Lewiston evening teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1900, 1900-08-30
SURVEYS IN IDAHO.
Report Of Surveyor General PerreuIt on the
Work Done Ia the Past Year.

Surveyor General Perrault has recently
prepared his report of surveying opera
tons in this state, during the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1900.
1t appears that commendable progress
has been, and is being made, in public
surveys, whereby large areas are opened
for settlement. During the year 81 town.
ships have been surveyed, in whole or in
part, embracing SS6,7o3o3 acres. The
total area of the state is given as 55,22S,
90 acres; the portion surveyed is 1896
o94, leaving unsurveyed 3o,9I2 900.
Contracts for surveys have been award
ed, aggregating the expenditure of $54,-
42I, which it is believed is the largest
sum ever expended in Idaho for a like
purpose during one year. Extensive sur
veys are now i'll progress or will be made
this year in Kootenai, Shoshone, Latah,
Washington, Boise, Fremont, Bannock,
Bingham, Oneida and Bear Lake counties
from which it appenrs that no portion
of the state has been neglected in provid-
ing for surveys.
A large portion of he surveys executed
in 1898 and 1899 were critically examined
during the fiscal year just ended, by
special agents of the general land Office,
and but one small contract covering less
than one township was found erroneous.
This will be most gratifying to settlers
who have applied for surveys, aud others
interested, when large number of de-
fective surveys in other states are con-
sivered.
The surveyor general pays high
tribute to the ability, energy and impair
TALLY of the examiners of surveys.
The opinion is expressed that the rules
of the general land Office requiring affi-
davits from settlers requesting the survey
of unsurveyed land should be changed
somewhat to meet the local conditions.
They are doubtless entirely appropriate
in many surveying districts wher COM
paratively little of the public domain re-
mains unsurveyed, but in Idaho, with
only one-third of the state surveyed, a
more liberal policy should prevail A
large number of settlers live in isolated
regions, many miles from any surveys,
and cannot intelligently submit their APP
plications until after standard or meri-
dian lines shall have been extended to
reasonable proximity to their homes. A
short time ago six settlers requested, in
due form, the survey oftwo isolated town.
ships, and after they had been surveyed,
which necessiated running Is miles of a
standard, it was found that but one of
them lived in either township.
Surveys should also be authorized
whenever the proper officials of any
county report that there are settlers upon
unsurveyed land in their county who re-
fuse to apply for surveys so that they may
escape their just burden of taxation.
There has been unusual activity in all
matters pertaining to the survey of min
eral claims. Twenty-six deputy mineral
surveyors have been appointed during
the past year and ISL mines have been
surveyed and the necessary office work
performed i'll connection Herewith, in
volving the preparation of 6oI plats and
i2o held note transcripts. The Occur d.
Alene district still ranks first, as in past
years, with the Buffalo Hump district
close second.
AS the usual cost of obtaining patent
for mineral claim approximates S4oo,
which would involve the expenditure of
100000 for all the claims surveyed, it is
evident that the mineral resources of
Idaho are attracting much attention.
Boise Statesman.