Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-20


The New Surveyor General.
We have just received a letter from
Plat Smith, Esq Of Dubuque, in rela-
ton 10 the policy of the new Surveyor
General, which we copy in full. Il
speaks for itself Fairfield Ledger.
DuBuauE, Iowa, June G, 1851.
Mr.. O. M'Craney, IS a aaesl .....s.
.,s,oss s 81. Dear. ,SI:--l see by the
last No. Of the Ledger that you have
made some rather severe remarks in re-
lation TO the Surveyor General and his
course of policy. have bad SO long
an acquaintance with you that ! know
YOU would not designedly do any per-
son an injustice. These remarks owe
their origin to mistaken idea of the
real facts in the case. George Madeira
has no contract nor any inierestin one;
but, his son, Francis Madeira, has one
jointly with Waldo. II is taken in their
joint names; surveyed jointly by them
both in the field, and the profits divided
equally. - r ara.
Youmake mention in that article abou,
the s.silen, thieves who are receiving
part of the profits of the Surveyor
Generals office; with regard to this !
think you are also mistaken. | believe
that have good opportunity of know
ing the course that has been pursued
There has been good many contracts
lei and surveyors have been taken from
almost every quarter of the two States,
and no person has contract, nor an i'm
,erest in one, TO my knowledge, who
has not gone into the field TO do the work.
On the contrary, where any person has
made any advances towards having an
interest in a contract, who would not 60
into the field 10 do the work himself, he
has met with decided rebuke. You
say in that article that you do not care
10 which party work is given, provided
it is given to practical working men,
/ think tina. Mr.. Sargent in this respect
has given about two jobs to Wings
where he has one to Democrats; and |
might state with regard to Gen. Boolhe,
that although he has never done job
before, YET he is doing his own work and
that his opportunities for acquiring a
knowledge of Surveying were very good;
and that he is abupdantly qualified to
perform the task and will do it. The
objection on the score of politics would
lie TO him as well as TO others. have
no idea that the course of the Surveyor
General will give anything like univer-
sal satisfaction. There is no person in
the world that could give such sa,isfac-
ton, but SO faras the northern part of
Iowais concerned, and might add also
all of Wisconsin, as far as have heard
any sentiment expressed. it is that his
course is very satisfactory. In two or
three instances he has given jobs 10 two
persons, but in these cases the two are
bound in the contract and are compelled
TO execute the job joinlly--both are to
be on the ground during the execution of
the work. The transaction must be en-
tered into openly and above board, the
same as any other fair business transac-
ton is entered into; and they must be
persons in whom the Surveyor General
has undoubtcd confidence as to the will
aud ability to do the work. He has
been resolute aud determined as TO secret
understandings in relation 10 other per-
sons having interests; that the old prac-
lice shall no longer prevail. What lie
does is done openly and no person can
have any interest except he who goes
into the field and does the work.
make this statement. supposing you
have had the course of the present Sur
veyor General misrepresented by some
person who has been disappointed, and
for the further reason that 1 know you
would do no man an injustice if you
knew it.
j am, Dear Sir, Yours, &C.,
ssr PLATT SMITH.