The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-12-05
ss-.fts zaus- From the Helena Herald.
Surveyor Generals Report.

~
ssb Surveyor GsnersIs Report. M
7L A few days since Gen. Sol Merideth
forwarded to the Hon. j. 8. Wilson,
Commissioned Of the General Land Of
fee, at Washington, his reports of the
surveys recently made in Montana, to
gether with the result Of his observations
as to the agricultural and mineral wealth
of the Territory. We have been favor
ed with q perusal of that document, and
not only on account Of the valuable in
formation which it imparts in q compact
form to our people, but for the purpose
of showing them what is told the Gov
men, and the world At large about them.
we give a summary. The report itself
covers forty pages Of legal cap, and our
columns will not permit as full synopsis
as we could wisi: still we shall give the
main points
The report speaks first of the surveys.
auf: shows that the Beaver Head Rock,
which was originally selected ny the
Government as the initial point of the
survey, was impracticable, on account
Of the extremely rugged character of
the surrounding country, and consequent
impediment to the running of the neces-
iccted was on the summit OF "a limestone
hill, about 800 feet hiof, some Twelve
miles southwest OF tho janohaa Of the
Three Forks of the Missoari river aid
on the banks of Willow Creek From
it the base and miridian lines will run
through the principal valleys east Of the
mountains, where the public surveys are
required to be extended as soon as pos
sible. The base line east crosses the
Galiatin Valley, twenty-five miles in
width, and can be extended into the val
ley Of the Yellowstone through the
Bozeman Pass. West from initial point,
the line passes through the valley Of JEFF
ferson Fork, thirty four miles, to the base
of the main range of mountains. This
range it would cross at feasible point
opposite heads of the Deer Lodge and
Bitter Root valleys. South, the princi
pal meridian runs through q rich mineral
region. enters the Madison Valley at the
head Of 4 canyon twenty three miles dist
ant, and thence up this valley to the
Territorial lines. On the north, the
meridian line accommodates itself to the
Missouri valley and its stributaries-thus
facilitating the connection Of the surveys
of the farming lands, and the mineral
region in the vicinity of Helena, with the
principal lines. e
The appropriation for the survey of
the public lands of Montana was twenty
FIVE thousand dollars. OF this sum on
ly two Thousand four hundred and ninety
dollars have been thus. far expended.
this sum having sufficed to pay for the
survey of one hundred and sixty-six
miles of base and meridian lines.
The map accompanying this report
was drawn by Maj. w. w. Delacy. 1t
is due to him to say, that he has, for the
purpose of publishing map, been en-
gagged for five years in surveys and ex-
plorations. often at great hazard, the en-
tire result of which has been placed at
the disposal of the Government
The estimate for surveying and office
expenses for the fiscal year ending 1une
80, 1869. is 3Il9,600, the general desire
Of the settlers for the extension OF the
surveys into all the principal valleys he
inc taken into consideration in making
the estimate.
After speaking of the surveys, the
report proceeds tn mention, under their
heads, the resources of the
Territory The soil Of the valleys and
table lands is spoken Of IS of good
quality, and it is believed that fauy one
third Of the Territory is susceps.!,is of
profitable cultivation. The more i'm
portant valleys requiring immediate sur
vey are the Bitter Root, Deer Lodge,
He'll Gate, Ronde, Big Hole, Beaver
Head, Sinking water, Jefferson, Madi
son, Gallatin, Boulder, the Prickly Pear,
Including the town of Helena,) and
the Missouri, from the Three forks to
Canyon Ferry, east Of Helena. The
arabic lands in these valleys amount, by
careful estimate, to nine thousand square
miles, and contracts for their survey will
be let out as soon as possible. A ready
home market is found for the products
Of the ranches and dairies, and the sup
ply of the different kinds Of grain raised
s no doubt sufficient for the wants of
he population until another crop is pro-
luced. The yield Of potatoes has been
70 great during the past season, that it
. believed that fully one million bush
lie could be exported, and still have
,nough for home consumption. The
ha Na11o<sr VoHnr, 3