
movable under existing legislation; and vet on prin-
cples of substantial Justice the purchasers are emit
tied to their patents. As it is utterly mpractcable to
provide by law for each particular CASE and as it is
necessary that these suspensions, which are ncreas-
ing from year to year, be finally disposed of, would
suggest that the Secretary of the Treasury the At
torney General, and the Commissioner Of the Gen
eral Land Office, be authorized by law to act togeth-
er as board, and examine and determine all cases
Of SUSPENSIONS upon principles of equity and JUS
lice. In this way, honest and bona fde purchasers
will be able to obtain their patents, and claims that
| are unjust and ineqnitable be finally rejected.
Some measure ofthis kind is indispensable to relieve
this Office from embarrassment, and remove the
doubt and uncertainty which hang over the titles Of
some of citizens to the very farms which they
have resided for years.
deem it my duty to call your serious attention
to the present mineral land-system This is a sub
ect deeply interesting to settlers in some of the
northwestern States and Territories. The condition
Of the mineral region and the manner in which its
operation have been managed, are but very imper-
fectly understood by the public, and perhaps init
mately known to none but those who have resided
number of years in that district
The government has attempted TO reserve from
sale all lands upon which actual discoveries Of ore
were known to have been made, and also those
lands in which, from certain geological indications,
mineral was supposed to exist The management
Of the mineral region was taken from the general
land Office in the year 1921, and placed under the
control Of the War Department
The agents Of the War Department, appointed to
superntend the mineral lands, had official con-
nexion with the general land Office and, conse-
quently, but very imperfect knowledge of the
public surveys. In most cases, they were wholly
nj IN with he location ~ ba
public surveys Of even the mines, ggings and dis.
eoperies, under their superintendent, and were
obliged to rely upon miners and settlers for nfor-
%s'0n on ns sasse From this lnG.
compiled by the agents, and transmitted to the
War Department and local land Offices, and there
marked on the plats as mineral lands, md reserved
from sale. A large portion Of the lands, however,
embraced in these lists, contain no discoveries of
ore, and IRE, in fact amongst the richest agricultural
and best timbered lands in the whole district
Additional reservations have been made in the
lind offices upon data eouav Loose and HE.