, 1853-04-09

proportion of The land surveyed is now oc-
cupied BY settlers claiming under the dona-
ton law.
LANDS RECOMMENDED FOR SURVEY IN 1853.
In the estimate had the honor TO sub
nit 10 you on the god Of September, is an
item Of $76,4oO for surveying standard
part llel, township, and subdivision lines,
equal to eighty townships also an estimate
of $4,000 for extending the Willamette
meridian one hundred and sixty miles.
Owing 10 the discoveries Of rich and de-
sirable gold mines in the Umpqua and Rogue
river valleys, large numbers Of miners and
permanent settlers have been attracted to
that portion of the territory.
The Umpqua and Rogue river valleys are
filling up rapidly with permanent settlers,
who are drawn there by the profitable mar
ket at their doors for all that can be pro-
duced on their claims. $40 -'
The gold diggings are generally confined
10 the rugged aud mountainous portion Of
The country, leaving large extent Of desi-
rable land for agricultural purposes, with q
soil well adapted 10 raising most kinds Of
grain and stock. ' i2
To reach this section Of the Rogue river
valley with the surveys, which should be
made at an early day, that the settlers may
know the lands that will be reserved under
the law as mineral lands, il Is proposed To
make an Offset east eighteen 10 twenly y.four
miles, 10 find pass through the Unpqua
mountains, from the Offset meridian that
was run lastyeaf then extend the William
ette meridian sixty miles TO the southern
boundary Of the territory II is expected
the meridian would run through the rnosl
thiekly settled part Of the country, W
60 There is considerable attention now being
given to the north portion Of the territory
many persons are settling along Puget Sound,
whichis considered one Of the most desifa-
bic portions 6f Oregon for agricultural ,sIum!
berng, and fishing purposes. Recent dis
covefies Of coal have added TO the altrac-
lions in that quarter to euigtants. 'a' q ''l
To enable the surveyslto progress as fast
as the settlement, Il Is proposed to make an
Offset from the Willamette meridian, neal
the southern extremity Of Puget Sound, east
say eighteen miles, which can be used as a
standard parallel from this Offset extend
the meridian north one hundred miles. 10
il is also proposed to expend one-third
of the amount estimated for surveying stan.
dard parallel, township, and subdivision
lines for 1854, north Of the Columbia river
one-third between the Columbia river and
the Calapooya mountains, which will EN-.
brace the willamette valley; and the re.
manning one-thiTd south Of the Calapooya
mountains, and confined 10 the most thickly
settled portions Of the country. ''.iaa-
f' DONATION RIGHTS.
There have besn received and placed on
file in the office of the Surveyor General,
since the 5th Of February last, the date Of
the approval Of the first township plats in
Oregon, notifications from TIT settlers,
claiming GAO acres and from 2O2 settlers,
claiming 800 acres, under the 4th section
OF the act Of September 81, 1850 and mo-
ti6cations from so settlers, claiming 800
acres and from 90 settlers, claiming 100
acres, under the 5th section of'the same act !:
making an aggregate Of 590,720 acres,
claimed BY l,079 settlers, as appears by
their notifications, now on ile in this Office.
Many Of the claims will fall short Of the
quantity claimed, when surveyed, at the re-
quest and expense Of the settlers. The
necessary proofs Of the date of the com.
mencsmeht of settlement and cultivation
have generally been made. 'no 10 'i '
RIGHTS UNDER THE TrEArY OF 1876 wtTH
" GREAT BRITAIN.
DR.. John Mclaughlin, who has recently
become naturalized citizen Of the United
States, gave notice to the Surveyor General
Of Oregon, on the 29th day of September
last, that he claimed, under the treaty Of
ls46, tract Of land containing 64o acres,
which includes Oregon City within its bonn,
darios. He protests against any act that
vii disturb bis possession to said tract Of
land, except such portions thereof as have
been sold or granted by him within The linz
its Of the Oregon City claim. The accom-
panying paperis copy Of communication
received from JOHN Ballenden, chief factor
of "Hon. Hudson's Bay Company" 1t
will be seen by reference TO said communi-
cation that the chief factor is of the opinion
that no individual can state the nature or
define the limits of the company's claim in
thi- territory. would call your attention