The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-27


means of payment. The claims for bounties, un-
der the acts of February IL, 1S47, and 10th
August, lS4S, as shown above, are, III round num-
t;1,s.to -, 80. :. -, ~ si % 000
Making in the aggregate. ......... 100000
OF these 1922 have been satisfied
in money, and 70, 800 have been
allowed-to be satisfied in land
which will require. ......... 10 ,636, 10 acres
And should there be but 100000
valid claims, as is estimated,
then there will remain 20 ,63S UNI
satisfied claims, which, if settled
IN land, Will require further
quantity of. ................ 4,020,4S0 acres.
Making in ALL IA ,656, 600 do
Prior to LIST Of October last there
had been located with these Mex
lean war warrants . 5,025, 400 do
Leaving yet to be located. 1851 200 do
The proportion of warrants used instead of pur-
chase money in the ordinary sales will probably
absorb them in the three next ensuing years, and
sooner if they take the place of cash generally in
the current sales. Until the bounty warrants are
exhausted the receipts in cash from the sales of the
public lands must be comparatively small.
The attention of this Department early di-
rected To the continuation of the geological explora
ton and surveys Of the mineral lands in Michigan,
Wisconsin, and Iowa. On the 18th day Of April,
about the opening of the for field operations,
Dr. Charles T. Jackson, the principal geologist,
who had conducted in person the survey of the
mineral lands in Michigan, resigned his situation,
and recommended the appointment of his two as
sistants, Mr. j. w Foster and Mr.. J. ID. Whitney,
ir., to finish the work In few DAYS, however, he
asked leave to withdraw his resignation. After
looking into the progress of the work, and con-
sdering the time which it had required for its
ton thus far, was convinced that he could not, by
any effort which il was reasonable to require of
m he IN M ~
a report of what he had already done, and what
was yet to be done, in time for it to be laid before
Congress at their coming session. therefore dis
penscd with his further services in the field and
instructed him to finish his analysis of the minerals
collected, and prepare report of the work done
by him III the two preceding years. This report
has been recently received, and will accompany
that of the Commissioner of the General Land Of
fee Ii will be found to contain much historical
information touching the carly explorations of the
county bordering Lake Superior, with full
and able description of the geological relations and
character of the rich depostes of native copper
Isle Royal and keewecnaw Point.
The ma gnetic observations of DIR. Locke, one of
the assistant geologsts charged with that service by
Dr. Jackson, will be regarded with peculiar inter
est The magnetic energy which manifests itself
at different points the carth's surface, by its
ton the needle in different directions and with
different degrees of force, giving to it what
called its dip, its dccnation and its intensity; the
durnal variations of each of these the variation of
in which they effected by meteorological
and electrical phenomena, have for many years
past been objects of great interest 10 science and Of
careful observation ON almost every part of the
earths surface accessible to civilized man. Our
linear surveyors and typographical corps, in
their survey of Lake Superior, have found il ne
cesslry To observe the magnetic action so far only
regards the dccnatOn of the needle or its dircc
ton toward or variation from the true pole The
observations Of DIR. Locke which accompany Dr.
Jackson's report therefore all that we have i'm
that region which regards the magnetic force in
its various manifestations and il is matter Of regret
that they could not have been longer continued and
further extended.
The residue of the field work of this district was
entrusted 10 Messrs. Foster and Whitney, who have
pressed il forward with much diligence and indus
try Their report is not yet completed, but the sy-
nopss and the geological maps which they have
returned, and which will accompany the report of
the Commissioner of the General Land Office, are
highly satisfactory 10 the Department and crcdita-
bic TO themselves. Their maps designate by quar-
ter sections the lands ON which valuable mineral
depositcs arc found 50 that the agricultural lands
within the mineral region can now be offered for
sale pursuant TO law.
DR. Owen the geologist for Wisconsin and Iowa
has furnished all the data necessary to enable the
Land Office 10 bring into market the mineral lands
of the Chippewa district in Wisconsin, and he has
extended his exploration and survey over not only
the northern parts Of Iowa and Wisconsin but Min
nesoa also far north the United States bound
airy line and west a short distance beyond the Rcd
river of the north His report, which is in course
of preparation, will, II Is believed, be not only
valuable contribution to science, but contain also
the best information which we have of the agricul-
tural capabilities and the mineral wealth Of The
tensive district of country which he has explored
A further appropriation will be necessary TO enable
him to complete the analysis Of minerals which he
has collected, and TO prepare his report.
PUBLIC LANDS IN OREGON, CALIFORNIA, AND new
MEXICO.
No provision has yet been made 10 extend the
laws for the disposition of the public lands in the
Territories Of Oregon, California, and New Mexico.
The public interest would 10 require that this
should be done al an early day. To carry il into
effect the negotiation Of treaties with the Indian
tribes who claim title TO the lands, the creation of
the office of surveyor general in each of those Ter
ritories, and tho establishment Of land offices in
convenient districts, will be necessary, accompa-
MED with the usual appropriations for surveys
| Nothing beyond this, or out of the ordinary
course Of things, will be required in providing for
the disposition of the lands in Oregon, except the
adjustment of n few titles of British subjects pro-
vided for by the treaty of August 5th 1916, which
may be referred 10 the judges of the Territory, and
some generous provision Tor the early emigrants,
! in consideration of the hardships which they en-
countercd in the first settlement of this distant and
! exposed frontier
New Mexico has long been settled, and portions
the land in that territory held by titles grant
cd by Spain, or by Mexico since her separation from
the Spanish monarchy. II will be necessary to cs-
tablish judicial commission To examine and settle
these titles, far they subject to doubt or
| controversy large proportion of them is, il is
| believed, of ancient date, and evidenced by long
! and uninterrupted occupancy.
| In California such commission will be more es-
/ pecally necessary. Many of the older grants in
/ that Territory, of considerable extent, have been
] resumed by the sovereign authority, and are now
/ held under new grants, which require examination.
/ Many important and commanding points are
claimed under very recent grants of questionable
character; and but part OF the public records were
at the time Of our last advlccs in the possession,
within the knowledge Of the proper authorities.
! There is however, large amount of land in this
territory held by grants of unqucstionable validity
and some of them, especially those granted for pas
turage, are large, covering many square leagues
/ in extent considerable amount also is held by
inchose titles, regular and fair in their inception,
but which have not been perfected. These titles
where commenced in good faith, by concession
from the Spanish or Mexican authorities ought to
be favorably regarded, especially if followed by
possession. In no case should the occupant OF the
soil suffer injury by the transfer of the sovereignty
/ TO the United States This consideration has in.
I duccd Congress confirm incentive oyrania cyer