The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-19
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districts the registers and receivers fos which have
tered upon the performance Of their duties.
GEOLOGICAL RscoSSoIssASoE IN OREGON AND
TERRITORIES.
In March 1851 il was determined by the Secretary %
the Interior, under the third section OF the act Of zI
September, 1850, pointing out the manner OF making
surveys IN Oregon, 10 connect with the land surveys
in Oregon, geographical reconnaissance and exrom'
ton With this In view, transfer from a iund iOr
similar service In the northwest ordered OF 70 DOC
and DIR John Evans directed, ON the zzd Mhfch,
1851 TO proceed overland TO ascertain the general geology
of the country west of the Missouri river toward the
Rocky mountains; to reconnore for practicable wagon
routes leading TO Oregon over the Rocky mountains
and when there to aid the surveyor general IN obtaining
the elevations Of the country along the principal ose
and meridian lines, with the latitude and longitude at
the intersection of those lines and to keep his expendi-
within the limits OF the placed by the de-
partment under his control
On the Sd March, 1853 Congress made two separate APP
preparations of sll ,ss4 25 for expenses incurred
In geological reconnaissance in Oregon Undertaken In
1851 and another of So 000 for completing that geo.
logical reconnaissance whereupon the 18th OF April
1853 the geoogst instructed to complete the service
under the latter appropriation and make his final report
thereon both of which appropriations amounted to sl6
9s4 % and Sd of March, 1855, Congress appropr-
ated for this purpose the additional sum OF Sz5ooo
making aggregate of S44 ,O44 rs.
One item Of the last appropriation was 1852 20 ON
account of of his expenditures and above the
So O00 per of the Sd of March, 1853 another item
ations in Oregon and Washington Territories In placing
the latter item under the control OF the geologis ON
March 20, 1856 he instructed to complete the work.
make final report and not to exceed it in his dsburse-
ments
The estimates which the appropriation OF S23,56O
based included third item of S4867 so, which had
been expended by Dr. Evans in cooperating with the ex-
petition under the authority of the War Department Tor
making the northern railroad exploration from
the Missouri to Washington Territory thereby reducing
to this extent the amount which has been appropriated
for geological service in Oregon and Washington to S39
776 rs.
In the ustment of Dr. Evanss accounts to the 4th
March last it is found that he has again exceeded the
amount appropriated for the completion OF the work. and
incurred additional liability of So 574 70, to the qui
daon OF which there means applicable under ex
listing laws
The geologst, in communication of the 18th Novem-
ber 1857 states follows that ch deposes OF semi
btumnous coal have been discovered cropping out at va
rous points from the British possessions to the
boundary Of California and almost inexhaustble in
quantity, and accessible to sail and steam navigation
Ores of iron, lead platinum, and "copper" have been
discovered also marbles other mestone and valuable
rocks for building purposes The analysis of the GOALS
mestones and minerals is completed also, OF many OF
the soils :"
One hundred and five illustrations and two hundred
and seventy-scyen pages of manuscript completed,
ready for the engraver and printer. 'A the illusta-
tons and analyses in sufficient progress to keep the
engraver constantly employed until the completion OF the
report
The illustrations and manuscript referred to he has
filed in this office but the complete report which ante
cedent instructions required at his hands has not yet
been made He further states that the report win be
about twothirds the size of Dr. Owens report and will
cost if published in the same style, S26526 including
the cost Of preparing all the maps and other lustra
tons"
of expenditure aud above the last appropriation
he states, twill amount to $50, 900. = aIg
The facts in regard to the origin of the service,
and the appropriation for its completion at different
ypit the in by
ologit respectfully submitted for the consideration of
Congress. .~.
LANDS AND FLORIDA
Pats have been prepared Of the strip of lands In Ala
bama between the Florida line and Cofees line These
to he certified by the Commissioner oo surveyor
general will be furnished to the authorities of the State
of Alabama and similar pats to the register and receiver
at Sparta within whose district the lands situated
and hereafter considerable body of lands which has been
held in suspense the southern boundary Of Alabama
will be restored to market. Er.-
In the northeastern Columbus district, Mississippi,
there are about So 900 of land the title to which
has been held in suspense for than twenty years.
because of the indebtedness of the late Gordon D. Boyd
receiver .ss.. "a. ..a. +. IS.
The mode OF proceeding determined upon in this class
of is to cancel the sales and restore to market
half of the quantity above mentioned which no
money was paid and as the purchasers of tho residue
marshas sale shall pay mp for the same to issue the
patents. s.as..ss-rt ..a.....et..
INDIAN REsERvEs-TRusr LANDS
The necessary instructions having been issued and
steps taken for the location within the Half Breed, Da
otah Sioux reserve, of 800 80 4S in Minnesota
of the scrip authorized by the act of 18th july 1854
and sufficient time, in the judgment of this office,
having elapsed for satisfying claims in the reserve proc
amation pursuant to the third section of said act,
issued bearing date the 10th September 1857 for public
sales take place in March next Of the indicated tracts
within the limits of said reservation.
Under the preliminary management of the Indian of
ce the township embraced in the eastern portion Of the
Delaware trust lands in Kansas, certain town lots and
blocks in Jacksonville, Delaware Hardvie, Lattave,
and Leavenworth city offered for sale in November
last under proclamation by the President
The initiative having been taken also at the same
office in regard to the lands within the of the
Ioways the western part of the Delaware and the Peo
rias Kaskasias, Piankeshaws and Weas, these lands
offered under proclamation for sale in June and July
last -
The Office of Indian Affairs having requested the aid of
the General Land Office in selling the Indian trust lands
instructions prepared with great care dated goth Sep
tember 1856 in regard to the first sale, transmit
ted to the register and receiver at Lecompon direct
ing them to cooperate with the special commissioner
the part of the Indian Office in selling the lands in ques
ton.
At the second sale the land officers at Donipan and
Lecompton were, the 10th May, particularly instruct
cd as the in which the sales to be
Quoted Jointly by themselves and the special commission