The republic., 1851-12-15

1
year, and rapid sale is anticipated in conse
quence of the extent of the settlements already
in existence.
The surveying operations in Minnesota have
been largely impeded by high floods The dep
relations perpetrated on the Government lands
by lumbermen are pointed out, and hope is
expressed that means will be provided for CON
tnuous surveys. embracing the entire lumber
ing regions of the Territory, in order that they
may be proclaimed for sale at an early period.
The Surveyor General remarks that ''the best
pine localities have not been reached by even
the lumbermen."
Extensive arrangements had been made for
surveying the township lines of large portion
of Iowa, but there again floods presented in.
surmountable obstacles. Notwithstanding the
deficiency of timber in some districts that have
been placed under contract, the work of settle
ment has gone on extensively, and thriving
towns and villages abound. The southwestern
district Is almost entirely claimed by settlers,
some of whom value their claims at from 81, 900
| to $1,000.
Considerable stress is laid upon the impor-
lance of speedily determining by the most sci
entifc method the boundary lines still in dis
pute in the Northwest The boundaries vet TO
be authoritatively laid down are those between
Missouri and Iowa, Iowa and Minnesota, and
Wisconsin and Minnesota A further appro
priation is necessary for the last of these pur.
poses
The officers in Louisiana have been engaged
in the work necessary to the final approval of
large bodies of public and private surveys
The selection Of the swamp lands accruing to
the State has also occupied attention.
In Arkansas, the labors of the Surveyor Gen
eral have been principally directed to the duty
of remedying defective surveys, and in prepar-
ing for the transfer of the archives of the office
to the State.
The Commissioner remarks at some length
on the need of fresh surveys in many parts Of
the country, in consequence Of the obiteration
of the marks of earlier surveys; and on the
difficulties such course caused by the abol-
ishment of surveyors offices in several Of the
States. Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio. and In
diana are specially noticed in this connexion.
To remedy the defects now felt, it is proposed
that the General Land Office be invested with
the same power and authority over the whole
subject as the late surveyors general exercised;
and that an inspector of surveys be appointed
in each State where the difficulties exist, to
ascertain and report on the nature and defects
existing and the cost of their correction.
The expedlency of extending the public land
curvpye nver Nau Mayico and TTtah raoaiyas
passing notice and the establishment of ter
rtorial government for the Nebraska country is
spoken of as necessary to precede the extension
of surveys over any bodies of country that may
be acquired from the Indians in that region
The report of Messrs. FOSTER and WHIT
NEY on the iron region of Lake Superior is in
press, and will shortly be presented to Con
gress. That of DIR. d. OWEN, on the geology
of Iowa and Wisconsin, awaits further action
by Congress.
The execution Of the law granting the swamp
and overhowed lands, unfit for cultivation, to
the States respectively, is occupying great at
tention, and also the business of closing up the
selections to which certain States are entitled for
internal Improvements.
The authorization of reasonable allowance
to district land officers, for the location of mill
tary land warrants, is proposed. Particular
attention is directed TO the claims of the land
officers in Florida in this respect.
Of the lands in Mississippi and Alabama, ap-
propriated for the benefit Of the Chickasaw tribe
Of Indians, the larger portion has been Sold
The other recommendations of the report
are, that the actof 1916, providing for the adjust
ment of all suspended pre- emption land claims,
be revived-that the presumption law of l64l
be modified by requiring that, in addition to the
notice now prescribed by law, settlers be called
upon to make oath of their intention to enter
within the period limited by law, and to prove
that their settlement is made in good faith
and, lastly, that Congress take into considera-
ton the propriety of granting to Michigan a
quantity Of land to aid in constructing ship
canal at the Saut Ste. Marie. The last re-
commentator is sustained with emphasis, as
essential to the development of the mineral re-
sources of the Lake Superior region.
The report closes with some remarks on the
intricate and laborious duties Of the General
Land Office. The archives, it is stated, con
sist Of 1888 folio manuscript volumes, and
,22 900 patents of different kinds have been
issued, involving the examination and filing of
some millions of papers.
Removal OF the British Flag.
The Journalof Commerce, in relation to the com.
H.. Al