Graham guardian., 1911-03-24
LAND SURVEYS FREE
Information Of Interest to Ap-
plicants for the Survey
Of Public Lands

1t is a matter of general interest
to prospective applicants for the
survey of public lands that Congress
annually appropriates the approxi-
mate sum of 100000 for the sur
vey and resurvey of the public lands
Of the United States, which sum is
apportioned among thirteen western
States and Territories according to
the requirements of these respective
districts.
Under existing law. the expendi-
ture of the annual appropriation for
public surveys is restricted, first, to
lands occupied in whole or in part
by actual settlers on the public do
main, and second, to lands adapted
to agriculture. It will, therefore. be
seen that the applications of actual
bona fide settlers will be given pref
erence in the matter of authorizing
the surveys of townships, payable
from this regular annual appropria-
ton. and that applications by per-
sons not actually residing on their
claims, such as desert land claimants.
for the survey of public lands in
cluding their claims will receive con-
sideration only after the demands
of actual settlers on other lands
have been recognized, and provided
the fund annually apportioned for
each district has not been exhausted.
In making application for the sur
vey of public lands the applicant
should carefully determine as near
as practicable, the approximate Sec
tion, township and range in which
his claim is located and he should
describe in detail all improvements
which he has made on his claim.
The application of one bona fide
resident in a township, where there
are no other settlers, will be suf-
ficient to secure the survey of
twelve sections of that township;
the applications of two such resi-
dent settlers will secure the survey
of twenty-four sections; and the ap-
plicatioEs of three such settlers will
secure the survey of thirty-six Sec
tions in order to include their claims.
1t would be advisable for each ap-
plicant to have two or more settlers
who are Lying within the township
to make similar applications for sur
vey, and the government prefers to
survey all of the agricultural and
grazing lands within a township in
the first instance in order to avoid
the additional expenses that would
be incident to the survey of por-
tions of that township at different
times.
Public land surveys whose cost is
payable from the regular annual ap-
preparation, when authorized by the
commissioner of the general land
Office, are made without cost to the
settler, the government paving all
expenses in connection Herewith.
The contract system of surveying
public lands no longer obtains.
Since July /, 1910, the public land
surveys have been executed by sal
aried u. S. surveyors or transitmen.
under the supervision of the general
land Office and the u. S. Surveyor
General for the district in which the
lands are situate. 1t is expected
that, under this new system, many
of the delays, which were frequent
ly experienced in the final accept
ance of surveys under the old sys-
tenn will be avoided.
The claims of all applicants for
the survey Of public lands are ex-
amined in the field by an agent of
the government, appointed for that
purpose, in order to determine the
good faith, actual residence, ETC., of
the applicant. If such field exami-
nation reveals the fact that the set
tiers claim is not located in the
township stated in his application,
he should Immediately file a new
application, properly describing the
location of his claim therein. 1t,
therefore behooves the applicant to
be on the lookout for the special
agent and ascertain from him
whether his application has been
correctly executed.
Surveys of homestead entries
within the limits of National Forests
may be executed under the juris-
diction of the surveyor general at
the expense of the claimant, in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the
Act of Congress approved June IL,
1906.
Further instructions relative to
the method of procedure in the
matter of securing the survey of
the public lands will be cheerfully
given in reply to communications
requesting specific information.
FRANK S. INGALLS,,
Surveyor General of Arizona.
Phoenix, Arizona, Mar. Is, 1911.
----se~-