The daily union., 1854-12-13
IDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER l3, 1854.

their Offices in safe and secure buildings so that The v
anle documents IN their custody would be preserved
against every risk OF loss destruction As il is these
oces containing the only reliable evidence the founda
uons OF title to the and valuable farms all over
,he and States are frequently located in frame buildings
SO situated as TO insure their destruction in case of fire In
te vicinity and often wholly insecure against trespass by
the mschevous designing, dishonest The cost is 100
sgh' IN comparison with the risk and it is probably the
only class OF cases In the world where SO little regard is
paid to such valuable archives As the matter now Stands
every eiort within the power Of this office made to OBJ
n suitable locations by suggestions bat if the gov
ernmen pad the rent would have the power to require
that the Offices should be kept in secure buildings
FOR donation claims in Oregon hundred and forty
Two ceruhcates were transmitted this office for paenng
but examination il ascertained that most of them
were bounded by lines differing from those of the public
surveys and that special pats of the locations had not
been transmitted with them required by instructions
without those pas showing their locations in conpexion
with the lines OF the public surveys there would have been
no security at different patents when issued, would not
nave included The same land In whole or in part The
cercates for such donations therefore returned that
the instructions might be complied with The others were
placed in hands for patenting and in view of the dcu
Ia preparing these patents special forms required
in different cases have devoved that duty on the prnci
pal clerk OF private land claims The business of that d.
VISION which has been promptly and efficiently discharged
was already onerous embracing the Indian grants we'll
as private claims but these donations partook in some
degree OF the nature OF that business this arrangement was
deemed the most judcious.
The surveyors general ofkansas and Nebraska New Mex
leo and Washington Territories have repaired TO their re-
pecve posts with full Instructions for their guidance and
government under the legislation Of the last session of
Congress but it is not expected that reports can be re-
celved from them in time to be laid before Congress in
view OF their recent appointment and the remoteness of
their heds OF labor The instructions them moreover
required much and considerations and conseouenty
some time that they might be fully advised of their duties
and that the intention OF Congress should he carried ont
in their legislation this subject As these instructions
are voumnous and will probably be interesting to those
OF our citizens who wish emgrate either those
territories especially those for the examination and adu
dication of private claims in New Mexico have appended
copies of them.
The land officers for Washington and Oregon Terrific
es authorized at the last session Of Congress having been
appointed full Instructions with the necessary racbooks
blanks &C. have been transmitted to their Offices that
they may be able at once to enter duty Those for
Kansas and Nebraska were not appointed and
veys have yet been made in those Territories they would
have had nothing to do, and their appointment would
therefore have involved unnecessary expense
Arrangements have been made for organizing a new
land district in the southern part of Florida accordance
with the requirements of the of 5th August last which
takes effect on the 9TH February This act however
requires amendment giving authority the President
to appoint the officers, and defining their duties and re-
sponsibies All the other laws of the last session which
require the action of this they nearly
NTH OF the whole number passedhave been considered
ana disposed OF, or are in process of execution
The able and lucid reports of the surveyors general are
herewith communicated, and special attention is respect
iuy requested to the suggestions and recommendations
therein contained The great of surveys executed
in their several districts and the strenuous efforts
accuracy in that service evnce the most unrnp energy
on the part of those officers
The report of the surveyor general of Michigan
most satisfactory statement of the operations of his dis
trct during the past year. He has successfully overcome
most OF the difficulties incident to the fraudulent surveys
the evils resulting therefrom can be faxd HI YhiGh
ence to the survey of the village Sault Ste Marie
referred to by him. il is proper to state that in attempting
to protract large scale the SURVEYS formerly made of
those lots requested by this Office the surveyor
found that they would not close and further that the
corners OF the blocks and squares had properly
marked In view OF the increased value of the lots in the
vageyit deemed necessary to have them
with care having reference the decisions the land
ohces under the law and the permanently mark
ed and established This has been done and it hoped
that the whole business will be closed an early day. 1t
proper to state however that the long delay disposng
OF this matter is not attributable either to this office the
surveyor general
From the report of the surveyor general of Wisconsin
and Iowa. whose district includes also the Territory of Min
nesot will be perceived that the emigration that re-
gon is SO great that 1t is impossible for the surveys to
keep pace with the settlements notwithstanding the most
judicous application of the placed his disposal
the unceasng efforts Of his deputies and devotion to la
Dor on the part OF his clerks of about twelve hours each
day
The surveyor general of Illinois and Missouri is rapidly
bringing the abors of his office to close and but for the
dcuit ana complicated duties connected with the location
and survey of the private claims in his district would soon
have them completed The granting of the request made
by him for the appropriation of small sum for the pur
chase OF law books for the use Of his Office is earnestly Rec
commended rs ndspensaby necessary to enable him un
derstandingy to adjudcac the intricate and important
questions arising in the discharge of his duties
The surveyor general of Arkansas it will be perceived
only prevented from closing the business of his district by
the discovery OF frauds in surveying executed many years
ago. which require correction the resuryey of consdera
BILE tracts of land.
The prevalence of sickness in Louisiana during the past
season has materially nterered with the field operations
in that State Notwithstanding which, very satisfactory
progress has been made in the difficult and complicated du
ties OF the district including the adjustment Of the swamp
land grant which has been nearly completed.
In Florida the surveys have been closed the line
tween that State and Alabama, and arrangements be-
ing made for extending the SURVEYS over the neutral ground
surrounding the reservation heretofore made for the Semi
noles and also over part of that reservation including the
lands adjacent to kissmie river and Lake Akechobee
which are represented as among the finest in Florida
II will be remembered that the appropriations for
surveying the keys on the coast of Florida, and the
islands of the coast of California, have been placed
under the direction of the superintendent of the Coast
Survey. BY this iudicious management but little ex-
pense is incurred beyond that required for the coast
survey purposes whereas, if these islands and keys
were surveyed in the usual manner, in connexon with
the ordinary land surveys the expense would be very
heavy Whenever practicable tho survey has sur
veyed the necessary boundaries divide these keys and
islands into tracts of suitable size for sale and where from
the nature of the ground this could not be DONE posts
have been established which easily be
ed by straight lines, SO to produce this result
Pats this work. covering very considerable portion
and of character highly satisfactory have already
been placed at the disposal of this Office and others
pected at early day. Advices have also been received
that the work the coast Of California progressing
rapidly possible.
Special attention is requested to the report of the sur
veyor general OF California and it is earnestly suggested
that the stringent be adopted prevent the
ontrnges mentioned by him. If the surveyor general
not be sustained in the discharge Of his duties the marks
and monuments of the United States surveys be obe
rated with impunt the extension of the system the
regions Of country where such offences committed
worse than useless
n o0nn hna hnfI