Washington sentinel., 1853-12-22

with the selection and arrangement of the
school and seminary lands, all of which belong
to one division, have been pressed forward
earnestly and diligently, and the many ques-
tons connected with these Subjects often diff
cult, have been promptly and satisfactorily set
tied.
beg leave to invite special attention to the
able reports of the surveyors general, herewith
communicated. 1t will be perceived that each
has faithfully discharged the important and
onerous duties committed to his care, and that
all are striving satisfactorily to close up, as
earlyas practicable, the business of their Offices
Many of the important questions presented
by the surveyor general of Illinois and Missouri
involve such heavy interests, and are surround
ed with so many difficulties, that it is deemed
expedient to make them the subject of future
report, after they shall have been fully con-
sidered, and appropriate remedies devised.
The graphic representations by the surveyors
general of Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
Iowa, of the soil and productions of certain
portions of their districts, are peculiarly inte-
resting, especially to persons who may wish to
settle in those regions. The simple yet certain
and admirable system of surveys originated at
very early period of our confederacy, with
the other branches of the land system, has now
been extended nearly from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and from the lakes to the Gulf of Mexi
co. Fixed and certain in every particular, its
marks and monuments can readily be traced
where existing; and when obliterated by time
or accident, easily restored. The geographical
position OF every object over which it has been
extended can be ascertained with the greatest
facility and considerable accuracy, and the dis
tances of given points, and their relative posi-
tons to each other, can readily be determined.
To the gentleman now in charge of this
division of the office we are indebted for the
harmony and uniformity which has existed in
it for more than quarter of a century, and
his efforts now are rs well directed and un-
tiring as ever, to carry on to final consum-
nation the work so well begun.
The Indian. reservations and private land
claims belong to one division Of this Office: of
the former every case presented has been dis
posed Of, or put in the way Of final settlement.
There are still, however, a large number
where parties holding deeds from the Indians
have not presented them for patenting. Ofthe
Creek cases LILO are of this character, and
there are numerous other reservations, under
treaties with the Winnebagoes, Pottawatomies,
Choctaws, &c, which the Office is prepared to
dispose Of on presentation.
About 100000 acres Of lands in the Chicka-
saw cession of 1892 remain unsold, which, how
ever, are being rapidly entered, and, with the
land Office section" will in due time be dis
posed Of under the treaty and existing laws.
The empolicy of making reservations in fee, in
the Indian treaties, has been long since ascer-
tanned, and the practice, to great extent,
abandoned It is highly important that the
outstanding cases should be disposed Of at an
early day, as every years delay has tendency
to increase the difficulties, If any, that surround
them, and may finally lead to much harrassing
litigation. TO obviate difficulties, and to close
up this business as far as the government is
concerned, would suggest that provision be
made by law for patents to issue, in all cases,
in the names of the reservees with the proviso
that the title, with the sanction of the President
should inure to their heirs or assignees, leaving
to the courts to determine the VALIDITY of con-
tested titles.
Numerous and complicated questions are
constantly arising in the private land claim
bureau of this Office with reference to the rights
Of parties, and the correct location of their
claims The records in many cases are so volu-
minous as to require days, and even weeks,
simply to read them. To select and array the
facts from such records, and to apply them to
the acts Of Congress, with reference also to the
laws and usages of the governments with whom
they originated, requires sound Judgment, great
care, and thorough knowledge of every matter
connected with the business. These cases are
daily becoming more important from the great
increase in the value of the property affected by
them. The natural tendency Of this increase
of value is, to cause the claimants to look more
closely to the location, extent, and boundaries
Of their claims, and to strive to obtain all the
land to which they may conceive themselves
entitled under them. Atthe early period when
many of those claims were first surveyed and
located, the land was comparatively valueless,
and hence but little care and caution was then
exercised in these particulars
Numerous efforts have been made by the
present holders of private land grants to alter
or amend the original surveys; but, in view Of
the unsettling of titles, and the confusion and
litigation that would thereby be induced, such
alterations have not been sanctioned by this
Office, except in the clearest cases of error or
illegality. The acquiescence by the proprie.
tors in old original locations, and their failure
to object thereto for years, while the surround
ing lands were purchased and passed from
hand to hand, in good faith, in my opinion.
estopped claimants from seeking change of
locality, and their heirs or vendees can have
no higher right. Hence, such applications
have been refused; and am happy to say this
principle has received your sanction. The
necessity for specific limitation in cases Of
this kind is daily increasing, and as legislative
nterposition would settle the matter, SO far as
executive action is concerned, it seems expedi-
ent it should be had; and if any valid confirmed
claims exist which have not been, or cannot be
located, because of the vagueness of the calls.
or that the land has been previously disposed
Of provision could be made for locating else.
where like quantity Of public land, subject to
private entry, in satisfaction thereof Unceas-
ing application and diligence have enabled the
gentlemen in charge of this branch of the Of.
ice to keep the business of it nearly up to date,
notwithstanding the complexity Of the ques-
tions involved, and the onerous character Of
the duties.
When the action of this Office shall be re.
quired on the claims in California, Oregon,
New Mexico, Utah, and the Territory of Wash.
ington, DC, the business Of this bureau will be
much more onerous, consequent on its great
increase. The report of lst July last from the
California commissioners, accompanied by a
statement of the 9th June last from their sec
retary, shows that there were at that time