, 1858-12-10
olympia WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY DECEMBER TO- 1853

according to the certificates aforesaid, upon
the surrender thereof" 1t will be seen by
the wording of the statute that the law ren,
ders it optional with the claimant, whether
lie will make iiual proof or not-the words
being, at any Tine after the expiration Of
four years." &c In order to avoid confu-
sion in the issuing Of patents, and to pre-
vent any conflict in the boundary lines under
them, it becomes necessary, as i am in
formed, not only for each but for oil claim
ants under this law in certain township,
in order to secure their patents, TO have
their claims surveyed, and so connected with
the Government surveys, that the Land Of
fee can obtain an accurated description ol
the same and take proper action thereupon.
The failure of one to take this step may de-
lay all in. that township. In a matter Of SO
much moment to the future welfare of the
Territory, | suggest for your consideration
the propriety of asking for an amendment
to the law, making it compulsory upon the
claimant, within a reasonable period, to
have his claim regularly surveyed, and q
plot Of the same returned to the proper
Office.
In this connection / will add that Just
complaints have been made against the or
ders issued by the Military authorities in
1857, prohibiting settlement in that portion
of the Territory east of the Cascade Noun
tains, as an infringement Of the rights and
privileges guaranteed by the Donation Law.
This order, ! am informed, has been prac-
tically rescinded. Congress, at its last ses-
sion, extended the land surveys over that
section Of the Territory. Estimates have
been m9de for the same, aud as soon as
appropriations arc made, and the state Of
the country will permit, the work will be
put under contract
The extended nature Of our settlements,
from the 49th parallel on the north to the
Columbia on the south, and from the Pacific
on the west to the Rocky Mountains on the
east, demand the creation Of several new
land Offices. There should be at least three
additional Land Districts organized ,--one
for the lower part Of Puget Sound; one for
the Columbia River aud, in view Of the
surveys Of the interior, one for that section
Of the Territory, Your attention is espe-
cially called TO this matter.
The 4th section of the Act Of July 18th,
1854, (amendatory to the Donation Act,
provides that, "there shall be reserved Il
each Of the Territories of Washington nni
Oregon two townships Of land, of thirty-sil
sections each, to be selected in legal sub
divisions for University purposes, under The
direction Of the Legislatures Of said Terri
tories respectively"
By the Act Of the Legislative Assembly
passed January 3lst, 1855, the Superintend
cuts Of Common Schools Of tho varioui
Counties we're constituted q Board Of Com
missioners to select and locate these lands
They have not yet, as am informed, taker
any action on tho subject In matter o
so great moment to onr educational welfare
and in view Of the rapidity with which TN
betterlands have been taken up, and proba
bly, will continue to be during the coming
year, recommend some speedy action ol
your part to enable the Territory to ayai
itself OF this mun6cent provision.
BY the Quarter-master General, I am IN
formed that the number Of arms at preseu
on hand, belonging to the Territory, is 0
follows: