The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-12
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

A summary of the statistics of this report is
published in that of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior. The Commissioners report, however,
gives more in detail the condition of the sur
veys in the several States.
In Florida, the Surveyor General reports that
certain surveys, which had been suspended du-
ring Indian hostilites, were resumed and have
been finally closed; that deputies are now in
the field, engaged In running township and sub
division lines; that plats of thirty-three section
lied townships have been returned since last
annual report showing 1862 miles of surveys,
| covering 655,65S acres, and that the surveys
| of number of other townships are soon ex-
pected.
In Missouri, the surveys have been confined
necessarily to the southeastern portion of the
State, between the St. Francis and the Missis-
sippi, along the borders of the overAowed lands
During the short surveying season, there have
been surveyed thirteen whole and fractional
townships, embracing 1864 acres, of which
94,573 acres enure to the State of Missouri
under the swamp grant-the residue, 89,06I
acres, being fit for agricultural purposes.
There is a residuum Of 10000 acres owned
by the United States in the Virginia military
district, consisting of small, irregular parcels
of land which, if not donated for educational
or other beneficial purposes, should be made
liable, by law, to the location of Virginia mill
tar warrants, so that owners who, instead of
exchanging their warrants for scrip, may prefer
particular localities in the aforesaid district
may be allowed in this way TO satisfy their
| claims.
In Wisconsin there have been surveyed and
sectionized thirty mine townships since last re-
port, amounting to 1881 lineal miles, of which
| 459 miles were meanders of lakes and rivers
| Contracts have been made for surveying other
townships.
With the exception of such resurveys, the
surveying service in Iowa will be closed, it is
expected, within the fiscal year ending Both of
June, 1861.
The surveys of township lines in Iowa have
all been completed, and the subdivision nearly
so. Twsnty-thres townships we're sectionized
during the past year, equal to IFS lineal miles,
and fifteen are under contract for subdivision
and survey, returns of which are soon expected.
BY the act of Congress approved February
&c, 1857, provision is made "for running and
marking that part of the western boundary of
Minnesota which is not defined by the natural
landmarks; estimated distance, one hundred
and thirty miles" Under this line a contract
was awarded on the 30th April last to Messrs
Snow Hutton, for the survey, not to exceed
in the whole the sum of $4,000, reserving the
balance (S9O0) of the appropriation to defray
the expense of the veri6cation Of the survey in
the field.
: The subdivisional surveys in the State of
Minnesota, received since last report, cover an
area of 3, 1877 ,O42 acres. Those under contract,
NOT vet completed, will embrace an additional
area OF ,295, 200 acres.
The survey of the Fond du Lac Indian res
eryation, on the 81 Louis river, under the
second article OF the treaty With the Chippewas
of Lake Superior, Of September 20, 1854, has
been finished, spd the boundaries properly es-
tablished. The srea Of that reserve is ascer
tanned to be 1924 scses,
In the Territory of Kansas, there has been
surveyed, since last report, ,489 miles Of town
ships, and 1884 sectional lines, embracing an
area of 2,l72,341 acres, costing $44, 900.
The funds apporioped 70 Kansas during the
fiscal year have been applied to the establish
ment of the true southern boundary Of the
New York reserve, and to the subdiyisional
surveys within its limits, With view to the sat
isfaction of the Indian alotments OF 220 acres
each, under the treaty stipulations, aRd there
after to Law open the residue Of the tract as
other public lands.
The field Of surveying operations during the
ensuing year in Kansas will be quite limited,
as we have there extensive bodies of land over
which the lines of the public surveys haye been
extended, and which are now open to prs-elap-
ton and sale.
/ In Nebraska, there have been surveyed du-
ring the last year 500 miles of standard, 933
miles of townships, and 7,S43 of section lines,
embracing an area of 3,Ol4,9O7 acres, costing
$4,000.
The Surveyor General brings to notice the
discovery of sulphate Of lime, an invaluable
fertilizer, also iron ore, and beds of camel
coal, on the eastern slope of the Rocky Noun.
tains; and reports that coal has been discovered
at various points along the Missouri river, in
Nebraska.
} In New Mexico, since the date of the last
report, 2,452 miles Of parallel, exterior, and
: subdiyisionsl lines have been run, and returns
: reported. 'sA Y
!, Fortyone townships, containing 859, 1865
acres, have been subdivided. Contracts have
been entered into for running sixteen hundred