Do.

Aug. 6, 1872

James M. Page

July 15, 1874

Lewis Fullhart et al.

632

203

May 14, 1878

6 west.

206

May 24, 1878

deputy surveyor for the thorough and faithful performance of his duties, and contrast very unfavorably with those paid by other governments. I could cite several instances to prove this statement, but confine myself to referring to the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, as the one nearest at hand. There, under the contract system, the price paid to deputy surveyors for field work is seven cents per acre. In this surveying district, as previously stated in this report, the amount paid is about two and eight-tenths cents per acre.

INSPECTION OF SURVEYS.

During the past spring and early summer, in accordance with the requirements of section 2223, United States Revised Statutes, I personally inspected a large portion of the work in the field, then under contract, satisfying myself that the same had been faithfully executed in accordance with the law and instructions. In this connection I desire to state that, in my judgment, the provision of law above referred to requiring the surveyor general, "so far as is compatible with the desk duties of his office," to "occasionally inspect the surveying operations in the field," is a very wise one. Such inspections by the surveyor-general are a direct check upon any possible carelessness or neglect of duty upon the part of the deputy surveyor; his willingness, thus shown to all the employés in his district, to personally endure the discomforts and often hardships of field work, tends to increase the efficiency of the service; and it gives him an opportunity to acquire a personal knowledge of the wants of his surveying district, which could not be obtained in any other way. Deputy Surveyor De Lacy, in the letter above referred to, says, relative to inspections:

"The surveys should be thoroughly inspected. The inspector should come to the ground either when the surveyor is there or directly after, should test a certain number of lines, look at the corners, examine triangulations, and see whether the notes agree with the lines. A certain percentage of errors found should be sufficient to exclude the surveyor from future contracts. The mineral surveys should also be inspected; that is, a certain number should be examined in each district of those which are surveyed during the year. If the examiner did his duty there would very soon be a marked improvement in government surveys.”

MINERAL SURVEYS.

During the past fiscal year 118 surveys of lode and placer claims have been returned to this office, worked up and approved. The amount of deposits made for office work on mining claims was $3,150, and amount paid to clerks from that fund was $2,187.90, showing a surplus of $962.10.

During the previous fiscal year, ending June 30, 1877, 71 survey of lode and placer claims were returned to this office, worked up and approved. The amount of deposits made for office work on mining claims was $1,810, and amount paid to clerks from that fund was $4,075, showing a deficit of $2,265.

This comparison is respectfully submitted for the purpose of showing that no part of the deficiency of $253.93 now existing in special deposit fund, as per Exhibit J, was incurred since I assumed charge of this surveying district, and also that, during the fiscal year, 118 surveys have been worked up and approved, at a cost of $2,187.90, as against 77 surveys worked up and approved, at a cost of $4,075, during the previous fiscal year ending June 30, 1-77.

OFFICE WORK.

A detailed statement of the work performed in this office during the fiscal year is given in Exhibit P. In addition to the regular work therein enumerated, much time and labor have been spent in arranging the records of this office, which were, and are still to some extent, in an inconvenient and incomplete state. The work has been promptly, carefully, and thoroughly executed.

STATEMENTS,

The following statements are transmitted as a part of this report, viz:

A. Showing condition of appropriation for surveys of public land in the Territory of Montana during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

B. Showing amount of special deposits for office work on mining claims in Montana for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

C. Showing description of public land surveyed in Montana Territory during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

D. Showing condition of the public surveys contracted for by the surveyor general for Montana Territory, under appropriation by Congress for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

E. Showing condition of appointments made for the survey of mineral claims in Montana, under acts of Congress during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

F. Showing the description of land for which township plats and descriptive lists have been furnished the Helena and Bozeman land offices during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

G. Showing the condition of the appropriation for the salary of the surveyor general for Montana during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

H. Showing the condition of the appropriation for the clerks in the office of the surveyor general for Montana, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

