Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-07-26

U. ;. SURVEYOR GENERALS OFFICE,
 DISTRICT OF ARIZONA,
 TUCsOS, July :, 1884. To Hon. x. c. Mcfarland, Commis-
 sioner General Land Office, Wash
 ingtOn, D.. C.
 Sir: Complying with your circular letter dated May 5tb, 1884, I have the honor to hand yop herewith my annual report of the work conducted by this office during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881.
 1 also submit herewith a tabular statement of contracts under the general appropriation and special apportion- ments, and also those contracts let under the law governing special de- posits for the execution of surveys, R $. 2i0l. 2402, and 2i03.
 APPoRrIoNMESrs TO ARIZONA.
 The general apportionment of twenty thousand dollars for surveys in this Territory for the fiscal year ending
 
 predecessor in office, bs to subserve in au equitable manner the demands for surveys both m the northern and south ern land districts of this Territory, and the amount was found wholly made quate to satisfy the actual existing necessities. The smallness of the ap- pOruonments from the general appro- priatlons, made this Territory in previous years, had so SC catered. and cnrtalled surveys as to seriously dis commode the people and to embarrass the deputi $ iI the held. Standards. meri- dIans, guides, etc, were so broken. and disconnected as to make 1t lamentably apparent that the strongest necessity existed for the careful completion of this class of surveys, before other work could be connected herewith with any degree of accuracy. My predecessor in office realizing how necessary it was to complete these important lines made strong representations to that effect to the Hon. Commissioner of the General Land Office. The result of an exami- nation into the premises was special appOrtlonment of Sl0000 (made May F, lSS3,) for the completion of the standards, merldians, guides, auxiliaries. etc, Tn this surveying district, and con- tracts N. 3I and 39 were entered into with Deputy Surveyor Johnston B. Me LaughlIn. The work under these con tracts was Of a most difficult nature, compelling the deputy m some Instances to travel over 24 miles of surveyed line, in order to survey two or three miles of unsurveyed standard line. This work h-aU faA in and credItable manner. tEe connections having been accurately made. The completion Of this highly important work, has greatly facilitated surveying. and will prove of permanent benefit to the people of Arizona.
 For period covering several years settlers have lived upon, and improved what are known aud designated as the Deer Creek coal fields"
 The location of these coal fields was a matter Of dispute for many years. The executive order fixing the southern boundary having defined It as being fifteen miles south of the Gila river, the boundary line meandering with that stream. The country intervening be- tween said established boundary, and inc GIla river, comprises mountainous, and rOugl, rolling land, deep cahons ant precipltOus drscents from mesa lands, etc. In fact. this interesting country, l am informed, Is almost I'm passible; hence, It will readily become apparent that a great difficulty existed Tn establishing even the approximate whereabouts of these coal fields.
 For years the surveyors general of this Territory have persistently urged the great necessity of surveying the southern boundary of the White Noun tain and San Carlos Indian reservation to determine whether or not these coal fields were on pubic land open to entry or on the Indian reservation.
 The Honorable the Secretary of the Interior acting upon the representa- tons of Su .yeyor General RDbbns, and apprecIdting the grave situation hkel, to be the eventual ousgrowth of a lon ger delay ma ie a specilli .p ortionmebt Tor the survey of tnIs southern boundary line, and on May l9, 1883, my predeces- sOr entered into contract with Deputy Paul Rleoker, for the survey or the line. Upon the completion of tue survey II was demonstrated that the Deer Geek coal fields were on the Indian reserva- ton, but iu some places were within two miles of the boundary lIne. The 1T. and ihls long mOoted question disposed of, the settlers were left n 9 distressing situation.
 The s-ttler5 in making their location were evidently ac5uated by good faith and believing that their locations were off the reservation expended large sums Of money Tn improvements. As a quas- ton ot fuel the utility of these coal fields 10 the people of Arizona cannot | be overestimRted. l think 1t can safely l be said that the greatest existing want 1 to the manufacturing and mining indus ] tries in this Territory Is COAL, while fuel | for domestic purposes will sOon become | a question of much m 'ment, and I am | of the opinion that the want of coal has | been ons Of the serious drawbacks to a | north aud south railroad through tbe . Territory, the construction of which 1 would be an additional preventative to Iadlan outbreaks, and En instrument | for minIsteriHg speedy punishment | in case such outbreak did occur.
 l recommend that Tn c8se any equita- bls arrsn cement can be effect d with the Indians, that this land be cut off from the San Carlos Indian reservation and thrown open for settlement, and that the boundary be run as a straight east and west liae. or that tho boundary shall be the GIla river; the latter being preferable as a well defined boundary.
 SPECIAL DEPOSITS.
 It will be observed by the tabular statement annexed hereto that surveys nf public lands under the deposit sys- tenn tR. ;. 2'9l. 2412. 2i03l, have 1 iwindled down to Ss.02S for the fiscal l, year ending June S0, 1881. So that this branch of the business of this office { yields but little income for office ex- penses.