The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-28
HIS NEGLECTED DUTY
Investigating Charges Against
Surveyor Cayanaugh.
REPORT NOT YET Pusl,c.
The Accused OMcfal Explains the MAT
ter Of surveys in the Okanogaa
Country. Justifying Himself.

oLyHpIA, Feb. 27.-fspecialJ -ynspectors
HARRISON and Davis have been here for some
time, examining the Office Of Surveyor General
Cavanaugh- They decline 70 state what are
their Instructions, or, indeed, If they acting
under special instructions Of any kind from the
government The surveyor general has. Of
course, afforded them access to his books, and
they have pursued their inquiries In their own
way. What are their conclusions Ii known only
to themselves.
The following letter explains itself:
OFFICE or y. 8. SuKvgRoR GENERAL,
STATE or WASHINGTON,
OLYMPIA, Feb. ., 1917
Commerce, spoiane Fails W.sh.gbsar ST.: i
am In receipt OF your letter OF the 18th inst rea-
tive TO the request OF the Chamber OF Commerce
veys In Okanogan county, and hasten to reply
thereto.
desirs to assure you that everything in my
0kxnogan county, so as to meet the necessities
and conyenienees of the settlers In that county.
Before entering upon the details Of the situa-
sion which prevails in the minds Of many per-
sons. settlers upon lands desiring them sur
yeyed and their friends who desire 70 assist
them In securing the surveyA
It is the belief of many that the surveyor. gem
any part Of the state. let the contracts therefor
and have the localities surveyed forthwith.
The fact is the surveyor general ID intrusted
with neither power nor discretion. He IL simply
transmitting medium of the interior depart
nent general land office. selected from the citi-
zens Of the several states and stationed In their
ton.
given township, such az In its preparation com
plies with the instructions of the department,
no surveys whatever can be considered. no mat
be or the needs OF the settlers.
A petition for the survey Of township must
comply substantially with the following In.
.In regard to applications for the survey OF
public lands, there Is no especial form required.
For each township separate application Is
te sne, da the suvcy desired under
should so state, requesting to be furnished with
an estimate Of the cost OF survey and Office
der the special deposit system are not Necessary.
as the regular appropriation Is sufdcient for all
legitimate surveys.
"The particular township and range must be
tiers therein under the presumption or home.
stead laws of the United states; that they are
well acquainted With the character and condi-
ton OF the land included in said township and
that the same Is not mineral or reserved BY the
government.
"The application must also state the n umbe, of
settlers in the township, and particularly de-
scribe the land sought to be surveyed, whether
the same il heavily timbered, mount
ainons OF covered with dense under.
when the timber and dense underground Il
removed, giving the kinds, quality and ouan-
tity OF timber: what portion of the township, II
any, 10 unit for survey.
"TheSe statements must be verified by the in.
dividual, separate afdayits OF actual settlers to
accompany the application for survey as TO the
character and duration of their inhabitancy of
the land, the extent and value of their improve
ments, the uses made Of the land and the auan.
uty under cultivation, that the land, when the
timber and dense underground is removed 10
good agricultural land; that the application for
survey is made in good faith and not for the pur-
pose OF enabling surveying contract to be OBJ
tanned, nor at the instance, in the interest or
for the benefit of any other person.
''Ihc application ana accompanying afIidayits
Will be submitted 70 the department, II in proper
form, with my recommendation that survey be
authorized.
"When the survey is authorized under the
special deposit system the appi lants will be in
formed OF the amount necessary for cost of sur
vey and Office work, and upon the proper deposit
being made contract will be entered into for the
execution of the survey.
"Al applications for surveys must be made to
the United States surveyor general of Wash
The status Of the surveys in okanosan county
is this
The districts containing the settlements are
distant from and not connected with the exist
ing public surveys already completed. Accord
township desired surveyed must be connected
with existing public surveys or no application
for survey can be considered.
To place the settled portion OF Okanogan
county in condition to have townships sub
divided OK surveyed asked the commissioners
OF the general land office for authority to extend
range line as base from which the Okanogan
and Methow valleys could be surveyed. / give
the letter here so that you may exactly under.
stand the situation: