C.-Statement showing the surveys contracted for under appropriations applicable to the service for the fiscal year ending June

30, 1868.

29 June 3, 1867. Robert B. Willison.. Subdivision of townships 14 and 15 south, ranges 9 and 10

480

$10

$4,800

east; township 11 south, ranges 13 and 14 east; town-
ships 9 and 10 south, range 16 east.

30 June 3, 1867.

Hiram C. Fellows

486

$12

10

5, 112

31

June 11, 1867. Isaac C. Stuck.

Exterior boundaries of township 11 south, ranges 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 east; township 10 south, ranges
17 and 24 east; and subdivision of township 10 south,
ranges 17 and 24 east; township 11 south, ranges 17,
22, 23, and 24 east.
Exterior boundaries of townships 18, 19, and 20 south,
range 10 west; and subdivision of townships 16 and 17
south, range 13 west; township 17 south, range 12 west;
townships 18, 19, and 20 south, range 10 west; township
20 south, range 11 west; township 15 south, range

No. 18 F.

SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFice, Denver, Colorado Territory, July 10, 1867.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the official transactions of this office for the year ending June 30, 1867, together with an estimate for surveys for the year ending June 30, 1869, and such other information as, in the short time I have held the position of surveyor general of Colorado and Utah, has come under my notice.

Statement marked A shows the surveys made during the year ending June 30, 1867.

Statement marked B contains the surveys made under the 10th section of the act of May 30, 1862.

Statement marked C contains the surveys now under contract and in progress under the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868.

Statement marked D contains the amount of salaries paid the surveyor general and clerks for the year ending June 30, 1867, and incidental expenses of the office for the same period.

Statement marked E contains the number of townships surveyed during the year ending June 30, 1867, and area of public land contained in the same.

Estimates for surveys for the year ending June 30, 1867.

Estimate for surveys in mountains:

per

mile.....
mile..

398 miles of standard lines, at $25 844 miles of township lines, at $20 per 1,200 miles of subdivisional lines, at $18 per mile..

Total for surveys in mountains

Estimate for surveys on plains: 624 miles of standard lines, at $10 1,398 miles of township lines, at $8 3,000 miles of subdivisional lines, at $7

Total for surveys on plains...

per

mile.....

per

mile....

per mile....

21, 000 00

38,424 00

86,054 00

20,000 00
5, 000 00

25,000 00

Total estimate for the year ending June 30, 1867

3,000 00
2,000 00
1, 800 00
1,500 00
600 00

8, 900 00
2,000 00

10,900 00

121, 954 00

COLORADO.

The amount of the above estimates will appear large, but they are called for by the rapid completion of two lines of railroads, one of which is now running to a point in this Territory.

In relation to the surveys in the mountains the price allowed by law per mile is entirely inadequate to have the work done in a country so broken and mountainous, and presenting so many difficulties to be overcome by the surveyor as this. The price of the standard lines in the mountains should be at least twentyfive dollars per mile; exterior township lines twenty, and subdivisional lines eighteen, dollars per mile. This would be only sufficient to have the work completed in a proper manner.

I cannot too strongly urge the necessity of having the surveys extended over the mountains to the parks and mining claims, to enable the mining claims to be properly located. The timber lands in the mountains should be subdivided, as they are being rapidly depleted of their timber for the mines and building purposes. They could be readily sold, while, if depleted of their timber, they would be of little or no value.

During the year ending June 30, 1869, it will be found necessary to extend the surveys along the line of the Union Pacific railroad, eastern division, and that alone will require an increased appropriation to enable the work to be done. The Union Pacific railroad is now completed and in running order to Julesburg, in this Territory, one hundred and eighty miles northeast of Denver, which point they expect to reach during the summer of 1868.

The Union Pacific railroad, eastern division, is completed and in running order to Fort Ellsworth, about three hundred miles east of Denver, which point they also expect to reach during July, 1868.

This will give to this Territory two routes eastward, and will open the country and induce immigration to the fine lands of Colorado.

Gold and silver.-Of the gold and silver one can form no idea of the wealth of the deposits in this Territory, and as soon as a method of separating the different metals in a less expensive manner is adopted, large results will follow. I have had too little time to make a full report on this important subject. But my predecessor in his last able report has entered so fully into the subject, that I have nothing to add.

The mines have not fully recovered from the effects of the late depression, owing in a great measure to reckless speculation. But I am convinced that when fully developed the mines of Colorado will be found second to none in riches.

Coal.-Coal exists in large quantities and has been traced and opened along the base of the mountains, and the indications are that an extensive basin exists underlying a large extent of territory eastward from the mountains. The quality is good. It makes an excellent gas and steam coal, and some of it could be used for smelting iron.

I consider the coal deposits one invaluable to this country, and time will so prove it.

Iron.-Iron is found in abundance along the base of the mountains and at some distance from them, and with abundance of coal found near to it, will prove in time invaluable. As yet no effort has been made to any extent to work it, owing to the high price of labor.

GENERAL REMARKS ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTRY.

My predecessor in his last report estimated the number of acres of land capable of cultivation in the Territory at 4,000,000 of acres. It is a fact that all the land that can be irrigated is susceptible of cultivation and produces well.