The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-12

absolutely necessary that the new line should be confirm
ed by Congress- and the boundaries OF the acent dis
| trcts be made to conform to it,
would invite attention to the delay and difficulties ex-
penenced IN locating private claims in Florida, which
were suggested IN the last annual report.
These difficulties to be increasing; and notwth-
standing the skill and experience OF the officer in charge
OF the surveys in that State is frequently impossible to
come 10 satisfactory conclusion relation to the oca-
ton OF some OF those claims. u
The passage OF requiring them to be located ac-
eordng TO the lines OF the public surveys so as 10
brace the ancient improvements, where the claimants fail
or refuse to identity the boundaries of their grants
would, 1T is believed, obvate those difficulties.
hs resafveys IN Louisiana, under the udicious and
able direction OF the surveyor general of that State
rapidly progressing; and il is confidently expected that
under the systematic arrangement in force in that
district, the Confusion, doubt and difficulty heretofore ex-
listing in relation many OF the land titles therein will
soon be removed and the whole land business of the
State reduced to order and harmony
Estimates for the surveying department for the fiscal
year ending 30h June. 1913, and for this office for the
same period, are submitted herewith, marked L, f., G. W
The duty OF ascertaining the amount OF damages
tanned by the respective purchasers of public lands in
township one south OF range east, in Michigan,
required BY Joint resolution OF the 10th August 1916,
Entrusted to the surveyor general at Detroit That officer
will make the necessary Investigations in person, and
port the facts il expected, in time to be laid before
Congress early in the session.
Statement A. herewith, exhibits the action of this of
hce the selections made by the several States to which
grants were made by the act OF 18th September 1871,
titled can act to appropriate the proceeds OF the sales of
the public lands and to grant pTe,emPon rights ~
ton suspended entries, will doubtless be productive Of
most beneficial results, and afford ample relief to all
claimants Justly entitled TO it. But, in consequence of
the late period at which that passed, and the i'm
mense amount of labor which, since that time, has in
cessanty pressed upon this Office it has not been posi-
Bile prepare many for adjudication under that
law as may have been expected large number how
ever has already been adjusted and it is believed that
during the ensuing year., every remaining case coming
within the provisions OF that act will be finally disposed
of; and thus this Office will be relieved from heavy
miscellaneous correspondence which heretofore has
greatly embarrassed its operations, while thousands Of
citizens will obtain patents for their farms, long since
paid for, and Congress be relieved from great of
harrassng Legislation.
A list Of the adiudcated is now preparing, and
will shortly be reported TO YOU to be lad before Congress-
As directed by the second section OF that act. .n
The act of 18th July last, authorizing the President
to sell the reserved mineral lands in the States Of Hi
nois and Arkansas, and Territories of Wisconsin and
Iowa, supposed to contain lead ORE, under which those
lands have been advertised for sale and which referred
in the foregoing, appears TO be retrospective only its
characters and the fifth section of the act of Sd March,
1907 which authorizes the leasing of lead mines and
contiguous lands, remains unrepealed, is matter of
doubt whether, under existing egslation future
discoveries OF lead can be brought into market.
1t will be observed also, thai by the act of 18th July
last provision is made for the sale of lands reserved
withheld account OF containing copper The clear
and convincing reasons sustained by actual facts, given
in the last annual report to induce the sale OF mineral
lands apply equally to tracts containing copper as to those
reserved for lead The leasing system has been fully
and fairly tried for long series of years. and found en-
phacay deficient BY authorizing the disposal OF min.
era lands both copper and lead at public sale and pi-
vate entry at the present minimum, and by emption
to the inhabitants residing on them, government will rel
alze fair equivalent for them and be relieved from the
onerous expense OF sustaining the leasing system The
community at large will be benefited, the mines will
be scientifically and thoroughly worked when
ed by Individuals than under leases the product of them
will be proporonably Augmented and the supply and
demand regulate the market the price OF the metals will
be materially reduced and the general resources OF the
country greatly increased.
The leasing system, in fact is not consistent with the
genius and spirit of people, who endure with mpa-
fence the species of vassalage which it induces. Some
slight notifications OF the act of 18th July last making
general provision for the sale of mineral lands other
public lands and the repeal of he fifth section of the act
OF 3D. March, 1907 will accomplish all that is desired
this Subject and relieve many cases OF great hardship
which could not have been anticipated, and which the
present act will not reach.
The expectancy OF making further provision for the
support of common schools in the land States has at
aced much attention, and certainly worthy OF the
most favorable consideration. Those States sparsey
settled by active industrious, and enerprsng people;
who however, may not have sufficient means ndepen-
dent of their support to endow maintain public schools.
To aid in this important matter, Congress, at the COM
mencemen of our land system, and when the reins OF
government held by the sages OF the revolution set
apart one section out of every township of hirtys
square miles AT that early day this provision doubtless
appeared municen but experience has proved it to be
Inadequate Ii is viousynecessary that at least
school should be established each oil those Townships
and do this, they have only the section of land above
mentioned, worth about eight hundred dollars To IN
vest this sum safely, il cannot be made TO yield
than forty eight dollars per annum, which will not pay
the salary of a teacher for a single month and the whole
of the principal would not enable a township to
erect suitable school edifce, and employ
teacher for year is evident, therefore, that this
provision does not go far to accomplish the original de-
sign; and that, without the aid OF other means, the cit
of those growing States cannot obtain the advan
tages of a general system OF education.
would, therefore, recommend that further grants OF
land be made fo that object and wherever the lands
served for the OF schools found to be vaueless
that the proper officer OF the State be authorized to select
others in lieu OF them.
The vast amount Of public lands in Missouri, Arkan,
by the rise of the of the Mississippi and its trib
uares has recently attracted the attention of Congress-
and information has been sought, with view to ascer
tain the extent of this evil and the probable cost of its
remedy This information cannot be furnished from the
records OF this office, those of the surveyors general
for the reason, that although the swamp lands are m
Dictated by the surveys, IT not shown whether that
character is derived from the ovelows OF the rivers or
from local causes.
Besides the elevation of the banks of the streams are
not gwen nor have we amy means OF ascertaning the
rise of their waters when affected by rains and other
causes
This evil, believed, cannot be remeded by the con-
strucon of levees alone; for though this process may
protect particular tract of country from foundations the
accumulation of waters thus caused will probably break
through, flow another point and the evil be IN
creased instead of essened.
The only plan, it is considered that would be likely
to secure certain and permanent relief, is by combining
evees with drains either BY artificial canals, by open
ing and deepening the suces by which the accumula
ton OF waters have heretofore been slowly carried off
ne reports which have, al various times, been fur
sheu by TINS office relative TO this subject es
Inmates without sufficient data, and may not approximate
70 correctness 1t being impossible to to any salts
factory conclusion without Typographical survey being
nIst maze Oh he mississippi river and its tributaries, and