I. Showing the condition of the appropriation for incidental expenses for the office of the surveyor general for Montana, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

J. Showing the condition of the account of special deposits for office work on mining claims in the office of the surveyor general for Montana during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

K. Showing the number of plats made in the office of the surveyor general for Montana, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

L. Showing the number of acres of public land surveyed in Montana Territory from the inception of surveys to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

M. Showing the number of linear miles run, the rate per mile, and the total cost of surveys, in the Territory of Montana, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

N. Giving names, nativity, &c., of the surveyor general and the employés in his office at Helena, Montana, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

O. Showing the number of letters recorded in the office of the surveyor general for Montana, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

P. Showing the work performed in the office of the surveyor general for Montana, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

Q. Estimates for surveying services and office expenses in the district of Montana, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880.

ESTIMATES.

My estimate for field work is based upon what I regard the actual necessities of this district, and the prices named are those established by law, with the exception of meander lines, which I have estimated at $10 per mile, same as standard. The work of running, measuring, and marking meander lines, and the office work of the deputysurveyor on same, is far more difficult than standard lines. As it will be necessary to do a large amount of meandering in this district, in the near future, I trust that Congress, in justice to the deputy surveyors, will increase the rate from $6 per mile to that named above.

My estimate for my own salary is based upon that paid my predecessors up to July 1, 1877, and in view of the work and responsibility required, and the cost of living in this Territory, it is, in my judgment, as small an amount as should be paid for the services rendered. The same remark will apply to the salaries of the clerks.

The estimate for incidental expenses is the same as allowed during the present fiscal year, and it is only by the exercise of strict economy that it will cover the actual necessary expenses of the office.

The estimate for binding and preserving the original records of surveys has been so often made and indorsed by the Commissioner and, as often, stricken out of the appropriation, that it seems almost useless to ask for it again, yet I deem it my duty to once more call attention to its necessity,

AGRICULTURE,

The land under cultivation in this Territory comprises only a very small portion of that capable of being so used, and this important branch of industry can scarcely be said to have kept pace with the wants of the people. This is not a strange state of affairs in so new a country, originally supposed to be valuable only for its minerals. Within the past year or two there has been a marked increase in the amount of agricultural products, and this will doubtless continue until the supply equals the demand. The climate of Montana has undergone a marked change during the past four years, the rain-fall increasing from year to year, and many lands supposed to be utterly worthless for agricultural purposes are now bearing fine crops of hay, grain, vegetables, &c.

PLACER MINES.

Although the days for making large fortunes in placer mining have probably gone by, it is still an important source of wealth and, owing to the increased rain-fall, more ground is now being worked than for several years previous.

There is a vast amount of placer-mining ground in this Territory which would pay from $1.50 to $2 per man per diem, and, with an increase of population and reduction in the cost of living, this will undoubtedly all be worked.

New and rich mines are said to have been discovered in the Bear Paw Mountains, but, as yet, sufficient work has not been done to prove their permanence or value.

GOLD LODES.

There has also been a marked increase in the amount of gold ore worked in the Territory. The exceedingly rich body of ore struck in the Penobscot mine, situated in township 11 north, range 6 west, has caused great excitement, not only in Montana,

but also throughout the East and on the Pacific slope, among those interested in mining. An official report from the mining superintendent states that the value of the product from January 1, 1878, to May 25, 1878, was $80,797.62, the total number of tons of ore milled being 685. Included in this product was one bar of gold, the largest ever produced in this country, valued at $54,235.62. The milling facilities are very imperfect, but the owners are now engaged in erecting a 15-stamp mill, and it is their belief that, when completed, it will be able to earn $50,000 per month, working ores from the Penobscot and Snow Drift mines. This rich strike has diverted the public attention from other gold lodes of former prominence, which, however, so far as heard from, are all being steadily worked, with an increased product over that of former years.

SILVER LODES.

