Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-01


by the enhanced value of the lands ao ng such Improvements
grant the Mobile Chicago railroad made by the
Of goth September $780, far the State Of Illinois is
concerned where the selections have been completed and the
lands retained by the Government brought into market
strongly in point in support Of this VIEW Here the greatest
anxiety was manifested to obtain lands along the road even
at the enhanced minimum and thousands of dis
posed Of that would probably have remained unsod for
years
So far then grants Of this are concerned the
severest criticism cannot justly charge them violations of
the compacts with the several States from which they
acquired to wit that they should be considered
fund for the and benefit of all the States the
slightest infringement of the pledge made Of them by the act
Of 2sth January ls47 for the redemption of the public debt
The average railroads the United States has been
found to be per mile The grant six
340 per ne would not quite realize the
double minimum The balance ooyer $4,000 per mile would
have to be furnished by the State the individual enterprise
which the construction Of the road be and
would be unjust the intelligence and foresight c
suppose that works of this kind would be undertaken
without fair prospect Of completion and the realization of
reasonable profit from the investment
The act passed the last session Of Congress- granting the
right of way and the privilege Of taking the necessary
terals for the construction Of all such roads from public
lands is fair introduction this policy The facilities fur
by such roads, SO far human agency accomplish
IT. will annihate time and and like adamanne bonds,
bind together this mighty and widespread Republic.
With these views respectfully recommend that grants Of
this character be made to the several States for every work Of
the kind they may undertake especially to the States
west of the Mississippi for the of railroads
that river along the fertile valleys watered by the
that descend from the Rocky Mountains the foot Of those
mounains and that like grants be made the State Of Cali
orna and Territories of Oregon, Utah. and New Mexico for
routes leading from the Pacific the west side Of those
ains leaving the transit Of the mountains individual
prise the enlarged beray Of Congress- in view of the i'm
mense facilities and advantages that would to the
mercial interests OF the country from such communications
The protection that would thus be extended citizens
siding the frontiers the settle those lands
transporting annues and goods for the Indians and men,
and military stores for the frontier posts would fully justify
such grants aside from the peeanay profit growing out Of
to construct such road from some point the Missouri
river west Of the western boundary Of those States and the
States of Arkansas and Louisiana should in like manner
derake the construction of southern road the mutual
benefit Of those States that liberal grants be made for those
purposes. apt
pletion, they commenced and many living will
see the waters Of the Atlantic and Pacific brought within few
days travel of each other and country become
and medium of the trade Of the world.
Il is estimated after deducing all the swamp and overflow
ed lands granted the State Of Louisiana by the acts of I'd
March, sa9 and 2Sth September 1885, that about 10 900
will remain to the United States much of which
inferior quality The justice and propriety granting
these lands the State in further aid Of constructing the me-
cessary eyes and drains to protect the country from annual
nundaon have heretofore the attention of Congress-
and formed the subject of report from the Department of the
Interior of Gath August $780, copy of which hereto ap
pended This subject again respectfully presented and is
so fully treated Of in that report that further comment it is
deemed unnecessary.
The extraordinary growth and expansion of our PUBLIC
LAND SYSTEM extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and from the lakes and 49h deg north latitude to the
Tropc of Cancer, has given importance commensurate
with its high responsibilities and duties Those duties
heretofore advered in reports from this office may be briefly
classified under the following heads:
The examination and testing Of the regularity and legality
of the sales of the public lands reported the General Land
Office from the local land officers in the several land districts
of the United States the settlement Of individual
fcts, and other adverse rights
The examination and adjustment ACCOUNTS of the
land receivers opublc moneys and the surveyors general
The examination of PRE- up from the
district land officers for review instructions and the
Element OF disputed cases and often complicated
The examination Of land warrants growing Of the
40 last D~,to 4,
war under act OF 1917 and the general law of Sep
tember 1850.
The duties incident to the PUBLIC SURVEYS in the drouq
ing branch Of this establishment requiring knowledge
veyng in all its branches and skill in protractng and
plating.
The examination generally of ASSIGNMENTS of inchoae titles
under local statutes resting ordinary conveyance devise
on sales under orders probate court DEGREES in chancery
partnership titles and titles of corporations.
The engrosng recording examination of patents for
rights under the credit cash, and military systems.
In executing the laws of Congress making grants lands
poses.
The examination Of claims and titles derived from Great
Britain France and Spain, with the confrma
tory statutes and the decisions of the Supreme Court of the
United States in which the original evidences of title are
cessary drawn in review in relation of law,
fact or of conflicts and order right determination
locality and extent Of confirmation and finally carry them
into patent from the United States requiring thorough
knowledge Of all the laws of the present govern
ments the subject and involving Of labor
4 and compexity.
In the investigation Of evidences Of claims to
according to the terms of transfer these often giving
rise to embarrassment in the settlement Of conflicts.
The preparation Of instructions general
experimenting the extension Of the surveying system the
revising Of returns to efficiency uniformity and
rectness in the local duties and the correction of
field operations often work Of great decacy and difficulty.
The preparation Of general instructions the land officer
and general correspondence ncdento the immense details
the system.
The examination Of referred for examination by com.
mees in Congress- and other duties inseparabe the
general supervisory powers Of this Office
In the operations Of this institution rules Of action have
necessarily to be determined after careful examination
the youmnous legislation Of Congress- the decisions of
State courts and OF the Supreme Court with
reign Powers and with Indian tribes the opinions Of
Attorney General OF the United States and the precedent
existing in the Office.
The foregoing may furnish some idea Of the scope Of the
duties abors, and responsibilities Of this Office The manner
in which they discharged the judgment Of
enlightened Government and the intelligence of those repre-
senng the landed interests our country and their
constituency.
For details Of the Statistics other subjects referred to
in this report beg leave refer the accompanying
ments and tables.
The reports Of the surveyors general Of California and Ore
gon not having been received in accompany this
port, will be submitted with special communication For
the estimates submitted surveys Ca
ornia they will form the subject Of another
ut early day.
With great respect have the honor be, your obedent
servant JOHN WILSON Commissioner
Hon. A. II. H. STUART,
Secretary Of the Interior.
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THE FLYING sHIP.-when Mr. PORTER ;.sued