The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-11
No Further Action BY Congress
Is Necessary.
LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITY.


Il
nounced. This morning be leaves for his
home. MY present visit is flying one, !"
said he last evening, ''but as soon as the
weather becomes settled shall come here
and spend month in the Sound country
50 as to gain as thorough knowledge of
this part of the state as possible.
Il have seen in the apers lately good
deal Of discussion about the state granted
lands. and several of the members of the
legislature, as we'll as others, have made
the statement that since the settlers have
sauatted on the lands ahead of the surveys
the state cannot get the lands granted to
it unless congress shall pass Law allow
ing the state also to take lands ahead of
the surveys.
Il have been much interested in this
subject, and know that congress can do
nothing more than it has done in the
premises. Congress win not pass special
law authorizing the state of Washington
TO choose lands in the unsurveved parts of
the public domain; and to ask for such
legislation is simply useless.
II think can give you the figures in
this case in round numbers, though /
speak from my memory, and not exactly.
In few days shall receive from the in
ter, and then l shall make an accurate
statement fo- the benefit of those inter-
ested.
During the whole four years of the
Cleveland administration only $43, 900 was
appropriated for the survey of public lands
in this state--a very small sum. This
money was used up in surveying some
10000 acres But during that four years
some 100000 acres were segregated from
the public domain-most OF it land
previously surveyed.
By the end of the Cleveland admins
tration all of the surveyed lands-except
perhaps some cullings-were taken up, so
that when this state came into the Union
there was no land left for rs to choose for
the state grant.
The fault was that the Democrats had
not appropriated sufficient money to keep
the surveys up with the immigration.
Had these surveys been maintained there
would have been plenty of land from
which the state could have chosen its
grant.
well, this was the state of things when
the present congressional delegation went
10 Washington City. We found that it
was impossible to get surveys made in
Washington for the old rates, 81. 50 and
so, because there was so much timber and
other land difficult TO survey. So we sue
ceeded in getting the rate raised to So,
SIS and SIS.
''of the appropriation for the surveying
of public lands We secured, as we thought.
sos, 90; but there was great outcry that
we were getting more than our share, and
so WasEington's portion was cut down to
SIS, 900, Yet that sum was one-fourth of
the whole amount for surveys in Nevada,
California, Idaho, Montana, North Da-
kota, South Dakota and, in fact, all states
where surveys are to be made.
After this much had been accomplished
complaint was made that surveyors would
not take government work even at the in
creased rates. Accordingly we rushed
around and after good deal of trouble
got provision inserted in the sundry civil
appropriation bill that the rates should be
so, S23 and So.
I'VE also have an appropriation of $751;
600 more for continuing the surveys next
year. That makes $40, 900 to be expended
during the two years in surveys of public
lands-a gretty good sum.
with that amount of money between
FIVE and seven millions of acres can be
surveyed. Now, I understand from pretty
good authority that there are only about
1000 squatters. These surveys will be
pushed rapidly. and accordingly the land
viii be surveyed ahead of the actual
settlers
$50 you see that if the state is alert it
can go in and choose from these new sur
veys its granted lands, and get good lands.
too. There is no need of a law passed by
congress, and this states congressional
delegation has done everything necessary
in the matter. If the legislature will only
be prompt and provide for the selection
of the states granted lands there will be
no difficulty in getting good land. We
have - 10000 acres yet unsurveyed from
which TO choose.
Another point, the secretary of the in
terror has written to the surveyor general
of this state that if he will make his choice
either of agricultural or timber lands. the
land department will approve the selection
without delay. Under this ruling of the
department the state can choose timber
land, and that will give us big advant-
age.
II do not think that land vii. be taken
up quite so fast as ii has been hitherto. be-
cause twelve instead of six months resi-
dence is now necessary for acquiring title
10 piece OF agricultural land
''0f course the state does not want to
take up whole townships, but only the
best pieces here and there.
But the point ! wish 10 make is that
congress has done all necessary in the mat
ter. 1t only remains for the state to act,
and to act quickly.
Il understand that great pressure was
brought upon the legislature to pass an
appropriation of $4,000 for geological
survey. II the same amount of pressure
had been brought TO make an appropria-
ton for proper machinery for selecting
the state granted lands. ii would have
been far better thing for this common
wealth. The lands will be worth millions
and millions 10 u.s.