It is impossible, within the necessary limits of this report, to note in detail, or even make reference to, the producing silver lodes in this Territory. After passing through the usual phases of undue inflation, followed by unwise investments and extravagant management, producing great depression, silver mining may now be considered as one of the steady industries, resting upon a permanent basis.

The operations at Butte, the present great center of silver-mining and milling were interrupted for some weeks by labor troubles, now, apparently, happily adjusted. In Philipsburg, Vipond, Trapper, Boulder, Jefferson, and other prominent mining districts, work has continued without interruption.

During the past fiscal year the facilities for reducing ore have been largely increased throughout the Territory, and many mines, formerly mere prospect holes, are now being skillfully developed in such a manner as to prove their permanence and value.

COPPER AND LEAD.

Many valuable copper mines are known to exist in Montana; some have been partially worked, and shipments of ore are made. The cost of transportation and the fact that there are no facilities here for reducing such ore have prevented any extensive development of these lodes. The same causes, in connection with the low price of lead, have, in a lesser degree, retarded the mining of galena ores, except where they carry a large percentage of silver. It is only a question of time when these obstacles will be overcome, and the product of copper and lead will then be a very important item in the mineral wealth of this Territory.

COAL AND IRON.

Large bodies of coal of good quality have been discovered in various parts of Montana and several mines are being worked in a small way.

Iron ore has also been found and will some day prove valuable, although at present no inducements exist for working it.

SHIPMENTS OF GOLD AND SILVER.

The value of the gold and silver shipped from this Territory during the past fiscal year is as follows:

During the same period the United States assay office at Helena, Mont., handled: Gold...

4, 480, 146

$331,460 51 385,277 90

716,738 41

STOCK.

The number and value of the stock assessed in Montana during the Territorial fiscal year ending December 31, 1877, is as follows:

The return from Custer County gives only the value of the stock, omitting the number, and it is safe to say that the above figures are an underestimate of the number and value of the stock at the time the assessment was made, in the summer and fall of 1877.

Stock men are paying more attention to the improvement of the quality of their stock; the increase this year is much larger proportionately than that of previous years, and large numbers of stock of various kinds have been brought into the Territory since the above assessment was made. As her magnificent natural facilities become better known and utilized, Montana will take rank among the foremost stock countries in the world.

As previously stated in this report, the time will soon come when stock men will find it requisite to lease or buy large tracts of land for grazing purposes, and it is earnestly hoped that the necessary legislation on the part of Congress may be had at an early

date.

POPULATION.

The population of Montana, for a long time transitory, and composed mainly of men, has assumed a permanent character, and during the past year many families have been added to its number.

The citizens are intelligent, enterprising, and industrious, fully alive to the advantages of education, cheerfully consenting to comparatively heavy taxes to promote its advancement, and, thus far, the evil of tramps is unknown.

More people are needed to develop the resources of the Territory, yet the labor market may be said to be fully stocked. As capital is invested in the various industrial enterprises, more labor will be required, but at present what Montana most needs is an influx of intelligent, industrious men and women, who will take up the public lands, and have means enough to support themselves for a year or two until agriculture or stock raising yields them a livelihood. To such Montana offers a home in a beautiful, healthy country, education for their children, and, in the near future, a competence as the result of their economy and industry.

CONCLUSION.

If I have dwelt at too great length in this report upon the matters relative to surveys, it is due to my earnest desire to see the surveying service made, in all respects, a credit to the country. The present system is in the main a very good one in theory, and it only needs a few changes, easily made, and the earnest efforts of the surveyorsgeneral and the deputy surveyors to make it thoroughly so in practice.

The suggestions embodied in this report are respectfully submitted with the earnest hope that, in connection with those of others of longer standing and more experience in the service, they will receive careful consideration and have due weight in determining future legislation regarding this important branch of the public service. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. J. A. WILLIAMSON,

ROSWELL H. MASON, United States Surveyor General for Montana.

Commissioner.

A.—Statement showing condition of appropriation for surveys of public land in the Territory of Montana during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.

CR.

Amount.