Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-07
SVRTEYS OF PUBLIC LANDS,

pEfEC1S OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM AND REME-
DIES SCGGESTED-vIEwS OF MAJOR POWELL
Proposals to transfer various functions OF
government from the departments to which
they are now entrusted TO others where they
are thought by some TO more properly belong.
seem to have broken out as an epidemic. The
army is as willing as ever TO relieve the
Interior department OF the management of the
Indians, and the controversy on the subject is
rather more heated than usual As II to pre-
serve an equilibrium in the matter OF transfer
proposals. IT has been recOininen nded that a new
method OF taking the census through Slperyi-
sors be adopted, which will bring this work ur-
der the Interior department; and the transfer
10 the latter department. after consolidation, Of
the scattered government surveys of public
lands is also proposed.
THE PLAN OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
The recommendation Of the last mentioned
transfer, made by committee of the Academy
OF Sciences, after thorough investigation OF the
subject in accordance with a House resolution
is now under consideration by Congressional
committee. with the prospect that it viii he
favorably reported. The necessity of a cOnsoi-
datton OF the various conflicting surveys has
long been recognized, and ii is doubtful if a plan
OF organization better than that suggested by
the Academy of Sciences can be devised. 1t is
proposed that for the present Objectionable sys-
TEN or lack OF system, there shall be substituted
two compact surveys; the one for the execution
of all works OF menSuratiOn including land par
ceiling. working after the methods Of the coast
survey, and the other for the study OF the geolo-
SCdl anu economic resources OF the
public lands. It's own peculiar work is reserved
to the engineer corps. This scheme is simple
practical and scientific. AS the survey of the
public lands naturally goes along With their
management. the organization is properly TO bs,
placed under the Interior department. The
committee. lin their report in stating briefly the
ends aimed at in the reorganization. give by
those very statements. strong argument in favor
CT their plan. But, indeed. little argument is
needed in favor Of a substitute for q system of
surveys Of which the committee say without
danger
tons OF position are independent, their systems
OF survey dfSc0rdant; their results show MANY
contradictions and involve Unnecessary eX-
pense.
VIEWS OF MAJOR POWELL
Among the documents containing facts and
recommendations pertinent TO the subject OF
surveys submitted to the committee and on
which their report was based was a letter from
Major j. W. Powell, in charge OF one OF the
government surveys. Some points from this
letter which contains large amount OF in-
formation concerning the government SURVEYS
may not be a1nlsS now that this subject has be-
come one OF general interest. Major Powell
first states the methods and expenses OF his
own SurN ey. repeats his recommendation made
al the last session Of Congress before the COM
mlttte ON appropriations that the different sur
EeyS should be unified and a common system
adopted. and gives additional reasons therefor
such as the necessity OF trans-continentaI
triang,llation for the geographical work. OF
trans continental lines OF levels for hypSomet-
rlc work, and Of the construction OF enduring
ard satisfactory maps which are not possible
under the present system.
TIE DEFECTS OF THE SYSTEM OF SURVEYING TIE
PUBLIC LANDS,
as practiced under the land Office are then
pointed out. These surveys have been carried
on Tor nearly century and about ,13S 900 acres
have been surveyed at cost of a little more
than S23,000,G60. The work has been done by
contract; and in parcelling out lands wooden
stakes that decay and heaps of dirt that are
washed away by storms have been used TO mark
the corners. The results are stated as follows:
There are on file in the General Land Office
more than 5,tth manuscript maps elabOratply
constructed on scale OF two inches 10 the mile
and representing the Topographic features of
more than 1,co0.tn0 square miles of territory
Accompanying these maps is an equal number
oi manuscript reports relating 10 the geological
ana physical characteristics OF the areas sur
FeGed, tie who.e costing the government more
than s23 ,"'r.0G0. and they are all OF imppTfect
Nane Ill tiic parceiling OF the lands, OF little or
no value III the consideration OF economic uues-
lions relating 10 the public lands and alb SoI,lt g.
