The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-05

spea1ng upon the subject generally. TO say that
dens,.s " soe ame entered public life have been
un ons p1rpose you desire. Upon coming TO the
senasol found that the estimates made by the
nr;.I apartment for the public surveys Of the
wefe put $aO, 900, with deductions of about S50,-
wy ior what may be termed "ofice work
oenasof Squire introduced in the Senate and
!maklng an additional appropriation Of $4,000,
~. ~ y expended In surveys in the state Of Wash
ington IN order to enable NJ to make our selec-
nons ;n. Otner senators from the new states fol-
After having iabored before the public land
commttee Tor some time in the matter, was
desY ddes1Yenstsd a. chairman of subcommittee to
recommended an increase of $50O,0OO, with .
proyiso that the $4,000 should be expended In
mnaking surveys in Washington, Montana and
OF that amendment a. reported by me to the
Seneto, under the instructions of the public
Iand committee. We succeeded in having the
atom 6 SSs upon the sand civil
uepaLtmens agreeably to the usual practice We
had 70 adopt this course to secure united action.
Inc matter came up in open Senate, and we
Were compelled TO make united, determined,
Duy successful effort to reduce appropriations
LOT the eelecti0ns of reservoirs and examinations
oi ARIA lands, in order to secure this appropria-
uOn The measure passed the Senate, but was
vigorously attacked in conference between the
housea: the House conferrees refusing TO allow
more tnan 100000. By continued importantly
ono. on my p part IT.! they consented to advance the
Upon . showing before the interior depart
ment, $4,000 of this amount was assigned to
attainment We had the highest rates suggested
provided for Washington and Oregon. These
amounts had only been allowed for extremely
neaviiy y-ttmbered or mountainous lands on the
Factnc coast succeeded in obtaining q pro-
vision In the law authorizing the commissioner
OF the general land Office directly to give these
rates. instead OF having to appeal to the secre-
should be promptly available. This provision
was only made for oregon and Washington.
also succeeded in having provision incor-
porated to the effect that in the expenditure OF
the money preference should be given to the
survey OF lands for state grant purposes, and to
thoH actually settled upon. placing the two
did learn that any higher ' rate @ was SO Sought or
necessary in order 10 make the surveys. In fact,
theBreat body OF Our lands have been surveyed
at lower rates, and most of them at times when
the paper money with which the government
maqo payment was worth from 65 to IS
cents on the dollar. No information
came from our own state nor from
the state OF Oregon or other mountainous
regions near TO us, that higher rates were de-
sirsa: nor did we learn that such was the fact
until some time after the adjournment of con-
Immediately on receiving this word I intro
duced q bill providing the races of SIS, $2S and
10, and introduced an amendment to the exist
lux uRPEVpI1dtlOu Dill SO Us 10 0ItOW SUCH I8CcS
for the unexpended balance assigned the state
of Warrington. l was given authority by the
public lands committee to report this bill and .
proposed amendment to the sundry civil bill
fixing such rates. have been before that COM
mtttee and obtained their approval for the in
creased rates for all contracts to be let under the
unexpended balance of our present appropria-
ton, az we'll as that for the coming year, which
! hope will become q law.
Is Is due to Senator Squire and Mr.. Wilson to
say That nat IN every step they have cordially Co
united in all that has been done in an earnest
endeayor to obtain everything in the way of
appropriation for the survey of public lands
Isubmitted the entire matter to such senators
- DOlph and Teller, who have had large expert
ence In public land matters and who have
70 suggest any additional step that could be
taken. Both insist that ] have gone to the
limit of what can possibly be done. In fact,
hath seemed somewhat surprised that we had
enabling act, as you will observe, grants sur
yeyed, unreserved and unappropriated lands
have obtained enormous appropria-
Gey win secure q speedy survey 81
very large area OF our state.
IN fact, the amount is as large as can possibly
need Is energy, dispatch and determination in
procuring the surveys and expending the mon
eys already appropriated.
While am confident of securing these ad-
yanced rates, confess surprise that such large
tracts of land are not being surveyed at the
rates already fixed. There are certainly great
bodies Of unsurveyed land in our state a. easy
Of survey q many that were surveyed ut
these rates in s the early days when
wages were higher and $reenbacks less valuable.
You can be assured OF my continued endeav-
ors to do everything in my power TO secure these
much-needed surveys.
In view of the somewhat common criticism
that has been made of the action of the delega-
ton, am willing that you give publicity to this
letter. Very truly, JOHN b. ALLEN.
Senator Thompson today received q telegram
from Senator Allen, saying that the rates pro-
posed in the bill, SIS, $23 and so, had been
0Cr to