, 1855-10-19
Surveys on the IIudSOnS Bay and Puget Sound
Agricultural COmpany'S Claims in W.T..

nication, Ito which reference was made
last week) from highly esteemed demo-
cratic friend in r yhboring county, in
terested in the surveys of the claims of the
companies under consideration, inasmuch
as he has taken claim, which, only siHdc
the treaty of 1916, has been considered by
the Hudson's Bay authorities, within the
indefinitely described lands y (using
sOnclusire terms Of that company, of their
possessions.
Our space this week will not allow us to
enter fully upon on investigation of the
subject, in oil its bearings, as presented by
our correspondent for reply. We must,
therefore, for the present, at least, be
brief-premising, however, that base, gross
and inexcusable fraud and deception has
been practiced by high, timc-serving, land
Office functionaries at Washington, aided
and abetted by dishonest demagogue aspi-
rants in this territory; and as a result of
the pO.0erfiL, and never-to-be-forgotten cf-
forts made by twain of chcek-byjowl
worthless, acting upon the principle of " you
tickle me, and I'll tickle you," for "bun-
combe," just exactly nothing at oil has
been accomplished to render the position
Of claimants, Of what was understood to be
United States public lands prior to the
treaty of 1s46, less onerous, or less subject
to contest by the above companies.
That foul game Of duplicity and mean-
ness has been practiced-and that the
"hand Of base Judean" is visible in the
miserable confusion which at present in
wolves the surveys Of the tracts of lands
which it was understood to have been Or
dered to be surveyed up to the actual enclo-
sures of those companies claims up to the
treaty of 1916.
That the Surveyor General Of this terri
tory-Maj TnToN-has endeavored to as
certain the authority with which he is in
vested, in the premises, and that he has
endeayored to discharge his duty to the
government at Washington, ns well as
deal on terms of honorable equity with
foreign rights. in the territory-under
the treaty referred to-the following sub
stance Of O correspondence will fully dem.
onstrate. Our Surveyor General has en-
deavOred to place his surveys upon def
mite and sure basis; but, as will be seen,
the Land Office Commissioners at Wash
ington seem determined, as far as in them
lies, to make their instructions with regard
to surveys Of the Hudson's Bay and Puget
Sound Agricultural Co.'s claims as intri-
cate and embarrassing as possible. we
know Of no one but will readily admit,
that Maj. Tilton is both anxious and will
ling to know his duty, md to discharge
the same under proper and Ineligible in
structions, in general sense.
The communication to which we refer,
Of a gentleman in an adjoining county, in
brief, inquiries the reasons why, (inasmuch
as surveys had been ordered up to the
"actual settlements of British claimants,
up to the date of treaty Of lS46l, the same
has recently been suspended ? and requests
us to make inquiry Of Surveyor General
Tilton in regard to the same.
Deferring further comment to "a more
convenient season." we would reply, that
we have made the inquiries suggested, and
have been kindly furnished with the sub
stance Of the correspondence with regard
to the surveys alluded to. The correspond
encc is q sort of semi-public character.
Was,it entirely SO, and designed for publi-
cation, we would be permitted so to use it.
The following is the substance Of letter
addressed to the Surveyor General of this
territory, dated March 18th, 1856, from
Mr.. Wilson, Commissioner Of the General
Land Office, in the course Of which he re-
fers Maj. Tilton to certain instructions, q
duplicate Of which be processes to have for
warded to the late Surveyor General Pres
ton, OF Oregon, relative to the matter un-
der consideration. Commissioner Wilson
suggests, in his letter to Maj. Tilton, that
"the growing Importance and advancing SET
tlement Of the lands demand that oil should
now be done that we can lawfully do in
order to make proper discrimination be
tween our public lands, and such foreign
rights as may be acquired by the treaty,
50 that our people may advance in security
their settlements and improvements upon
the public domain"
al have therefore in connection with
the instructions above mentioned, to direct
that you will cause the lines of the public