No. 17.-Estimates of appropriations required for surveying the public lands for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869.

5. For surveying the public lands in Kansas, at rates not exceeding $10 per mile for standard lines, $6 for township, and $5 for section lines.

10. For surveying the public lands in Arizona Territory, at rates not exceeding $15 per mile for standard lines, $12 for township, and $10 for section lines..

15, 000 00

15,000 00

Total

EXPLANATION OF THE FOREGOING ESTIMATES.

1. $20,000 here estimated is to be applied to the survey of pine lands on the Upper Mississippi river, and other public lands, in the western and southwestern portions of the State,
required for immediate settlements.
2. $15,000 is estimated for the extension of the lines of public surveys north of Yancton Indian reservation, lying between Dakota and Missouri rivers, and other localities required
for actual settlements.

3. $25,000 is estimated for the survey of standard and township lines in the mineral regions, and for the subdivision of agricultural lands to meet the actual demand of settlers.
4. $50,000 is estimated for surveys along the Platte river, in view of the obligations on the part of the government along the line of the Union Pacific railroad from Omaha to the
Pacific ocean, and for the survey of other parts of the State needed for settlement.
5. $40,000 is estimated for the survey of public lands up the Smoky Hill fork, along and contiguous to the Union Pacific railroad, and such other portions of the State already set-
tled upon and awaiting the extension of the lines of public surveys.

6. $40,000 herein estimated is to be applied to the extension of the standard lines to the Parks within the Rocky mountains, for surveying township and section lines therein, and
for the subdivision of townships falling within the railroad grant along the northern boundary of Colorado.

7. $50,000 is estimated for the survey of Ruby Valley guide meridian, extension of the fourth standard parallel north, township and subdivision of the public lands embraced
within the limits of the Central Pacific railroad grant, and sundry other valleys containing actual settlements.

8. $25,000 is estimated for the extension of the lines of public surveys to the mineral districts, and for running township and subdivisional lines in different valleys affording agricul.
tural lands, and in great demand for actual settlements.
9. $5,000 is estimated for continuing the survey of base, meridian, township, and section lines in such portions of the Territory as will be found demanding public lands for actual
settlements.
10. $5,000 is estimated for the extension of the base, meridian, and standard parallels to the mineral districts, and for the survey of township and section lines in localities compris.
ing agricultural lands.

11. $50,000 is estimated for the survey of the public lands situated within the limits of the Central Pacific railroad grant, and other grants for similar purposes in the State, and to
meet demands of settlers in different portions thereof.

12. $25,000 is estimated for the extension of the lines of public surveys along the railroad routes from Eugene City to the eastern boundary of the State; Corvallis to the Acquina bay, on the Pacific, and from Albany to Cañon City, and for the survey of other parts of the State requiring the surveys.

13. $15,000 is estimated for the survey of guide meridian and standard parallels through the Colville valley, and for the survey of township and section lines in said valley, as well as in the vicinity of Columbia river, below Priest's rapids, on the Upper Yakama, and on Puget's sound.

14. $5,000 is estimated for additional surveys in the mineral regions of Utah Territory and for retracing and re-establishing obliterated lines of former surveys, and thereby enable
the surveys of cities and towns out boundaries to be adjusted with the lines of public surveys.

15, 16, 17, 18. These respective sums are estimated for surveying and determining the boundaries of States and Territories involving astronomical work, and marking the same con-
spicuously on the face of the earth, in order to afford the necessary and certain limits of the several jurisdictions, and to close on those boundaries the lines of public surveys now rapidly
approaching them. Mining interests and their adjudication by the respective courts of law, as well as political and civil jurisdictions, imperatively demand the ascertainment and perpet-
uation of those boundaries.

NOTE.-By the act of Congress approved May 30, 1862, the power of fixing the rates per mile for surveys is expressly delegated to the Commissioner, but "'in no case to exceed the maximum established by law." It is hence his duty to reduce the rates under the maximum stipulated in the estimates, according as circumstances may allow, and therefore the maxi. mum, in said estimates, are by no means to be considered as the controlling rates.

