The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-07-14
JOHN WILSON,
Commissioner.
GENERAL LAND OFFICF,1

May 6, 1853. :
lfa~rr Lc,cls, Esq Suruyor General, Dubuqre, / pa.
SIN: SO soon as the Secretary of War shall have
caused to he made the Survey OF the Reduced Mill
tav Reserve at Fort Smelling, under the provisions
Of the 1t Sec of the Act of August 20 1852 entitled
"An Act TO reduce and define the boundaries of the
Military Reserve, at the ST. Peters River, in the
Territory ot Minnesota" YOU requested to enter
into contract for the immediate Of $50 much Of
the lands heretofore Included in the Military Reserve
aforesaid, bat without the limits Of the Military Re-
aforesaid, defined by this Act, as have not
already been surveyed, and which is required to b..
done by the Second Section Of this Act, under the
direction of this Office.
The survey of the lands outside Of the reduced
limits aforesaid West Of the Mississippi will count
from the Wisconsin Base, and fourth principal meri-
dian, and form the complement Of the corresponding
fractional townships East uf that river already sur.
veycd and such to be attached t. the
now, Saltwater, Odd Chippewa,) Land District, by
the 4th Section OF the Act Aforesaid. But, while
making the special surveys within the restricted lin
ITS. called tor by the Act. is deemed best in connec-
ton with them also 10 carry out the lines
hbit the entire Township, Cor Gac,ional,) within
which portion of the old Reserve will be found to
faIl-thus making square york for IA set Of isolated
townships West of the River Mississippi, each en-
bracing portions Of the old Reserve, and each
counting from the Wisconsin Base and fourth Princ-
pal Meridian, and forming an exception To all the
other Surveys to be made in Minnesota ,rca IF the
Mississippi, which latter xiii count from the Arkan-
sas Base and fih Principal Meridian in continuation
of the count AZ Iowa, ana concerning which, instruc-
tons viii hereafter bc given.
The reasons which induce the proposed are
rs follows: lst. IL Is not deemed advisable that the
lands within The limits Of the Original RrSeyrs, one
portion East, and another Wes, of the Mssissippi
River, should count from different Mcridians ana
Base lines because Of the confusion likely to be pro-
duccd thereby.
3D. 1t Is understood that the settlers themselves
have caused their lines to be 90 the principle
proposed land hence, another mode If Survey in con-
unuation OF the Count in Iowa, would be likely to in
crere materially with their views and expectations
3D. by Surveying the tp1rnShiDs (or fraction
als) within which the lines of the original Reserve
VIII fall. instead Of the particular 11ionS Of ii rly
between the old and new limits, will make SOU n.
work, and avoid the necessity hereafter of having
tuo fractional townships IVES, Of the Mississinn'
counting from different mcrdans and base lines for
the Identical body of land which is now proposed to
form one SGT Of Il actionaI townships.
The lands intermediate between The old line and
the viii form the distinctive Survey called for bv
the Act. with fractions cOrncing those lines re-
spcctiveIy, and outside Of the old Ine tie residue Of
the public land falling within the limits of the town
ship (or raciional) will he surveyed, as usual, but
making fractions the old line, as special bo,n-
Diary recognized by the Act Of 26th August 1852
The Survey should BE- made with great care and the
the old line made to the fractions
bath sides of it, that the fractional tracts may
should be established in the most substantial and sat
isiactory manner.
! am, very respectfully, sir,
\ orr obd't serv't
JOHN WILSON,
COMM ssoner.