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


the land Offices from time to time the necessities and
convenience Of the public may requires and there Is
the necessity in all like for the exercise of
this power, recommend that general provision of law
be made 10 that effect.
The adjustment of the grant of swamp and oyerhowed
lands made by the acts Of I'd March, 649 and 18th Sep
tember 1850 has progressed slowly notwithstanding
great diligence and activity in the force engaged it,
The selection Of the lands embraced by these grants
entrusted to the surveyors general of the several States
where those offices existed and to the registers and re-
cevers of the land districts in those States where the Of
fee of surveyor general had been abolished The reason
for this was that the surveyors general had access
to all the field notes. and the land officers to all the de-
scrptye notes whereas except of few Of the States
there were not complete sets OF either the files OF this
Office 1t well understood that many of the lands
had been surveyed in very dry seasons, when the
ground was frozen, and hence the field descriptive
notes would not indicate all that Of the character
embraced by the grant In cases of this kind the officers
were authorized TO receive and act such responsible
and reliable testimony should be produced by the
hoes of the States No reports have yet been received
from some Of the officers, though urged repeatedly to
hasten their action that the grant may be closed
Much difficulty has also been experienced because Of
the conflicts that have grown out of this grant
The suspension of the sale and disposal of all the public
domain not contemplated by these laws, and could
not be made unless specially directed by Congress, and
hence numerous entries and locations have been made OF
lands claimed by the States under these laws The grant
took effect from the dates Of the acts making and there
fore in numerous conflicts Of title arise which have
fculty far practicable suggest that where such
lands have been purchased authority be granted
ing over the purchase money the State relnquish
ment by the Governor or other officer appointed by him
for that purpose of all the right of the State in and to
such lands and where those lands located by
rants or scrip to authorize the State locate like
| amount elsewhere upon similar REIMBURSEMENT.
Exclusive OF this difficulty, however, the labor in adj
ustng these grants is very great as all the lists returned
have to be carefully compared with the tract-books all
selections where the land was disposed Of previous to thu
passage OF the laws annued and those since suspended
all the selections then posted lists of them are prepared
and sent to the land Office and also the Governors
with diagrams exhibiting the lands embraced by the lists
on the request Of the Governor the patents then
issued AS all this work be done in connection with
the current business Of the Office and but few be
poyed on it, the progress must necessarily be slow.
1t is proper here to state that doubts have recently
been suggested whether the title Of the United States
the lands selected under the of 4h September 1884,
and for schools and other purposes Invested by mere
certificate to the State that the selections of such lands
have been approved by the Executive In of the laws
the language is not entirely full this point but the uniform
usage of the Office has been regard certificates
veyng the fee To prevent any question arising on this
point however would be well for Congress pass
declaring that all such ceraons which have been may
hereafter be made shall be regarded conveying the Fee
subject to all valid interfering rights and that where such
certificates heretofore issued this Office shall the
power OF authenticatng them by the of our SEAL
The necessity for regulating by act Of Congress the survey
of the lands in California is extremely urgent.
The only provisions of law in relation the Office Of the
surveyor general of this State the making appro
paon for the civil and diplomatic expenses the
ment for the fiscal years ending 30h june 1852 and 1853
The former act merely contains item or surveying the
public lands and private claims in California conformity
with the provisions of the Of Congress authorizing similar
surveys twenty thousand dollars be expended under
the direction Of the Department of the INTERIOR Of which
is to be paid the compensation of surveyor general
salary shall exceed four thousand FIVE hundred dol
lars per annum Procded, That this Of compensation
shall continue for the of years longer and
the latter atutes Large PIP. 90 and Oh merely makes
further appropriations the same service without affecting
To of he
OF the Treasury the compensation allowed the surveyor
raj by the former act cannot be paid after the 30h June
without the repeal by Congress of that povo and hence
tho indispensable necessity of action BY Congress the sub
ject at the present session.
The object doubt Of Congress- in thus limiting the period
during which this compensation should be paid
tain whether the rate thus fixed just Experience has
fully shown that in proportion TO the expense OF living is
by poportionate the compensation paid the
grade Of officers of the Rocky
being commensurate with the arduou and important duties
deyoved on that officer and which he has ably and faith
fully performed
The same remark be made in relation to the salary
annum allowed the surveyor general Of Oregon
by the act of 2Ih September, 1850 This compensation in
view of the high rates of living that Territory will
y provide for the of that officer and his
m 9ha Whoy 70 the services rendered by nim
The proprety of extending the United States land system
the Territories Of Nebraska Utah. and New Mexico is
also respectfully submitted Those Territories gradually
being settled by hardy enteprsng and industrious popu
aton The lines Of the public surveys when extended
the lands In accordance with the admirable system establish
ed by the laws Of Congress- will materially interfere probably
and Yexatous litigation will be produced increasing in pro-
portion the settlements prior those surveys The
necessary facilities should also be furnished all those
tiers TO secure their homes either by grants purchase
To this end would be well land Offices in Cali
orna Oregon and the Territories mentioned and appoint
register EACH who could collect evidence Of claims open
actbooks and make every necessary preparation for the
sales of the lands, when the claims grants all finally
disposed of.
While this subject would recommend that the township
lines alone should be extended valuable deposes
precious minerals and that the lands containing those de-
posites be left free to the enerpng industry Of all citizens
OF the United States and those who have declared their
enon become SUCH TO work and mine at their pleasure
without let or hindrance except fur local legislation
be necessary 70 preserve the peace of the country and
secure persons in their possesso rights and If any benefit is
claimed by Government from the product Of these lands fur
Their than that which Is general all citizens by album
dant supply OF the precious metals that il be in the shape
anomina charge for refining the and coming the metal
which be required to be done the country before per-
hitting II to become subject Of traffic barter expectation
The nexpediency OF the leasing system pracsed for
years in the mineral lands the Upper Mississippi
and the actual loss to the Government hererom in cash.
fully shown by the able report Of 29 November 1S45 Of
Of my predecessors non the United States Senate Subse
quent experience in relation to the mineral lands Of Lake
Superior has fully sustained the views set forth In that re-
port as shown by the accompanying statement from which il
win be perceived that the expenses Of the mineral agency
that point since s47 have exceeded the herefrom
nearly $500. No other section the globe could
nished better opportunity the efficiency of this sys-
tenn, the only outlet for the products Of the mines
the Saul Ste Marie river and hence could be gged
out without paying the Government impost 1t is
hardly probable therefore, with knowledge
that this system will be extended the mineral lands on the
Pacific and there other that could be established on
similar basis that would not be liable like objections
One Of the earliest in with the public
lands that engaged the attention Of Congress the
W for making provision for the establishment Of schools col
ege DC in the States and for opening roads for ready
the immense domain then held by the Government