REMARK.-No estimates are here submitted for the survey of Indian and other reservations contemplated by the 6th section of the act of Congress approved April 8, 1864, (Statutes, vol. 13, page 41,) as such estimates should more appropriately emanate from the Office of Indian Affairs, whose province it is to determine the localities and extent of such reservations, as the Indian office was advised by letter of the 31st August last from the Commissioner of the General Land Office. JOS. S. WILSON, Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, General Land Office, September 2, 1867.

No. 18 A.

SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFIce,

St. Paul, Minn., September 9, 1867.

SIR: In accordance with your instructions I have the honor to submit the following report of the progress of the public surveys in this district, and also of the office-work performed since the date of my last annual report, accompanied by the usual tabular statements relating thereto.

Of the field-work undertaken and uncompleted at the date of my last report the whole was completed within the time fixed in the contracts, the notes approved, and the plats and transcripts of same transmitted.

During the mouths of September and October, 1866, after notice was received of the appropriation of July 28, of same year, small contracts were made with Messrs. O. E. Garrison, George E. Stuntz, and Charles W. Christmas, deputy surveyors. Mr. Garrison completed his contract, but, owing to the lateness of the season and other causes, the other two deputies were unable to fully complete their work, and, with the consent of the Commissioner, a portion of their contracts was cancelled.

On the 22d of September, 1866, George B. Wright, deputy surveyor, was instructed to subdivide township 130 north, of ranges 38 and 39 west, which surveys were completed by him, notes returned, approved, and transmitted.

The deputies sent into the field this season were considerably retarded in their operations in consequence of continued rains and high water during the first of the season, but are now making good progress, and it is believed they all will be able to complete their work within the time to which they are limited by their contracts. The tables herewith transmitted will show the progress made by them to this date, as far as known at this office.

The usual annual examinations of trespasses on the public lands were made early in the spring, and a thorough exploration of all the logging districts shows that the depredations were not very extensive, and it is believed that all are discovered. Collections will be made as fast as possible, and I expect to be. able to collect nearly the whole amount during the next two months.

Immigration to this State during the past and present season has been very large, consisting, to a great extent, of a farming population, many of whom are crowding beyond the surveyed portion of the State; and I take the liberty of urging the fact that the estimates for the surveying service in this district, herewith submitted, is the least amount that could be asked for consistent with the public interest. In addition to the information furnished by the several tabular statements herewith transmitted, the following summary of the office-work performed since the date of the last annual report is given:

The original notes of three thousand (3,000) miles of subdivisional surveys have been examined and platted, and the contents of the fractional lots calculated and placed on the maps and copies.

One hundred and forty-six (146) township plats have been made, including the originals, the Commissioner's, and the registers'.

The original notes of four hundred and twenty-eight (428) miles of standard. and township lines have been examined and approved, diagrams of the same constructed, and transmitted with transcript of field-notes.

Three thousand three hundred and fifty (3,350) pages of transcripts for the department and for record in this office have been made, the same compared, and indexed with full title page to each township.

One hundred and four (104) townships of descriptive notes, giving the establishment of the exterior and interior corner boundaries, with description of soil, timber, &c., have been prepared, compared with the originals, and transmitted to the local land offices or filed in this office.

The usual and necessary amount of office-work, such as preparing contracts, notes, and diagrams, for the use of deputies, the correspondence and recording of same, making out deputies' and other accounts, has been performed. A cousiderable amount of time is necessarily required in clerical duties connected with the timber trespasses, and much time has been consumed in preparing a map of this surveying district, as directed by the Commissioner. This map will not be ready. to forward with this report, but will be transmitted during the present month. The several statements, estimates, and map accompanying this report are as follows:

A.-Amount, character, locality, and present condition of the surveys in the field. B.-Original, Commissioner's, and registers' plats made and copied, with date of transmission.

C.-Estimate of appropriation for surveys for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869. D.-Estimate of appropriation for salaries for the fiscal year ending June 30,1869. E. Abstract account of the incidental expenses of the office from July 1, 1866, to June 30, 1867.

G.-Statement showing the number of townships surveyed and acres of land

therein.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. JOSEPH S. WILSON,

L. NUTTING, Surveyor General.

Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C.