The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-19

Leaving balance of gs. ... 4. il, ,74s s.
to be approved exclusive Of the illegal 60 sa2acre sec-
ton mentioned under the first head isg
proposition made in September last in behalf of
the State to select other lands in lca of the aforesaid
go S32acrc selection The proposal fayorabiy
sdered and the purpose entertained to recommend the
introduction into market by the Presidents proclama
tion, Of the rejected selections. s
On the 10th October the party appearing for the State
fled communication Withdrawing his previous proposal
ON the ground of want of authority and asking
pension OF action
1t now recommended that the rejected selections he
held in suspense until after the close of the session.
TO afford time to Congress to legsate In the premises,
with the understanding that If further act Of legsa
ton is had before the expiration of that time the rejected
selections be introduced into market as y sss
DEs MoISns RIVER GRANT IN IOWA. @
Under act of Congress approved Sth of August 1916
tho account under this law stands follows
Quantity approved by the State per exhibit in last an
nual report -s-.+--s-- i725, ,2S3 90 acres.
10 this add list approved March 10,
lS52----- ----e --- 1880 .s1
Making total approved for the grant Of 500 1929
Tho question as to tho extent Of this grant, under the de-
csion Of your predecessor has been fully considered Ia
the Attorney Generals opinion Of goth May 1856, (Opn-
ions, vol q p 699 and the conclusion at which ho
rived as sanctioned BY your Immediate predecessor %
this effect
That proposition be made to the State Of Iowa and
its assigns to acquescc in and accept the decision Of Sec
retary Stuart na which gives to the State the lands
boundary of the State provided the State its assigns
agree to acquiescc in and accept that decision final
The Attorney General further holds that ii tho State
declines the propositions, the Secretary is discharged from
any obligation to act on the decision Of Mr. Walker and
Mr. Stuart and must fail back the first decision Of the
government, and refuse to approve any selections
above Raccoon Fork No final action the part Of the
State authorities in the matter has yet been filed in this
Office. e
The lands above the Raccoon Fork are ntersecied By
three Of the railroad grants under act Of 18th May 1856
+3s SURVEYS.
Michigan The original surveys Of the islands in the
western part of the lower peninsula have been made
four thousand and ninetyfve miles of resurveys have
been reported during the past year. and In obedience
the act Of March 3, 1857 the Office at Detroit has been
transferred to Sc Paul. Minnesota and the grenter portion
the archives relating the public surveys in Michigan
have been handed to the authorities Of that State
the remainder not being in condition FOR Transfer
removed to the surveyor general Office at ST. Paul. and
are now in course OF preparation for delivery to the Mich
igan authorities.
Hiaois The archives of the surveyor generals Office
ready for transfer to the State authorities This
the governor has advised will be done as su
able provision made by the Legislature Of that State for
their reception in conformity with the act Of Congress
approved January %, 1853 $50
lfssomi.-1 field work has been confined chiefly to
the ovcrilowed lands in the southeastern part Of the
State pursuant TO arrangement by which the United
States to pay for the survey OF such portions these
lands may be arabic and fit for agricultural purposes
and the counties representing the swamp grant 10 the
State to pay for the survey of such Of the ands a.
may fall within the swamp grant Under this arrange
ment 46 600 have been returned during the past
year all of which proved to be swamp land and the cx
pense Of the survey of the has been paid nv tho
counties In which the lands situated
The surveying operations in this State are 10 nearly
completed that II is anticipated the archives will be Ia
readiness for transfer and the Office OF the surveyor GENE
raj closed by the end Of the year 1889
Wiscoain Surveys have progressed with great rapi,I
ty three hundred and sixtycight miles of township
lines, and four thousand two hundred and thirty-nne
miles Of subdivisions and mtanes, have been reported
embracing the difficult surveys OF the Apostle Islands IN
Lake Superior, the correction Of Che fourth correction
parallel, east Of the fourth principal meridian 10 the
Michigan Stacsline, thus nfordng the lash for all the
surveys north oft All surveys south Of the third to
rection parallel except two ownshirs have bcen CON,
ploted,