The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-05
PUBLIC LAND SURVEY
State of Washington Receives
Prompt Attention.
Low RATES THE BIG OBSTACLE.
Contracts for Survey of Timber Land
Fit for Agriculture VIII be Al
lowed Upon Application.

the survey Of public lands IN Washington
state. The delegation from that state has
been hard after the officials in the Office,
and has been furnished material for their
arguments by communications from many
citizens and by emphatic articles in the
newspapers.
Several articles on this subject from the
PosT-IyTELLIGEscER have been laid before
the department A correspondent Of this
paper went with Representative Wilson
while the latter gave very complete sum-
mary Of the needs of the state and made
an emphatic request that the instructions
be so modiAed or interpreted as 10 allow
the work Of surveying the lands granted
10 the state 10 be prosecuted speedily.
The officials thought the instructions sent
70 the surveyor general had been misun-
derstood by the people Of the state, and
the department furnished the PosT-IyTEL-
LIGEycER with copy Of its communication
10 Surveyor General Cay2naHgh on this
subject. In view OF the wide discussion Of
the public land survey question and the
Importance 10 the material prosperity OF
the state in having the questions settled
without delay, the views Of the land Office
are Of interest. Here is the letter which
Assistant Commissioner Stone prepared:
The United States Surveyor General--Sir: By
the act OF congress approved August -, issg,
making appropriations for sundFy civil expenses
OF the government for the fiscal year ending
June 3D. IesI. and for other purposes, there Was
appropriated:
.sKOr surveys ana resuryeys Of public lands,
ft5fU. st rates not exceeding - per linear mile
Tor standard and meander lines. S. for township,
sEd 81 for section lines; Provided, That IN ex-
pending this appropriation, pr ference sksll be
given u favor Of surveying townships occupied.
IN
lands granted % the states by the
art approved February 2, 1850, and the acts
approved July end July 10, is9o, and other sur
veys shall y confined to lands adapted 20 sgrs-
culture and lines of reservations: Provided
further. that the commissioner Of TIE general
land Office may allow. for the survey OF lands
heavily timbezed, mountainous, or covered with
dense underground rates not exceeding sI3 per
linear mite for standard and meander lines, sIl
for township, and q for section lines. or II. in
eases Of exceptional difficulties IN the
surveys, the work cannot be contracted
fer at these rates. compensation for sur
yeys and resuryeys may. be made BIZ the
said commissioner, with the approval OF the
secretary 81 the interior, az rates not exceeding
SIS per linear mile Tor standard and me4nder
lines, SIS Tor township, and 81 for section lines;
PROVIDED further that the commissioner OF the
general land Office may allow for the survey OF
lands heavily tirbered, mountainous, or eoy-
cred with dense underground. in the states OF
Oregon and Washington, rates not exceeding
Sls per linear mile for standard and meander
lines, SIS for township, and 2 for section lines"
The said act also provides that an amount not
exceeding Sc 90 tout Of the $1,000 appro-
priated for suryeysl may be exrended for exam
ination of surveysi in the field to test the accur-
acy OF the work and 10 prevent payment for
fraudulent and imperfect SURVEYS returned BY
deputy surveyors, etc.
From the sSs5 90 available for apportsonment
among the several surveying districts. there is
hereby appcrtioned TO the district Of, the
sum of g..