~ VaiueeSS Tor scientific purposes. The records
OF the Land office furnish gigantic ILLUSTRATION
OF the evils OF badly directed scientific work A
laf3e corps OF surveyors has been employed for
nearly a century; forests, prarieS plains. and
inchhIalnS. nave been rraNerSed iii every dire.-
tunn. nll!ionS of miles have been run with COM
pass ana cAaln, chart after chart has been con-
StluGtcd with great labor: folio on folio has
been placed among the national archives con-
tanning facts inc0heTent and wort heSs -
For the survey Of ,114 600. fS3 acres remaining
The initial points should De econnectedby by trian-
"a IL
rately measured. and the datum points in the
parcelling surveys should be marked with i'm
perlshabe monuments Of stone or metal. In
urging the necessity Of a general trigonometrir
survey from Il utiitarian as well as a scientific
standpoint. Major Powell points out its adyan-
taSeS as regards expense in furnishing minute
Information respecting thickly settled localities
when II Is necessary and leaving without detri-
Ieht the unOccupied or valueleSS land for future
treatment. Under the psesent system as the
work is done by contract, IL is made TO cover
land which may be cheaply and conyepientlv
surveyed ithout regard 10 its probable future
occupation by settlers In this way many
niilohS mn OF acres nave been parcelled without
the slightest necessity. the lands being worth
less. ana the landmarks have been allowed TO
perish and all useful results have persisted with
them. The Inaccurate methods OF surveying
mineral lands, to which may be attributed a
large part OF the disastrous litigation in which
the mines Of the Rocky mountains are involved
is also condemned and improvements recon-
mended."
IMPORTANCE OF 4 THOROUGH SURVEY
Numerous laws affecting public lands are
tased on their classification under different
names. j he>e laws are made practically inon-
efa"'e. slhtc no adequate provision Is made
for SCc,tl W accurate classification :. thorough
survey Of The, geology and physical character
istics of Tie entire domain is consequently ne
cesSary for the adni,aictratioa Of Tie laws re-
!atiug thereto.
In urging The Importance Of such a survey 10
the industrial interests Of the country, Major
Powell says: The greater part OF the lands yet
remaining IN the possession OF the general gov
eminent either needs protection on the one
hald nom overflow because OF excessive hu-
m!dlty. or irrigation on the other because of
excessive aridity. The utilization of all such
lands depends upon the correct solution of great
engineering problems. Large portions Of the
public domain On the gull coast are swamp
lands; the great river valleys OF the south are
nocd- plains, which must be protected from the
waters which periodically flow over them: vast
areas OF SWampS and lakelet lands exist in the
region OF the Great Lakes that must be re-
deemed Dy drainage; the western half Of the
Imted states Is comparatively arid; in more
tnan 1our-tenthS of our national area ex-
elusive OF Alaska agriculture is dependent upon
irrigation, and here the lands are to be used
only py the utilization OF the rivers and minor
StleamS that are fed by the snow fields of the
ROCKY mountains. The rapid migration which
mas peen greater during the past ten years than
,n any similar portion Of the history of the
tnlteo states is pushing, in middle ATTITUDES
quite TO the verge OF possible agriculture with
our irrigation, and soon all the lands in the
h,'lnld and sub-humid regions belonging to the
general government will be exhausted. and
future settlers On the public domain win be
cOmpelled to resort TO the lands TO he drained
OF 10 the lands to be irrigated ON the Fi0rjdian
peninsula millions OF acres valuable for the
growth OF sea island cotton OF sugar. can he re-
deemed by the drainage OF Okechobep lake. on
the gull coast millions OF acres of swamp land
can Ge redeemed by protecting them from tide.
water: IN the great flood plains of the south
millions OF acres of the richest land OF fine con
tlnent can be redeemed by protecting them
fiom periodic river floods: i'm tile region OF the
great lakes millions of acres can be redeemed