The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-19
PUBLIC LAND SURVEYS.
Congressman Wilson's Appeal for n
Appropriation-Wash ington's Wealth.

Congressman Wilson's Appeal for an
Appropriation-Washi Wealth.
WASHINGTON City, May 1S-rSpecial. l.
The speech of Representative Wilson, Of
the state Of Washington, when the sun
dry civil bill was under consideration was
one Of the ables. delivered, and particu-
larry referred to the need for an appropria-
ton for surveys in public land states of
the Union. Mr.. Wilson said, in part:
Tho Forty-nnth congress, commencing with
Mr.. Cleveland's administration, appropriated
for surveys the sum of $4,000. The Fiftieth
congress appropriated for the same purpose the
sum of $4,000. do not find that in making
these several appropriations they in any man.
ner cut down the expenses of the surveyor gen.
erals Office. Had they done so 1t would have
caused the dismissal OF many Democratic en-
ployes, and we therefore find by the record that
they appropriated large sum for the surveyor
generals clerks and their offices, and only a
small amount for the work in the field. 1t
seems to me 10 have been q practical i,lustra-
| ton OF extravagant economy to appropriate
| ouly a small amount of money for work in the
| field and large amount to examine that work
| IL the Office Not to do the work. but simply to
| superintend ii; simply to let the contracts;
| simply to get others to do it. undertake to say
| that there is not business man in the world
| who, IL he should attempt to pay out
| large amount of money to compen-
| safe agents to hire others to do the
| work, would not only be regarded as unfit
to transact business, but fit subject to be taken
before a commission Of lunscy. Yet, Mr. Chair.
| man. this is exactly what the Forty-ninth anu
| FIftieth congresses provided for.
| The state of Washington received out OF these
| appropriations of the Forty ninth and Fiftieth
| congresses sio,9O0 for public surveys. The then
! surveyor general OF the state of Wsshiugton-
Mr. Breckenridge, of Arkansas-came to Wash
| ington and urged additional appropriations but
could get no satisfaction Whatever. The result
was that he was enabled to survey in those four
years with the amount of money assigned to
him little over 10000 acres OF land. During
that time, so rapid was the settlement and so
great was the immigration 20 the state of Wash
ington, the settlers segregated from the public
domain an amount equal almost to 100000
acres. So that owing to the failure OF the adj
ministraton OF ut. Cleveland and OF the Demo-
cratic House OF Representatives to appropriate
sufficient money Tor surveys of the olic land
SO a. to keep the surveys abreast with the settle
ment, the amount that had heretofore been sur.
veyed was segregated from the pubic domain.
and when the state was admitted into tina
Union il was found impossible to make the Sc.
lections for the various educational institutions
above mentioned.
The Fittytivst congress, realizing the i'm.
poriance OF this matter, appropriated in the first
session s425.0e0; of this sum the state of WASH
ington received $4,000. Twenty-six contracts
were awarded By the United States surveyor
genersl the total liabilities of which aggregated
ss49l0.1S In the second session of the Fifty.
first congress 500 600 was appropriated, OF which
sum the state of Washington alone received
S65,CO0, and contracts have been let Tor this
amount
Living in the West l have had some expert
ence with the policy pursued by Mr.. Cieveland's
administration as applied to that section OF the
hat o. m nfctr i'm, ,,..ih a,S
an insane desire to draw into endless confusion
the entire land system and land laws of the
United states as applicable 10 the West The
land laws enacted by the congress of the
United states were, By the mere click of the
wires across the continent, suspended, and an
army o: special agents sent forth 70 harrass an
nov. bedevil and belittie the men who were
building signal stations of civilization upon the
plains o. the great Northwest
Officials were sent 10 Us from all parts Of the
country, and 80 overbearing did they become in
their conduct that it became necessary fo- the
commissioner of the general land office TO issue
circular insisting that they should conduct
their Offices in proper ma inner, giving such in
formation a. the people desired and not forget
ting that they were in some measure represent.
atlyes Of the administration which had sp-
pointed them.
West of the Cascade mountains in the state Of
Wash ngton, lies the great forest OF the West.
and the denses; growth of tiTnber known in the
world. The Western Washington forest con.
tains 5, 800 square miles. Il averages 10000 )0
feeI 70 the square mile, and that produces The
enormous amount of $500. 10000 of feet of
understandable timber, and au within twenty
five miles of the finest harbor in the world
In tact, sir. this country of the Nississiput
river, which, within tie memory of many within
hearing Of my voice. was considered sn arid
belt, is now contributing annually to the uar-
ke.s OF the world eoa,ooo 900 bushels of cereals
California from the discovery OF gold. has pro.
ouced $issoo,olo.ooo OF that metal. Idaho has