Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-07-16
SURVEYOR GENERAL'S WORK
Gen. Easley Has Submitted His Annual
Report to Commissioner of the
General Land Office.
TIMELY AND IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS
Land Department Urged to Ask Con-
gress to Pass Law Opening Re-
served Mineral Lands on
Grants to Entry.

1IdulS 10 GHCTy.
A representative of the New MEXICAN
WIS recently permitted to examine the
annual report of Surveyor General Easley
of New Mexico, to the commissioner Of
the general land office for the fiscal yeal
ending June so, 1896. 1t is most com
plete and interesting document, and, as
might be expected, reflects credit upon
the Office whence it emanates.
1t sets forth that during the said fiscal
year eight contracts we're awarded for the
survey of ordinary public lands, private
land claims confirmed by the United
States SQUIRT of private land claims and
public lands lying within the limits of
land grants made by congress to aid in
the construction of railroads. Detailed
information regarding these surveys is
given.
The report also shows in detail that
4,272 letters, documents, plats, field notes
and other papers were prepared, briefed
and recorded in the office during the fiscal
year just closed.
During the year the amount of $1,355
was deposited with the surveyor-general
on account of the survey and amended
survey of mining claims, and applica-
tions were duly made for the survey
of fifty-two mining claims and amended
survey of six mining claims.
Reference is made to the fact that a
former report showed that some progress
had been made in the preparation of
tion of the mineral surveys therein, but,
for lack of sufficient clerical force during
the last fiscal year, the Office has been
unable to continue this important work.
There are now thirty townships for which
such diagrams have not been prepared.
There are 1872 mining districts in New
Mexico, twenty three of which have been
plated, leaving balance of ninety-nine
districts implanted because of Insufficient
clerical force to perform the work.
COURT OF PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS.
During the year covered by the report
the United States court of private land
claims has passed upon the validity of
four private land claims, two of which
have been confirmed and two rejected.
There are still pending 1863 cases to be
acted upon by that court
Fifteen private land claims have been
surveyed during the year under decree of
said court confirming same and four Of
these surveys have been approved by the
court and the plats and transcripts duly
transmitted to the general land office.
Deputy Surveyor Russell B. Rice con-
tinued the survey of the allotments made
under the Las Vegas grant until May 81,
1896, when the work was discontinued in
compliance with instructions from the
general land office, but no report OF Mr..
Rce's Investigations up to the date men
toned has yet been filed.
Touching the important subject of
mineral contained within the boundaries
of land grants, the New MEXICAN makes
the appended verbatim extract from the
survey or. generals report:
"rhe act of congress of March 3, 1891,
entitled 'An act to establish court of pri-
vate land claims and to provide for the
settlement of private land claims in GER
tain states and terrtories,' provides
among other things that mo allowance or
confirmation of any claim shall confer any
right or title to any gold, silver or quick
silver mines or mineral of the same, un-
less the grant claimed effected the dona-
ton or sale of such mines or minerals to
the grantee, or unless such grantee has be-
come otherwise entitled thereto in law or
in equity; but all such mines and miner
ais shall remain the property of the
United States, with the right of working
the same, which fact shall be stated in all
patents issued under this act. But no
such mines shall be worked on any prop
erty confirmed under this act without the
consent of the owner Of such property
until specifically authorized thereto by an
act of congress hereafter passed.
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION NEEDED.
"No act of congress has been passed
giving persons the right to work the
mines or minerals on grants confirmed
under this act. A large number of per-
sons in this district have made locations
of mining claims upon lands, which are
or will be included within the boundaries
of grants confirmed under said act, and
it seems to me, that in Justice to said
locators, and to carry out the intentions
of the said act of March 3, 1891, vigorous
action should be taken by the land de-
partment with view of securing the
passage of an act of congress giving
miners the right to work the minerals re-
served in the confirmation of grants by
the said court of private land claims.
"There has already been litigation in the
courts respecting mining claims located
upon such lands, and the question is at.
tracing good deal of attention here.
'In view of the Importance of this mat
ter to many of the residents of this ter.
ritory, as we'll as non-residents who are
engaged in the mining business in this
district, I earnestly urge that action be
taken therein at the earliest practicable
date"
The report continues that there have
been 3,205 small holding land claims filed
in the office under the provisions of the
act of March 3, 1891, as amended February
81, 1895, for tracts of land not exceeding
100 acres each. Contracts have been
awarded for the survey of such small hold
ings, which are of such irregular shape
that claimants can not readily secure their
by entry by legal subdivisions
of the public land surveys. Such of said
claims as are located in townships here
tofore uns0rveyed, and found to be valid
upon investigation, are being surveyed
as the lines of public surveys are extend
I'd on such townships.