The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-22
THE PUBLIC SURVEYING.
How II Is Done aud What 10 Costs
Interesting Facts.

OLYMPIA. Aug. Glowing to the
great number of letters OF inquiry re-
ceiyed by Surveyor General j. C..
Breckenridge, by settlers and Others,
relative 20 the surveys OF public lands,
he has issued circular which explains
the ise,iaS opeuadi under which the
surveys are obtained. and the Law by
which they are regulated. The circu-
lar shows that there are two methods
under which surveys are obtained.
The first IS by a general appropriation
which Is made annually hy congress
for the whole United States, which
sum Is apportianed 10 the different
states and territories by the commits
Sioner Of the general land Office. Con-
greSs also fixes the rates OF mileage
allowed for surveys. The amount of
appropriations made by congress for
that purpose are frequently inadequate
for the needs OF the various districts
and in that instance IL is incumbent
upon the surveyor general to take into
consideration the needs OF the settlers
in the different portions Of the terri
tory, and advertise for bids wherever
in his Judgment the necessities are
greatest There is no provision made
for such advertising to be done through
the medium of the press. bnt the only
requirement OF the surveyor general is
that he shall post such advertisement
up in his Office and in the land office
for the district in which the land is sit
uated.
Before the survey OF any township
can be considered, IL is necessary that
a petition for such survey be forward
ed 10 the surveyor general, signed so
far as practicable by all the actual
settlers in the township, and giving n
general description OF the character of
the land, and the character of the sur
face OF the township, the names and
number of actual settlers, and all other
information that may be OF advantage
To the surveyor general in forming his
Judgment as TO the propriety of any
survey applied for. Only petitions for
the survey of an entire township or
the surveyable portion of the same can
be considered by the surveyor general.
The rates OF mileage allowed tor sur
veys at the present time are s. per
mile for section lines. 81 per mile for
township lines and 50 per mile for me-
andering and standard lines. These
amounts Surveyor General Brecken-
ridge considers very inadequate for
surveying in this territory, and he has
worked very hard 70 induce congress
to raise the amounts, and the commit
tee on public lands has at last been led
TO see that the amounts are too small.
and has reported favorahly bill to
congress hy which the rates will be
raised to 81, 50 and SIS per mile for
section, township and meander lines
respectively. This increase in the
rates. Mr.. Breckenridge states, would
be OF Immense assistance in this terri
tory, although it would not yet be
nearly so high as he has recommended.
The surveyors general states that
there are now applications on Tile in
his Office for the survey of about 200
townships in this territory. many Of
which, il approved for survey. it would
be impossible 10 receive bids on, owing
10 the present low rates allowed.
Shortly after the present incumbent
took possession of the surycyOr.gen-
erals office, he advertised for bids fer
the survey of Ii townships. but owing
10 the low rates allowed Tor surveying,
no bids we're received for the survey
Of the townships and they still remain
unsurveyed To make matters worse,
the interested actual settlers in the TN
surveyed townships have heretofore
been prohibited flom lending assist
ance IN ans manner whatsoever for
pubic surveying. This rule has been
modified now. however, aud assistance
in any form. except cash, can nov be
furnished by the settlers in special
cases. This, with the increase in the
rate OF mileage :sill enable a good deal
OF much needed surveying To be done
in the territory, although the general
appropriation Tor this territory was
not nearly 80 large rs applied for by
the snrvey or-cenerai.
The special deposit system under
which surveys are made Is restricted
hy law 20 surveys for homestead and
pTe-emption settlers. and il not appli-
cable TO lands chiefly valuable for tim
her, nor for any other purposes what
soever, than settlement purposes, and
the oniy persons who can apply for
such surveys are actual bona fde set
tiers. When applications are received
and approved hy the local surveyor
general, they are forwarded 10 Wash
iueton. and upon the approval OF the
general land Office. the surveyor gen
eral Il authorized to furnish the appli-
cants with an estimaie OF the cost Of
survey and office work. This esti-
mated amount must be depo tied by
the applicants In the First National
Bank oi Portland in such sums as that
no certificate will bear face value Of
more than 500. That bank will issue
triphcats certificates of deposit, and
when received the 0riginsis mast be
transmitted 20 the secretary of the
treasury, the duplicates TO the sur
veyor general and the triplica,es re-
tAiued by the applicants whicii tripli-
cate certificates are receivable in part
payment lar lands situated in the sur
veyed townships, the surveying Of
which Is paid out OF such depo IL.
All public surveys are matters Of
contract and survsyOrs-generRi have
no patronage Oi this kina at tseir dis
posal The general appropriation made
by congress for surveys throughout
the United States during the coming
year are not so ltrge as the amount
applied for by Suryeyor-General
eckenridge for this territory alone,
although the afaoGnt allowed this ter
ritory Is twice as much a. Il va last
year.
shipping Intelligence.
D.