The mountain streams fall very rapidly, and thus can be carried by irrigating ditches to cover immense quantities of land, and I am led to believe that at least 10,000,000 of acres of land can be cultivated. The crops last year were good. It was the first year, I am told, that sufficient produce had been raised to supply the demands of the Territory. The present year farming is being carried on with success, the grasshoppers, the great dread of the farmer, having done but little damage to the crops. Wheat, oats, barley, corn, potatoes, &c., all look well and promise an abundant yield, and I predict that it will be but a few years until this Territory will produce more than enough to supply her wants. UTAH. No appropriation for surveys in this Territory was made by Congress for the year ending June 30, 1867. This Territory is being rapidly settled, and I deem it to be the best interest of the government to have the land surveyed and a land office established in the Territory, as a large amount of land is under cultivation and settlers are anxious to obtain title to the lands. It would also encourage immigration, which is the best method of doing away with the peculiar institutions of the country. The rapid settlement of the country should urge the necessity of making an appropriation for surveys in this Territory. My predecessor, in his last annual report for the year ending June 30, 1866, recommended a small appropriation for retracing the lines of public survey. I would also recommend an appropriation of five thousand dollars to have the lines retraced and to enable the surveyor general to superintend it in person, and also an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars for surveys in this Territory. The northern and eastern boundary line of the Territory of Colorado should be established by survey, as it is difficult to determine what portion of the lands along the line of the Union Pacific railroad are in this Territory. Hoping this may meet with your approval, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JOSEPH S. WILSON, W. H. LESSIG, Surveyor General Colorado and Utah. Commissioner of the General Land Office, Washington, D. C. A.-Statement of surveys made under the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867. No. of con B.-Statement of surveys made under the act of Congress approved May 30, 1862. C.-Statement showing surveys contracted for under the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868. D.-Statement showing the amount of salaries paid surveyor general and clerks for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867; also incidental expenses for same period. E.-Statement showing the number of townships surveyed during the year ending June 30, 1867, and the area of public land contained in the same. E.-Statement showing the number of townships surveyed, &c.-Continued. Annual report of the surveyor general of Nevada, 1866-'67. Virginia City, Nevada, August 5, 1867. SIR: In compliance with instructions from the department, I herewith submit my annual report, in duplicate, in reference to the surveys executed in the State of Nevada, and other operations of this office, during the year ending June 30, 1867. I also forward statements of the business appertaining to this surveying department, to accompany the report, as follows, to wit: A.-Statement of contracts entered into during the year 1866-'67. B.-Statement of account of appropriation for the survey of public lands in the State of Nevada to June 30, 1867. C.-Statement of account of appropriation for compensation of the United States surveyor general, and the employés in his office, during the fiscal year 1866-'67. D.-Statement of account of appropriation for rent of office, fuel, books, stationery and other incidental expenses, including pay of messenger, for the fiscal year 1866-'67. E.-Statement of plats made in the office of the United States surveyor general of Nevada for the fiscal year 1866-'67. F-List of lands surveyed in Nevada during the fiscal year 1866-'67. G-Estimates for the surveying service in the district of Nevada for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869. In addition to the office work, as set forth in the foregoing statement, the employés, consisting of a chief clerk, draughtsman, and messenger, have been engaged in the following duties, viz: 1. Making a new map of the State of Nevada. 2. Copying correspondence of this office. 3. Making out contracts in triplicate. 4. Making sketches to accompany contracts of public surveys. 5. Keeping in order the records, plats and field-notes of public surveys. 6. Making out quarterly accounts and certificates to vouchers. 7. Posting the books of accounts and records appertaining to the business of the office. The State of Nevada was formerly connected with and under the jurisdiction of the surveyor general of the State of California, but a separate department having been formed, the office of surveyor general for Nevada was filled by my predecessor, William B. Thornburgh, esq, he having taken possession of the office on the 27th day of November, 1866, and held the same until I assumed the duties of the office on the 17th day of May, 1867. During my predecessor's administration very little business had been transacted, and on entering upon the duties of my office I found it expedient to rent suitable rooms and furnish the same for the transaction of business. In order to be able to act from personal knowledge in reference to future surveying operations, I have recently travelled extensively throughout the State, and find the localities most needing an extension of the public surveys to be embraced within the Humboldt, Paradise, and Quin's River valleys, comprising the richest agricultural districts of the State. Paradise valley coutains about 40,000 acres of excellent land, producing of wheat from thirty to sixty bushels, and of barley from forty to eighty bushels It is connected with the main Humboldt river by a small stream per acre. called the Little Humboldt, and extends north from the main river about fifty miles. It contains quite a large settlement, and is rapidly increasing in population. To accommodate this section of the country I have let a contract to William Epler to survey the Humboldt river guide meridian, commencing at the fourth standard parallel north, running north between ranges 35 and 36 From this meridian, township, and subdivision lines east to the Oregon line. can be extended over the best portion of the agricultural and mineral lands of that part of the district which commands immediate attention. Extending up the Humboldt river, on either side, are many other productive valleys, but settlements have thus far been retarded on account of the hostility of the Indians. I deem it advisable to run a guide meridian as soon as possible from the fourth standard parallel north, commencing on the Reese River valley and running south to the first standard parallel north. From this meridian township lines can be run over the agricultural lands of Reese river, Smoky and Monitor valleys, also over the rich mineral lands of Lander and Nye counties. There is urgent, necessity for the survey of Carson River valley; it will be embraced in one tier of townships until the river reaches the region of Carson lake, when the country spreads out into a level plain 20 to 25 miles in length, and from 18 to 25 miles in width, all of which can be made very productive by irrigation, the river affording an abundance of water for this purpose at a convenient distance. There are many settlers upon these lands, all of whom are desirous of obtaining titles from the government. very I consider it important to extend the first, second, and third standard parallels and township lines over Walker river and other valleys in Douglas and Esmeralda counties, and subdivide the same. I have recently contracted with R. R. W. Norris to complete the unfinished exterior and subdivision lines of townships 16, 17, and 18 north, range 21 east. The great Comstock lode and the cities of Virginia and Gold Hill are included in these townships, and I deemed it of the utmost importance to extend these surveys as speedily as possible, in order to connect the mining with the public surveys. There are a succession of small and productive valleys embraced between the fourth standard, Pyramid lake, and the California State line; and in view of the early completion of the Central Pacific railroad to this point, the rapid increase in population, and a general desire on the part of the settlers to obtain titles to their lands, I consider it necessary for the public good to prosecute this survey to its completion at the earliest date. Regarding the rapid progress towards completion of the Central Pacific railroad through the State, it is important that the lines of surveys should be extended over the Humboldt and adjacent valleys, from the Humboldt guide meridian to the Utah line; these valleys embrace from fifty to sixty townships of land, most of which, by irrigation, is susceptible of the highest order of culti vation. It will be necessary to extend the fourth standard parallel to the Utah line, |