The fund provided for examinations win be
retained under the direct control Of this Office,
and expended IN the main for the maintenance
OF corps OF competent examiners who viii Re
detailed according 10 the exigencies OF the serv-
ice in the several surveying districts. few
cases may arise when il VIII be found more con-
venieut and less expensive TO hayeexaminations
made under the immediate supervision OF the
surveyor general, and IN such eases the question
o. tne assignment Q. sums ssfraclent 10 enable
the surveyor general TO have the examinations
made Will be considered
The Law requires that in expanding this au-
propriation preference shall be given IL favor Of
surveying townships occupied in whole or in
part by actual settlers, and Of lands granted to
the states By the act approved February - 1889
and the acts approved July 3 and July 10, lse0;
hence, IN taking measures for the letting OF con-
tracts it viii be your first duty 10 ascertain the
localities in which there are bona fle settlers
and the funds should De 50 applied as to benefit
the greatest possible number of settlers This
said provision To bona ide settlers viii not be
applicable 10 lands to be selected by the state of
Washington under the act OF February p. lss9
For several years past it has been the policy
OF this Office 20 prohibit the survey of forests or
heavily timbered lands fsee annual isstrI1ctions
dated April c. ISss), but IL is necessary under
the requirements Of this appropriation act, to
make some modification OF this restriction
There are IN some localities fine agricultural
lands, which although heavily timbered, are
occupied IN part BY bona nee settlers, who, at
great labor and expense, have improved the
lands and made for themselves pSrTaa-
neut homes 20 which they desire 10
obtain title. Whenever such eases arise, all
the iacte as 70 the character Of the lands. the
kinds and qualities of the timber. the number of
settlers, and the character and approximate
value OF their Improvements should be pre-
scented for the consideration OF this Office before
contrsctlzs sor the survey. Contracts will be
allowed for the survey OF timber lands only
well established and satisfactory proof given of
their occupation by bona fie settlers y no have
made permanent improvements
BY the terms Of the appropriation act the sur
veys except u such lands s. may be selected BY
the state under act Of February -, iss9l must be
eonnEed 70 lands adapted 10 agriculture and
lines 81 reservations With regard 20 the sur
sey Of public lands this restriction is construed
Is pertaining 10 subdiyisioBal SURVEYS, and II
VIII BE necessary IN some instances 20 extend
standard and township lines over inarable lands
in order 20 reach lands which ere adapted
10 agriculture and occupied by actual settlers
In order, however, hat the greatest possible
benefit may be derived from the appropriation
surveys. the apporaonmenf for your district
should be applied, far as practicable. TO the
survey Of such townships containing ara5le
lands and embracing settlements as are cOnfigff-
ons 10 existing lines, thus avoiding the expeudi-
ture OF an undue PORTION Of the available funds
for the survey OF standard lines.
Instructions heretofore issued require that
where contract embraces the subdivision OF a
township, the survey of such township must be
completed in its entirety, unless natural
obstacles render such completion absolutely
impossible. The object of this requirement lem
hyaccd in the annual instru tions OF ApYil &
lssSl, was 70 prevent the practice OF surveying
ne easier posilcns Of q township and emitting
the more difficult portions.
The carrying out OF this requirement might in
many eases neeesSiIate the survey OF portions OF
townships unnt ioE agricultural purposes and
such lands are not surveyabie under the apuro-
pTtation fer tire current fiscal year. Cases nav
arise, especially in mountainous regions where
not adapted 70 agricultural purposes.
wnlle the ars0e PORTION is Oecu-
pied By actual settlers: and as preference is 10
he given. under the law, % occupied lands
the regulations are So lar modified
IS 20 permit the survey OF the e3l
tivaaie portions OF townships IN which
uysble portions Unsurveyci. In Contracting f.1r
surveys ID mountainous regi0us or in : tract ~
eountrs Nhere yqu knew. or have reason N Rs,-
Hets, taEt portion Of the lands src unit for
agricultural purposes. ycu Win syeciallv ia
stTHct your deputies as - TIE legal requirement
- eonhne TIE surveys 10 lands sdapted 10 1sri-
culture, and direct them, II surveying town
ships containing both classes OF Eara ~ s,rse,1s
the 81 divisional lines over all the lands IN 80
township that can properly Be classsd as agri-
Contracts must state srocisc rases wh.,sv~-
practicable, contracts WIN be lei under exis-srS
regulations AZ not exceeding the minimum rs,es
fSs- So. tut You ulas. v hen neceSSarv s2IoyT
s compensation not exceeding the inferrsessj7+a
rates SIS 81 SIS named in the appropriation
set l0T the survey 81 The class oi lands ge- vhih
said FStes src provided. and IN letters transmit
ting contracts you viii stste fully, for tbs In
formation Of this once, your reasons for slow
icg such rates.
IN case OF demand for surveys for which
owing - exceptional difficulties 10 \. e1~o,9n
tered - The surveyor SaX rcFsS-fon exsexxsilsss
TIE intermediate rates must he paia Won WIZ