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


iorsOwlng 10 the severity OF the surveying season,
aud dsprc3tons the part Of the Indians, but little
has been done Ia the northwestern part Of the State But
nine hundred and eighteen miles OF subdivisions and
Ineanicrs have been reported
Msas.Au The new surveying district Of Minnesota.
Fed SEPARATIONS for the establishment OF the principal
lnss aud subdivisions OF the public surveys have been
Sammencd IN the northeast district ON Lake Superior,
and In the country south Of the northwest district north
~ Iowa the extent OF four thousand and fourteen
miles bait owing b. the limited time within which
operations have been prosecuted from Esd May last when
the opening Of the Office Of surveyor general took place,
rtus Of surveys have yet been received at this Of
nee from this new surveying district.
Bssooa4ss aasd I0wo.Ihe summary Of field work pre-
ented by the surveyor general for the surveying district
Of Wsscoas aad loo, OF which the Territory OF Mime
sofa fotnaed part prior the of Sd March, 1857
has been very satisfactory embracing the establishment
Of guide merdians and standard parallels township and
subdivision lines to the extent of seven thousand and
twenty miles Such portion of the archives OF this dis
tict apperaining 10 the Minnesota have been
duly turned over TO the surveyor general at 81 Paul
Ark0nsas resuryeys ordered in this State are now
nearly completed and the surveyor general Is engaged in
preparing the land records with view to the transfer of
them To the State authorities upon the closing OF this
Office which may take place during the fiscal year ending
June &c. 1882 should no further resurveys be found nds
pensabie
osiisand The surveying operations OF this State
nearly complete. The work consists principally of
resrveys of surveys Of private Claims and lands which
have been supposed TO be overowed but now found to
he agricultural
Florida consequence Of the Indian hosttes
surveys have been carried Should the Indians be
moved To the West the suspended contracts could be
completed by the expiration of the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1859
Nep Aerco-The surveys have been executed to very
limited extent, owing to the Indian hostes, and have
been confined chiefly to the region known the Wales
lying northwest of Santa Fe and west OF the Rio Grnde
No surveys have been made of private land claims In
New Mexico none having been yet confirmed by Con-
gress The surveyor general recommends that board
of commissioners be appointed for the adjudication OF
titles and that the period be limited for the presentation
of claims. summary, prompt, and final adjudication
of Spanish and Mexican claims in the Territory is Of great
Importance not only to settle titles but enable the de-
parnent TO separate private property from the public
lands that the latter may be disposed of without dan
ger OF conflict.
Forty eight .donaOn claims, under the provisions of
the act of ed july 1854 have been filed in the sur
yeyor general Office since his last annual report eleven
of which recommended for recognition the period of
four years settlement having expired.
Twenty six .pce land CLAIMS have been filed since
his last annual report making fy-seyen since the open
ing of his office at Santa Fe New Mexico, of which six
teen recommended by the surveyor general.
The extensive discoveries of the precious metals in New
Mexico suggests the proprcty in egsating for the dis
posal of the public lands in that Territory, of excluding
what may be found to be strictly mineral lands from gen
cral sales or locations.
Kansas. The surveys have been prosecuted with
egy returns having been made to the extent of soven-
teen thousand miles.
Nebraska Owing to the late period at which the sixth
principal meridian established the extent of the
veys is not great expected yet thou
sand miles of ed-worl have been returned, and the
work is being rapidly prosecuted and it expected
that the surveys east of the sixth principal meridian will
be closed by the 30th June, 1859.
Uah,The surveys Of the public lands had rapidly pro-
crossed before the surveyor general abandoned his posi-
ton owing reported hostes the part of the Nor
authorities at Salt Lake City,
This happened early last spring, since which time
are advised of the ocbe dsbanng of the clerks in the
generals office but unnformpd the
safety Of the archives of that Office.
Representations have been made unavorabe to the
veys which have been executed in that Territory but
have no means OF Judging OF the correctness OF these
statements without actual examination the ground.
The extent of the surveys since the beginning of the
operations in Utah, exhibits sphere of field work
bracng acres and the work executed at cost
of 500, 900. ...........
California The surveying operations have been pushed
forward during the last year degree beyond the anti
cpaton of this Office the surveyors and above the
appropriations, liabilities incurred by the late surveyor
general that having reached Indebtedness of
upwards Of $500 900 to the United States deputy These
accounts for under contracts with the surveyor
general have been certified by the latter and could
he paid for the want of funds applicable to that service
With view to provide early possible to
liqudae that Indebtedness have by your direction
certaned the amount, and submitted deficiency estimate,
so that speedy appropriation may be obtained.
The summary of the field operations in California since
the of the service in 1851 to the present
time consists of 80 miles of neal surveys embracing
area OF upwards OF ZOOUU OUU acres NJ the aggregate
expense of than ST. 900 900; of which there
surveyed during the last fiscal year ending June 3d. 1851
10000 miles equal to 5000, 900 acres
OregoaThe progress of the surveysof the public lands
and donation claims has been to such extent that it
expected the portion of the Territory between the Cas-
cade mountains and the Pacific will be compile
ted by the operations of another year The extension by
law of the surveying system east of the Cascades is
commended
Washington Territory. to hostilities of the In
dans the remoeness of the surveying region spaseness
of settlements and the aruous and perilous nature Of
the service in that district but limited progress in
veying has been made during the past year , yet the
ties devolved upon the surveyor general at Olympia h.
required all his attention.
That officer the recommendation of increase in
mileage deputy surveyors TO indemnify them for the OBJ
saces encountered in the density of timber high wages
and cost Of transportation OF supplies.
These facts considered and in view Of the remoteness
of this surveying district from commercial communities
his recommendation is concrpd in with the suggestion
of increase also in his compensation.
Statement surveying operations Of The public lands during
year ending September 80, 1867.
p,,pI tins in,p taofa g