The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-07-14

and its tributaries before the main body Of the Sur
veys are put under contract
GENERAL LAND OrrIcE.>
May 10Th, 1888. 5
U'arna Leris, Esp Surveyor General, D,tbu3uc Lrca
SiR:--The surveys in Minnesota, west Of the
Mississippi river, with the exception of those in the
reduced military reserve at Fort Smelling, concerning
which you are specially instructed in my letter of
9th and 18th insi) will count from the Arkansas
Base, and from the Fifth Principal Meridian, in con-
nuation Of those in Iowa; the townsh ps, therefore
will all count North of the base Inc aud the ranges
West of the 9th principal meridian. The boundary
parallel Of 43 80, viii be the great surveying base
for Minnesota and is understood to have been pre-
pared accordingly TO be such, by having the corners
for townships, sections and quarter sections planted
theron in advance.
Those surveys will he effected according to the
method prescribed for the public surveys in Oregon
as required by law.
/ First. The sandard--parallcs, or correction lines
will be due east and lines, at every totafh
township, twenty -four miles apart.
Second. The township, section, and quarter Sec
onal corners are 10 be planted those correction
lines at the time when surveyed.
Third. The corners for townships, sections and
quarter sections, which viii close from below on the
correction lines, will constitute ,e set Of corners
on such afs, and every where else double
iqdGmiSSib!e.
we will call number one) should be run from the
northern boundary Of Iowa to the Mississippi River,
starting from the dividing line between ranges seven
teen and eighteen west, so TO strike the Nissis-
sipp river somewhere in the neishborhood OF Fort
Sneiiins. Another guide meridian (uumber two)
should from the boundary Iine here the same
is intersected by the ue between ranges twenty-our
aud twenty five west.
1t seems also advisable that another guide meridian
(numbcr hree) should be started from the said bound
IL, u l.. L
sissppi River when extended To the Crow Wing
River and beyond. The Hon. Mr.. Siblev in his
letter OF 2cth March last Ga copy of which is here
with furnished for your information) represents the
tendency of the settlements be ''alons the valleys
OF the Minnesota and other rivers principally so
that the entire population up TO the present period
would be embraced east of line drawn north and
south 10 Iaersect the mouth of the Waraju river a
tributary OF the Minnesota, formerly St. Peters river
The other lands which require to be surveyed and
brought into market with the least practicable delay,
are those lying along the west bank OF the Mississippi
from the line of Iowa to the Crow Wing river. and
along the streams emptyng into the former river.
The valleys OF the Root, Cannon. Minnesota, Crow,
and other rivers, rapidly filling up with popula-
ton, and require the first attention Of the Land
Office
1t is believed that the guide meridian, number
three starting from the Iowa boundary from the cor
ner between ranges No. 81 and 30 would certainly be
found TO run to the west Of the Mississippi river,
(however imperfect our present maps NAY be found
and secure all the important points without the haz-
ard Of interfering with the Indian reservations at
tho Warau.
Unless YOU should be in possession Of information
which would lead to other Conclusions YOU will
consider yourself instructed FIRST to enter into
contracts for running guide mcrdians ! and 2
from the starting points suggested, the former to
the Mississippi river, or terminating at the south
efn boundary of the special survey of the reduced
military reservation in the neighborhoed OF Fort
Smelling should il be found strike the same before
reaching the Mississippi, and the latter terminating
at the Mississippi to regulate the surveys in the val
ley OF Crow river, and distant ory-two miles from
the former On these guide meridians, the township,
sectio, and qtsart-Secon be established
after the method prescribed for the Oregon surveys
and such merdians to regulate the subsequent survey
ing operations, are to be with the aid of Burs
solar compass, and with the greatest possible care
and precsion-Chained with great accuracy, and the
corner boundaries, whether mounds or posts estab-
llshed and identified in the best and most enduring
manner. The township surveys will start from the
appropriate correction line their practical base,
and be closed on the atoue it. The distance to
which any one correction lire is to be run OUT at a
single operation under a contract, is matter to lie
determined by circumstances. 1t may be run to the
extent OF one, two, three, four, five, six seven
townships according TO the locality of the body of
land 10 be reached and which it is desired TO town
ship and subdivide. from it, rs the practical base
Neither is it indspensab.y necessary run the exte-
riors OF oil the -four fo,cas!pps uidh between any
two correction lines at single operation under any
one contract. The township exteriors may bc cx-
tended either one, two three townships north of
correction line leaving the residue for future opera
ton.
| The law allows five dollars per mile for suryeynr
in Minnesota, the sectionng will he procured to be
done for less, but the average price of the whole must
not exceed five dollars.
| Ii is all important that the guide meridians and
should be started as possible.
| The starting Of the correction lines must be 50
managed as 10 provide for the townshipping and sub
dividing of the lands in those special localities where
the settlements most abound, so as 10 accommodate
as far can, the greatest number Of settlers at
the earliest period, making the existing appropriation
available to the greatest practicable extent.
Starting from any township corner on "A standard
PARALLEL correction line previously established the
township or townships the north, and between il
and the correction line, above, will be laid of. on
the Oregon method, according to diagram A.
The contracts Tor township exteriors should not
exceed eight townships and it is always desirable
tina, the sectional surveys should be established by
another deputy than he who the township ex,e-
riors, to act a check the work. and such rule
must be observed whenever practicable.
The sectional surveys to be made according 70
diagram B, and the contracts for sectional surveys
should not embrace more than fur townships By
such Subdivision Of labor amongst your deputies
s hoped YOU will be able meet the public expecta