The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-10
(F'rom the Dubuque Herald.)
THE SURVEYOR GENERALSHIP.

We perceive, by the political papers Of
The State, that the course pursued by the
new Surveyor General, George B. Sargent,
Esq, in the management of bis office, and
in the dispensation Of surveying contracts,
is attracting much attention, and in some
quarters meeting with severe rebuke. We
are sorry to SEQ this, as from all we can
learn, we cannot avoid the conviction that
Mr.. Sargent is nctuated, in all that he has
50 far done, by sincere desire for the pub
lie good.
Setting aside the natural asperi,ies man
itested In somo quarters, on the occasion OF
the removal Of some half dozen clerks from
tho office, we come TO the two ostensible
bones of contention which are now engag
ing the attention Of the papers above refer
red To.
The Fairfield Ledger, whig paper in
the 50 lthern portion Of the State, first rails
ed the question of granting contracts to
any but practical surreyors, and quarrels
with the Surveyor General for giving con
tracts to George Madeira, and Caleb II.
Booth.
We have heard much, within the last
two years, touching the subject of public
land surveys; and listened to many disqui-
sitions upon the qualifications necessary to
run straight line over the prairies. "Prac-
teal Surreyor" has acquired a dignity and
| in the minds Of some men.
equal if not superior to that of Knight or
esquire in the DAYS of chvalry. Our own
observation in this matter has led rs to be-
lieye that there is a great deal of humbug-
gerry in this matter, and that the title is
about as significant, and just as easily con
ferred as those to which we have compared
| il. There are those who seem 10 have re-
garded the ability to see straight as the
height Of human accomplishments, giving
no credit whatever to those possessing the
more difficult if not the more useful ac-
quirement Of seeing round corner. II is
the former class that have usually been
sent TO the field. while the latter have fur
nished the outfit.
Public land surveying is the most simple
and easy Of all surveying, and il'there be q
boy fourteen years old in any Of the So
called public schools of Dubuque, who can
not acquire the art in four days. his father
has no great reason to be proud OF his of.
spring. We are no practical surveyor in
| The political, or common acceptation. Still
in our boyhood days, we were much n the
habit of measuring the area of the various
enclosures adjoining our play ground, and
have some indistinct recollection of Trape
zinms and Trapezoides, and such like mis-
shapen and npronounceable plats, but had
we have had the right lines and right an
giles Of the western townships and quarter
sections, we should have considered our
task mafvellously Y easy one, and the com
pass, rule and dividers would have been
shorn of half their magic as well as of hall
their terrors. Talk Of the exalted perfec-
tion Of practical surveyors! They are gen
orally those men who are the most unyield-
ing in their opportunities, have been the
oiienest fed from the public crib, or By some
fortuitous circumstances have had it in
their power in round the corner way to
give qaid pro quo; though these times
we hope, have passed and gone. We will
risk our reputation as a mathematician,
that two thirds Of the men, half the boys.
and one sixteenth of the women in Do
buque may become good practical survey
ors on three days. tuition, provided they be
confined in their operations to the surveys
ofthe public lands.
| We are sorry we led the Ledger into the
error that Col. Madeira had received con-
| tract, but as we ourselves were innocent
victims before him, he and the rest OF man
kind will doubtless forgive US. The Colo
mel is yet at Buena Vista, as happy and as
fat, as he is whole-souled and honorable,
and there he will remain uncontrolled ,rith,
and uncontracted for. His son Francis,
whom we know well, and who is as spright-
| " and intelligent young gentleman as
we have in our vicinity, is out on survey,
and will doubtless make his returns in good
time and in good shape, and when the i'm
migrating swarms shall spread themselves
upon the lands which he marks out, our
word for il, the corners will be there.
Bot the Ledger thinks that Gen. Booth
ought not to have received a contract, and
bIames Mr.. Sargent for giving him one.
VIC puisCiNCS " was ~ SotiiiuC
down." for the late incumbent to seek of
his successor share of tho patronage of
the Office he had just been called upon TO
leave, but when we learned from very good
authority, that tho giving Of this contract
was spontaneous act of Kindness on the
part of General Sargent. sprnging from
and prompted by the goodness of his heart,
--prollered as q pledge Of good feeling from
one gentleman to another, without soicita-
tion and without a suspicion that his mo-
tives would be canvassed and misconstrued
I'VE say when we were apprised OF this
TACT, we became perfectly reconciled to its
propriety, and we doubt not that upon
learning the truth Of the matter, the opn-
ions Of our friend McCraney Of the Ledger,
will be similarly modified. Weare panied,
however, to see the turn which our neigh
bor of the Express has given to this affair,
The editor of that paper, speaking with the
serious and apparent candor which usually
pertains to an official authority, says that
the contract was given to General Booth
because il pas a difficult one, and no per.
son but The General could be found quaiif
cd for its crecution! We know the init