The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-12-17

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Ioea,ed cate with bounty. land warrants -l.3s7.lIS F"
Torated with other certificates lJ,oi9 "
Making total of 1,646,020 .
srant 24s5 ,233
Making an aggregate for the quarter OF 4l3l,253 .
During The past year $4,000 letters received and
answered. l49l accounts were adjusted and reported TO
the COMPTROLLER 81 303 certificates OF land sales, 29226
bouniy land warrant locations 9,3ls deearatory slate
menls $4,000 swamp land, internal Improvement, and
olher selections were posted about 10 900 cash. bounty
land and other patents were wfen recGIasa ana Trans
we're certified 10 the States, and upwards OF 10000
pages OF letters and accounts were recorded.
Among the accounts adjusted as above mentioned,
were those OF the land officers under the act OF 22d
March, 1859, 10 make land warrants assignabe, and
for other purposes by which those officers were entitled
10 the per cenage for The location OF warrants since
The llth February, 1S47, as for cash sales.
As the law provides that all such lees Tor locations
made prior to its passage should be paid out Of the
uy most Of the accounts therefor were made up at this
grea, amount OF careful labor and an enre revision Of
ali the accounts settled since lst January, lsl7,
The whole amount thus paid out OF The treasury, TO
18Th November, 1852, was Sll0, SIG 81. af.... ...
This law, which act of simple justice to the dis-
,rict land officers and only reasonable compensation
for a,hiu services limits The amount Of fees paid TO each
peIson from every source. 10 5000 per annum and re-
after The passage OF that law should be paid by the per-
sons who made those locations The consequences has
BEEN that several instances the aggregate OF fees paid
in for military locations exceeded the compen-
saon Of the land officers, and the has gone into
the public treasury and therefore the government 10 that
extent has been reimbursed on account OF the above
mentioned expenditure in the first instance r
The survey Of The northern boundary OF Iowa has been
Completed required by the act OF Sd March, ls49 the
monuments have all been erected, and full report OF the
whole work. with maps OF the boundary showing the
topography OF the country, will be specially communica
ted early day in the ensuing session OF Congress
The promptness. energy and efficiency with which
this work has been executed rebounds TO the credit OF
the able and efficient general and astronomers
charged with II and IN fact 10 all the persons EN-
ployed on IL.
The condition Of the public lands in each State and
Territory will be found SET forth in table E. accompany
ing this report which the entire Of each State
square miles and acres is gwen; the quantity surveyed
aud unsuveyed; the number OF acres offered for sale
the number OF sold the amount embraced IN dona
tone grants for schools uniysrsties asylums for the
deaf and dumb, internal improvements. 10 individuals
and companies; for seats OF government and public
buildings for military services; reserved Tor salnes;
Tor the benefit Of Indians Tor companies. individuals.
and corporations; the area covered by confirmed pr-
claims the amount OF swamp land granted 10 the
several States for railroad purposes and the total
unsold and unsppropraed of offered and unoered lands
From the last column II will be perceived that there
large bodies of land In all the States and Territories
extending from the a5h 10 the 49h parallel OF north la
,udc and from The Atlantic 10 the Pacific, including
every desirable variety OF soil and climate, mineral and
timber and capable OF producing IN the greatest abund
aaording the wides, field for enierprising industry
Under resolutions Of the two houses OF Congress, the
valuable report OF Dr. ID. ID. Owen, on the geology OF
Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota (and incidentally Of
the Mauyaises Teues', In Nebrsska,) is now being
printed under direction OF this Office The report vo
luminous and will constitute, with its index, quarto OF
aoou, $50 pages, with separate volume OF maps Wh
eye 10 economy in the execution OF large edition
has been ordered IL was concluded to adopt wood en-
cravings for the illustrations which accompany the text
and am happy 10 state that while the work itself reflects
t,n Ubes IT'S al ifs
thor the execution OF u is in style likely 10 do credit
home and abroad TO the artistic skill of the country
The mode pursued has been very economical involving
much lees expense than any other known TO the depart
ment The work OF printing has progressed with unwes
rying diligence, and Il is expected that thousand copies
will be ready for delivery shortly alter the meeting OF
Congress- and subsequently the progress will be at the
rate OF Ave hundred copies per week
In this connection beg leave to invite attention TO
paper from Dr. Owen, herewith submitted, setting forth
The utility OF geological survey in Oregon and mani
Testing strong desire ths, special geological reconnos
be ordered in the region OF country 10 Nebraska
which lies the headwaers OF the Moreau White,
and Cheyenne rivers, and in the region OF the Black
Hills. denominaied the Mauvaises Terres" This is
regarded the tertiary formaiion aboundng with the
fossil remains OF extinct species oil animals, each COM
bning The distinctive characteristics OF several existing
according the decisions OF comparative anatomy
This region will be found alluded 10 on page 1884, in the
9th chapter Of bis report The field referred TO seems
likely TO be one OF peculiar interest TO the geological
world IN reference to which Dr. Owen states that 't is
much TO assert that since the disclosures by the
opening OF The gypsum quses Of Monmaure in France,
that made fret acquainted with those singular extinct
fossil races enombed in the Paris basin, discovery in
geology has dvuged such extraordinary and interesting
results paeonology" He further remarks that "here
in the bad lands OF Nebraska do anticipate the re
mova OF the shuoud Of oblivion that has long con
eeaed important events in the past history of this earth
that form deeply interesting chapter in its geolo-
y With sueh prospects OF enrohng the fields OF science
from afurher exploration Of this attractive region, you
wil understand my anxiety for prosecuting those geo
researches" Reasons other than the foregoing are
also urged by DR.. Owen for this undertaking.
Last year, when starting the public surveys in Oregon,
he department yielded the wishes OF the late delegate
who urged in compliance with the desire of his const
usnis geological reconnaissance 10 some extent an the
oregon Territory, and particularly TO the west OF the Gas
eade mountains. Aer much deliberauon. Il was deemed
CONSISTENT and proper TO devoe 10 such object what re-
named OF appropriation for similar explorations IN
me west, particularly as De- Owen bad strenuously
recommended the measure in continuation OF the deye
opments which will be found in his report Or. Evans
hs enieprisng assistant recent explorations was APP
pointed 10 this service He has persevered in the work
with remarkable energy, after having crossed the Rocky
mountains at much personal hazard. without other pro-
eclion than few occasional Indian guides.
Preliminary reports have been received from him OF
much Interests but the means furnished long since