Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-23

and adjustment Of accounts With the
General Land O@ce.
One OF the contracts revoked BIZ the
Com missioner Vas OF the original esti-
mated liability Of $4,000. The Land
Once accounts show that about $780,
600 has already been paid out under
this contract, and the bank claims that
nearly $4,000 more 10 still due. The
Commissioner refused 10 accept the re-
turns, amounting 10 5000. for work
alleged TO have been performed under
this contrast, on the ground that the
essential prerequisites TO Legality have
not been complied With, the bond Of the
deputy not having been filed, and no
provision having been made to pay for
she surveys, and further that the
amount charged is in sx,ess Of legal
rates. IL is the opinion Of the Commis-
sioaer that the practice Of the San
Francisco banks IN advancing money
on surveying contracts, whish IL said to
have grown up within ten years, and to
have extended so as 20 include contracts
IN various States and Territories,
now urged as equitable considerations.
cannot be regarded a. in the interest Of
the public service. He says: 1t led
the surveyors to return surveys OF unin-
habitable, mountainous and desert re-
Rions, to augment rates and make ex-
travagant expenditures, to loose and
irregular methods Of contracting and
Surveying, to the prodiezl issue of de-
post certificates, TO premature surveys
of valuable timber and agricultural
lands, followed by their appropriation
through fraudulent entries by rob syn
dicates and large corporations, and to
the exclusion of actual settlers from
lands ostensibly surveyed for their ben
etit, bat Immediately taken up by spsc-
ulative combinations connected with or
closely allied 10 the surveying operators.
10 tended also to do away with the
wholesome supervision and restraint
which the Law requires the Land De-
partment TO exercise over deputy
surveyors. With the shield OF
powerful syndioates and moneyed cor
porations interpoiated between them
and the Government thsy felt indie
pendent of the Land Office and became
accustomed to look upon Il as mere
machine to certify accounts without
regard TO their accuracy or justice.
Many accounts are now presented for
extra compensation for resurveys which
cannot be allowed because 10 violation
of instructions which prescribed the
minimum rates, and which instructions
are part of the contracts"
Reports have reached the Land Office
OF extensive frauds in the surveys in
regions covered by these contracts,
which, the Commissioner states, he has
not had time, with the agencies at his
command, 10 thoroughly investigate,
and that delay is unavoidable antil
Examinations can be made which will
enable him to determine which claims
should be paid and which rejected. The
amount alleged to be due on surveying
contracts claimed by the Bank Of Ne
vada. is about $4,000. What further
unliquidated claims of q similar char
aoter are yet to be presented is IN
known.
Public Land sales.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 22.-Commission-
or Sparks Of the Land Office, has pre-
pared statement Of the disposals of
public lands and receipts therefrom
during the fiscal year ending June Both,
1896. The total number Of entries vas
~, 1882; total number Of acres, 30,li3,-
663 IS; total value, $7,6S6, ll4.s0. The
number of original homestead entries
vas 50.s77, including 7.4l5,sS5 acres;
Number Of fnal homestead entries,
1855, including $685.. 679 acres. The
number Of original timber culture en-
ti,s was 30,996, including 4,756,005
acres; number OF final timber culture
entries, $50, including $1,000 acres.
Total number of acres taken under
railroad selections was 1855, 9l4, made
up as follows, fractions omitted: