The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-15

the suryey OF the lands in California is now ex-
tremely urgent. -
The only provisions of law in relation 10 the of.
flee OF the surveyor general of this State are in the
acts making appropriation for the civil and Dip
lomatic expenses Of the Government for the fscal
years ending 30.h June, 1852, and 1853. The for.
mer act merely contains item "for surveying
! the public lands and private claims in California
in conformity with the provisions Of the 0,
! Congress authorizing similar surveys, twenty
five thousand dollars, to he expended under the
direction Of the DEPARTING mt of The INTERIOR on. o.
which sum Ia TO be paid the compensate ton OF q
surveyor general, whose salary shall not exceed
four thousand five hundred dollars per annun,:
Provided, That this rate Of compensation shall
continue Tor the term Of two years and no lon
GER" and the latter (Statutes at Large. PIP. 80
and 9l) merely makes further appropriations for
the same service, without affecting that proviso.
According to decision Of the First Comptroller of
the'Treasury, the compensation allowed the eur
| veyor general by the former act cannot be paid,
after the 3Oth June next, without the repeal, by
Congress, of that proviso; and hence the indis.
pensable necessity of action by Congress on tho
| subject at the present session. .'
The object no doubt Of Congress- in thus limit.
ing the period during which this compensation
should be paid, was to ascertain whether the rate
thus liked was just Experience has fully shown
that in proportion to the expense Of living, il is by
| no means proportonate to the compensation paid
the same grade Of officers east Of the Rocky Noun
tains; and is far from being commensurate with
the arduous and important duties deyolved that
| officer, and which he has so ably and faithfully
! performed ... .".
| The same remark be made in relation to the
| salary ($2,5OO per annum) allowed the surveyor
general of Oregon by the act of 9th September,
1850. This compensa tion in view of the high rates
OF living III that Territory, will scarcely provide
for the necessary wants OF that officer and his fam
lily, and 10 wholly inadequate to the services rem
| dered by him. ."a-. "'F&.
The propriety Of extending the United States
land system over the Territories Of Nebraska,
Utah, and New Mexico, Is also respectfully submit
| ted Those Territories are gradually being settled
| by hardy, enterprising, and industrious popua-
ton. The lines of the public surveys when extend
ed over the lands, in accordance with the admira-
| BILE system established by the laws of Congress,
will materially interfere probably with the i'm
provements OF those settlers. and hence frequent
aud vexatious itga ion will be produced, increaa-
ing in proportion as tie settlements extend prior
To those surveys. The necessary facilities should
also be furnished to all hosc settlers to secure their
| homes, either by grants purchase.
| To this end it would be well to create land Of
fees In California, Oregon, and the Territories
mentioned, and appoint register to each, who
could collect evidence OF claims, open tract books
and make every necessary preparation for the
GALES of the lands, when the claims or grants arc
| all finally disposed Of. .F..."e &c."
| While on this subject, ! would recommend that
| the township lines alone should be extended over
the valuable deposits of the precious minerals and
| that the lands containing those deposits be left
free to the enterprising industry Of all citizens Of
| the United States, and those who have declared
their intention to become such, TO work and mine
at their pleasure, without let hindrance, except
40 far as local Legislation be necessary to pre-
serve tne peace OF the country, and secure
in their possessory rights; and If any benefit is
| claimed by Government from the product of
these lands, further than that which is general 70
all our citizens by nm abundant supply Of the pre-.
cious metals, that il be in the hape Of nominal
charge for refining the and. coming the metal,
+ which may be fequircd to be done in the country
before permitting II to become subject Of traffic,
| barter, or expectation.
| The inexpedicncy Of the leasing system, az
practiced for many years in TIE mineral lands on
the Upper Mississippi, and the actual loss 20 tho
tha-.E E.Ir- l.
by the able report Of 29th November, lS45, Of one
OF my predecessors, now in the United States SEN
ate Subsequent experience, in relation to the
| mineral lands on Lake Superior has fully sud
tanned the views set forth in that report as shown
| by the accompanying statement, from which it
will be perceived that the expenses of the mineral
agency at that point since lS47 has exceeded the
| revenue thcrefrom nearly $500. No other Geo
ton OF the globe could have furnished better op-
porunity to test the efficiency of this system,
the only outlet for The products of the mines was
| by the SAUL Ste Marie river, and hence none
could be snuggied out without paying the Gov.
| eminent impost or rent II is hardly probable.
| therefore, with knowledge Of these facts, that
| this system will be extended to the mineral
| lands on the Pacific and there is other tba.
could be established on similar basis that would
| not be liable TO like objections.
One OF the earliest measures in connexion with
the public lands that gagged the attention of Con-
| grcss was the necessity for making provision for
the establishment of schools, colleges, &c, in the
new States, and for opening ronds for read access
! TO the immense domain then held by the Govern.
ment in those States. For the former, thirty
sixth part of the public lands apart; for the
latter, one-twentieth Of the net proceeds OF the
whole domain was appropriated.
The same wise policy has been continued from
the time of President Jefferson, through each adj
minisration. down to the last session of Congress;
| and every President since the days of Washing
ton, except the two distin gushed patriots whose
terms Of office abridged by death, have
evinced their sanction of this policy by sgning bills
making grants for carrying il out, as shown by
| the accompanying statement.
10 extending the lind system over the Terrific.
ries OF Minnesota and Oregon, Congress have en-
larged the grant for schools, to double the amount
for each township. of that heretofore apart for
this purpose, and no doubt tie same liberaiity will
be manifested towards the other States and Terri
tories as necessity requires opportunity offers
The District OF Columbia, the seat of the National
Legislature, alone has not heretofore enjoyed the
benefits Of the liberality OF Congress in ths re-
| spect. The citizens of Washington have taxed
themselves heavily, and made every provision In
their power, for the establishment of judicious
system of education here, in which instruction is
impaired without charge of any kind. There are
now eight DISTRICTS and seventeen primary schools
| in successful operation, at an annual charge Of
about fifteen thousand dollars to the city, aud in
| which over two thousand scholars, male and 70.
male, taught oil the elements Of good English
education, with the higher branches when required.
This, however, il by no means sufficient, many
nre constantly seeking admittance to these schools
and cannot be received for want of room, while the
surrounding county is almost entirely destitute. 1
would, therefore, earnestly recommend that liberal
provision in money or lands be made for educa.
tional purposes in this District, that may become
worthy OF it's illus rious founder, the Father OF
his Country
In relation to the other branch of this subject
beg leave to state that the roads and canals con-
structed with the assistance given by the Govern
ment and the improvement Of the navigation Of
rivers, effected through the same fundamentally,
have brought into market immense bodies OF land
which otherwise would probably have remained
unsoid for many yenrs-in all Likelihood long
enough for the expenses to have consumed great
part of the revenu derived from theIn and il in
terest charged on their value, to have alb
sor bed the whole amount. Where e. ants have been
made by alternate sections, reserving every other
section to the Government and doubling the mini.
mum price o, the lands thus reserved. the Govern
men has gained, before stated and also directly
by the enhanced value Of the lands along such i'm
provements.
The grant for the Mobile and Chicago Railroad,
made by the act of Goth September, 1880. So far "a
the State OF Illinois is concerned, where the seeG-
tons have been completed, and the lands retained
by the Government brought into market, is