The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-11
INrERIon DrpAnrMrsr.

INTERIOR DEPARrsrEsT.
Aaaa Report of The Commissioner Of he General Land Of
foeSrUeys he TERRITORIES Of Nec Msnoo and Ulah -
The annual report OF the Commissioner of the General
Land Office for the 1856 has just been published IL
is voluminous document of three hundred and sixty
seven pages and contains number of highly important
tables and maps exhibiting the transactions of this com
plicated branch of government in comprehensive
and simple form. This report was submitted to Con-
gress at its last session. and portion Of it at that
time published in the newspapers. We propose to
make the following unpublished extracts in relation to the
Territories of New Mexico and Utah
1.-THE surveys have been confined to GA miles of neri-
dian base and correction lines PCS miles of township and
subdivision lines notwithstanding the Indian hosities
and the difficulty of procuring supplies in sarsey set
| tied country
" Since the last annual report there have been filed
with the surveyor general sixteen private land claims
three of them have been examined by him the remain
ing thirteen, with fifteen other claims previously filed
awaiting further testimony The examination of such
titles has been delayed by the apathy of clamans and
their neglect to present the necessary testimony There
have been filed, in all, fourteen of the Pueblo claims
which, having been examined will be submitted for the
action of Congress Only thirty two donation claims
have been filed since the opening of the Office.
"Ihe selection from the archives of the Spanish and
Mexican governments which turned over TO the
surveyor generals Office by the governor of New Mexico
resulted in the collection Of Ola grants and documents
relating to land titles of which 1877 private grants
lnesc nave all Deen ClsSled, alphabetically arranged
and constitute permanent official records
" From the advces received at this office from the sur
veyor general Of New Mexico and other sources evil
dent individuals claiming lands under former
before the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1913 very
to respond to the call made them by the
generals notice of January 49, 1855 produce the
evidences Of their claims to his Office at Santa Fc
from fear of losing the evidence Of their titles inspired
II is supposed, by designing individuals
" In many instances, the Pueblo Indians have been de-
tered from filing their epapers with the surveyor gen
cal in the apprehension they would again get pos
| session of them.
" Others conscious of ndsputable possessory right
of landed estates feel perfect security the subject and
do not to exhibit much less file, their papers
for the purpose of enabling the surveyor general to report
upon the claims to Congress for confirmation under the
act of July 22 1854 This hardness in complying with
the requirement under the law delays the action the
part Of the surveyor general and the part of Congress-
and of course viii cause corresponding delay in the
yey of claims and restrict the field of operations in New
Mexico II interferes, ALSO with donation claimants UNI
der the law Of July ~, 1854.
TO obviae the difficulty, it suggested that period
Of time he prescribed by law within which claimants
shall file rar claims and TINT summary system for
their final setcoat principles Of Justice be provided
by Congress There existing; authority of law the
survey private claims the Pueblos ia New Mex
ico until the shall have been acted upon by the
surveyor general reported to Congress- and finally
rned all the executive do under present circnm-
stances is to exclude them from sectional subdivision in
the gradual extension Of the lines Of the public surveys
ing Vi ptiul IcTltoig, INC SoHIllssIOIleT says.
ssrhe surveying operations from the 9th of July
1855 the date OF the arrival of the surveyor
Salt Lake City, the place of his official residence
sisted in preliminary reconnaissance Of the country in
the eighborhood OF the Salt Lake and in the establish
ment of the initial point at the of the Temple
block in the Salt Lake City, by erecting suitable
at the point Of the intersection of the principal
meridian with the base line from which the base line
extended due east four miles and due west thirty
six miles The principal meridian extended due
north from the initial point line and by offsets,
eighty four miles and south seventytwo miles The
meridian and the base line pass through Salt Lake val
ley Cache, Maade, Blue SPRING and Hansa Spring YAH
eys to the north of the base through Tulia and part
of Bush valleys the weat and through Jordan Utah.
Cedar, Tntick, and portion Of Yonat valleys on the
south.
CONTRACTS have been entered into for surveying these
valleys with the exception Of the desert lying west Of
Salt Lake. The surveys to be made into townships
with authority for subdivding them into sections The
field work under the contracts has been reported to this
Office returned to the surveyor general Office and the
Office work completed and ready for transmission to
Washington The extent Of the field operations en-
braces between hundred and thirty and hundred
and forty townships, including fractional townships
partial examination of the country has been made
beyond the localities enumerated by the surveyor general
who recommends the extension Of the base and meridian
lines hereto and suggests the popriety Of surveying the
valuable timber lands found in the of the
tains in Utah.
sIhe surveyor general reports that the Salt Lake city
is far greater in extent than the corporate authorities
enutlei 10 u1lucr INC uOWn-stc oi Mty
represents that the city occupies several square miles and
suggests the propriey of legal enactment to enable him
to close the lines of the public surveys upon such limits
of the city it may be proper to recognise 1t is further
stated that the public domain in the city, and out of the
limits thereof settled by Mormons is being conveyed by
the members of the church of Latter Day Saints in
side,aon of their good will towards the church, to Brig
ham Young trustee Of the same, he requiring them to
defend the property thus conveyed against any
This proceeding in the Territory is incompatible with
system and suggests the propriey of congressional
interposton AS the town-se act Of 1874 limits the
grant to 800 acres might be proper to consider the pc
culiar condition of the capital Of Utah, and pass such
cicnt number Of the legal subdivisions to embrace is
GUS those improvements to be- of course laid open for
same
Report Of he Indian Office. - C6c.iar.lIhe following
circular has been issued by the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs for the purpose of insung the completion of the
annual report of the Indian Bureau before the opening Of
Congress:
DEPARTMENT INTERIOR,
Office of Indian Affairs, July, 1857.
SIR Your attention is hereby called to the regulation
of the department which must be strictly complied with,
requiring that the annual reports of superintendent
agents teachers and farmers shall be provided in
to reach this Office by the LIST day of October if they
arrive later they will be of little use in preparing
the annual communication to be made to Congress
And that each agent will prepare list of all persons
connected with the Indian service the 0th Of Sep
teroIer opsuinp within his agency showing names