Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-01-19
IN GENERAL DEMENT'S OFFICE.
New Business Methods and Demo.
cratic Reform Introduced.


n touching upon his future policy in cor
4 nection with his Office. That Geners
n Dement, has since won the hearts of GU
n people by his straightforward bushes
n methods in the conduct of his office is n
n news to the readers of the DEMOCRAT, bu
a little item incidentally dropped yester
day. in conversation between friends Q
the General, and overheard by DEMO
Graf reporter, was Of sufficient interes
{ to cause said reporter to HE away to tn
q. S. Surveyor Generals Office on voy
age of discovery. The substance of the
conversation alluded to was to the effec
that General Dement, had just received
highly complimentary personal lette
from headquarters at Washington, il
which his new system of official records
and methods of reform had been com
mended in the highest terms, and the
following sentence was quoted as beins
suggestive of its contents:
81 am much pleased with the zeal, industr,
and intelligence you have displayed in you
office-you are realizing my best hopes"
When our reporter called General De.
ment was found at his desk debating a
letter to the General Land Office al
Washington asking orspecial instructions
| for the Territory of Utah in relation to
the regular appropriation.
Turning to the reporter after closing
the sentence to his secretary, he said:
3" You see | want to get the folks
down at Washington to let us have our
own way out here. There are rulings
required for this Territory that will hardly
apply to any other section of the Union.
Much OF the public domain of Utah is
unlike that OF any other Territory, and
rulings that work admirably elsewhere,
simply tie our hands here
Rep.-To what do you refer?
Gen.-Oh, it's long story, and would
require too much space in your columns
to describe it. The solution NAV be
given you in a few 'sticks," when we
reach it, and [ have every confidence
that my present communication to Wash
ington will be sufficient to that end.
Rep.-You have made great improve
ments (glancing around the beautiful
room).
GEM am indebted to the kindness
of my landlord for the new paper and
paint. He had all of my offices put in
order. l think, however, we have made
some improvements in the way of doing
things.
The General then showed his new
books OF record to the reporter, and ex-
planned them infinitely as he went along.
p" You discover" he added in conclusion,
that had to commence from begin
ming and create system. 1t is very
simple, and yet, think, quite complete;
for, upon opening the proper book, every
department of the office shows up like
the balance sheet of a ledger. Every
step from the date Of application to the
date OF patent must follow in its regular
and proper order. 1t is system of
records that necessarily keeps itself clean.
Every entry is checked against through
out the several books as accurately as in
any well-ordered system of double entry
bookkeeping. The slightest error would |
be discovered at once; the slightest irreg-
ularity would show itself at glance. It !
is intended to compel equal and exact |
justice alike to the applicant for single
patent or the corporation that applies
wholesale"
Rep.-This must have required some
thinking as we'll as work.
.Gen.-Yes, little; but after all il is
only putting this office on business
basis-the same as bank or mercantile
establishment.
Rep.-Have you submitted this system
to the Land Office at Washington !?
Gen.-Oh, yes, and
Rep.-Well =?
6en.-Ihey seem well pleased with it.
Rep understand you received
highly complimentary letter from head
quarters, General.
Gen.-Who told you SO? You news
paper people get everything. Yes, L
lid receive very encouraging letter, and
vas SO well pleased that showed it to
ew of my friends. L was as happy as a
BOY with new pair of red-top boots
ion't know that 1 have gotten entirely
,ver the feeling vet. But 1 did not intend
hat it should be reported.
Rep.-Then you don't wish to give it
o the DEMOCRAT?
Gen.--Oh, no; that wouldn't be proper. {
was personal letter. t
Rep.-I understand that the new U. s. ,
surveyor General of Idaho, General {
traughn, has adopted your records. +
Gen. Yes. General Straughn was +
nth me half a day and seemed greatly r
leased with our system. He signified +
is intention of adopting it, and was fur +
lshed with full set of blank pages. j,
Rep.-Is there no system of records l.
rescribed by the Government? r
Gen.-No, sir. You see different dis Il
lets have different practices, and each n
!. ). Surveyor General has adopted. or f
as been supposed to adopt, something
keeping with the practice in his dis.
let.
Rep.-Is there any increase in the BUSH a.
sss of this office? !
Gen.-Yes. sir. In the mineral de- ~
artment there was a considerable accu- a,
ulation when l entered upon my duties, p
Id there has been quite little rush of =,
Nv applications since. We have made 4,
progress in closing up the old 10
ses and will soon get into the new ones. ~
am now working the force to all it can in
and, but 1T will be inadequate ii work n
to come in at the rate of the 70
st SIX weeks. Besides, it is my purpose "a
have made comprehensive working ay
art OF the Territory, and working charts, no
sections, for each of the thirty-two In
ming districts. These will be kept in oil
rtfolio to be added to from time to time on on
new surveys are made. The prepara- he
N OF these charts will largely increase q,
work IN the draughtsman's division, as
d have already applied for and been fir
owed the necessary appropriation to
able me to add to the force.
Rep.--I understand you have made
ne changes in your list of U. S. Deputy
neral Surveyors? at
ien.-Yes; quite number. 1 found Nc
'enty-five bonds of U. S. Deputy Min we
III SurUQNnrs On Elo L |,