The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-07


survey OF the lands In CALIFORNIA; Is now extremely
The only provisions of law in relation the once Of
the Surveyor General of this State In the act
appropriation for the civil and diplomatic expenses
the government for the fiscal years ending Both june
1859 and 1858
The former act merely contains an item for surveying
the public lands and private claims In California In con-
ormity with the provisions OF the act OF Congress an-
thorizng similar surveys Of twsnty five thou and dollars
to be expended under the direction OF the Department OF
the Interior Of which is to be paid the compen-
sation Of Surveyor General whose salary shall not ex
coed thousand Ave hundred dollars per annun, pro
vided that this rate Of compensation shall continue for
the term or two years and no longer ana the latter
preparations for the same service without affecting that
proyiso
According to decision Of the First Comptroller Of the
Treasury the compensation ao we'd the Surveyor General
by the former act cannot be paid after the 30h June
next without the repeal by Congress of that proviso and
hence the necessity Of action by Congress,
the subject at the present session The object,
doubt OF Congress in thus limiting the period during
which this compensation shoud be paid to ascertain
whether The rate thus fixed just Experience has fully
shown that in proportion to the expense OF living IL by
grade Of officers east OF the Rocky mountains and Is
far from being commensurate with the arduous and i'm
has so ably and faithfully performed
The remark be made In relation to the salary
($2,b00 per annum) allowed the Surveyor General Of
condemnation in view Of the hsh rates Of living in that
territory will scarcely provide for the necessary wants
Of that officer and his family and Is wholly inadequate
The proprety extending the United States land sys-
tenn over the territories Of Nebraska Utah, and New
are gradually being settled by hardy enterprsng and
Industrious population The lines of the public surveys
when extended those lands in accordance with the
admirable system established by the laws of Congress-
will materially interfere probably with the improvements
Of those settlers and hence frequent and vexstous lti
CATION viii be produced increasing In proportion the
settlements extend prior those surveys The nsces
facilities should also be Furnished to ell those set
ue to secure their homes either by grants purchase
California. Oregon, and the territories mentioned, and
appoint register to EACH who could collect evidence
claims open tract books and make necessary pre-
parstion for the sale Of the lands when the claims
grants are all finally disposed Of.
While on this subjsct, would recommend that the
township lines alone should be extended the
valuable deposits Of the precious minerals and that the
lands containing those deposits be left free to the enter
prspg industry Of all citizens of the United States and
those who have declared their intention to become such
to work and mine Ut their pleasure without let or him
drsnce except 90 far local legislation may be
persons in their possessory rights and If any benefit is
claimed by government from the product OF these
by abundant supply Of the precious metals that
1t he in the shape OF nominal charge for refining the
and coming the metal which may be required - be
done in the country before permitting 1t t. become
subject OF trsfic barter, or expectation.
The inexpedsncy Of the leasing system, as pracsed
for many years in the mineral lands the Upper Mis-
from csh fully shown by the able report Of 10th
November 1S46 Of one of my predecessors now In the
ton TO the mineral lands Lake SUPERIOR has fully
ustaned the views set forth In that report as shown by
the accompanying statement from which 1t will be per-
ceved the expenses of the mineral agency ct that
point since l847 has exceeded the thererom
nearly 500 No other section OF the globe could have
furnished better opportunity to test the efficiency OF
this system the Only outlet for the products OF the
mines was by the Ssult Ste Marie river and hence
could be smugged out without paying the government
impost, or rent 1t IL hardly probable therefore win
knowledge Of these facts that this system will be extend
9TH he n bAhie
would not be liable TO like objections.
One Of the earliest In connection with the pub
lie lands that engaged the attention OF Congress was the
necessity for making provision for the esablshmen OF
schools colleges sc In the States aud for opening
roads ready to the immense domain then held
by the in those states For the former
thirty sixth part the public lands apart for the
latter twentieth of the net proceedf OF the whole do
main was appropriated
of President Jefferson through each administration
down to the last session Of Congress- and Presidents
since the days of Washington except the two distn
guished patriots whose terms OF Office abridged by
death have evnced their sanction OF this policy by
signing bills making grants for carrying 1t out as shown
by the accompanying statement
extending The land system over the Territories Of
Minnesota and Oregon Congress have enlarged the grant
for schools to double the amount for each township OF
that heretofore ret for this purpose and doubt
the same nber3iy will be manifested towards the other
States Territories necessity requires opportuni
ty offers The District OF Columbia the seat OF the
tonsl legislature alone BIAS not heretofore enjoyed the
benefits Of beraty Of Congress ia this respect The
citizens Of Washington have taxed themselves heavily,
and made every provision in their power tor the esab
nshment Of judicious system OF education here, in
which instruction l. i'm parted without charge Of auy
kind There eight district and seventeen
primary schools in successful operation at an annual
charge about fifteen Thousand dollars to the city,
and in which over two th 'usand scholars male and fe
male taught all the elements Of good English edu
cation with the higher branches, when required This,
however II by means sufficient many constant
y seeking admttaDcdo these schools and cannot be
ceved for OF while the surrounding country
is almost entirely destitute would therefore earnest
y recommend that liberal provision in money or lands be
made for educational purposes IN this District that 1t
become worthy of its ustrious founder the father
OF his country
In relation to the other branch of this subject beg
leave to state that the roads nd canals constructed with
the assistance given by the government and the improve
mept OF the navigation OF rivers effected through the
same in, trumentalty have brought
bodies of land which Otherwise would probably have
manned unsold for many years-n all likelihood long
enough for che TO have consumed great part
Of the derived from them aud interest
charged on their value TO have absorbed the whole
amount
Where grants have been made by alternate sections,
reervipg every other section the government and
doubling the minimum price OF the lands thus reserved
the has gained before stated aud also d.
recty by the enhanced value OF the lands along such I'M
proyements
by the If goth September 1850 far the State OF
Illinois il where the reflections have been
peted and the lands retains by the brought
into market strongly in point in support Of this view.
Here the gr aest anxiety manifested to obtain lands
along the road, ut The euhaEced minimum and
of ceres we're osposed Of that would probably
have remained unsoo for many years.
So far then grants OF h character con serned
the crtci,m cannot justly charge them viola
tons Of the compacs will the several States from which
they acquired, TO wit that they should be
sidered common fund Tor tho aud benefit of vii the
States; the slightest infringement OF the pledge
made Of them by the of 25h January l54 for the
redemption of the public debt
The average cost OF railroads in the United States
/ has been found to be about twenty five thousand
dollars per mile The grant Of six sections $40
per mile would not quite realize $4,000 at the double
minimum The balance OF Sis 600 per mile, would
have be furnished by the State the Individual
terpse to which the construction Of the road might be
entrusted and 1t would be unjust to the intelligence
and foresight Of citizens 10 suppose that Of
this kind would be undertaken without fair prospect
Of compilation and the realization OF reasonable profit
from the investment
The pas ed at the last session Of Congress granting
the right Of and the privilege Of taking the
ry materials for the construction Of all such roads
the public lands Is fair introduction to this policy
The facilities furnished by such roads far human
agency acaomplsh will snnihilate time aud space,
and like adamantiIe bonds bind together this mighty
and vide spread republic