N.-Statement giving the names, nativity, &c., of the surveyor general and the employés in his office at Helena, Mont., during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. Suspended by order of the President, dated August 14, 1877, received August 28, 1877. Services dispensed with for balance of fiscal year, as appropriation was exhausted. Aug. 28, 1877. Oct. 16, 1877. Sept. 27, 1877. May 15, 1878. ROSWELL H. MASON, O.-Statement showing the number of letters recorded in the office of the surveyor general for Montana during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. P.-Statement of work performed in the office of the surveyor general for Montana during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. Description. Num- Number of ber. folios. Sets of special instructions to accompany contracts for public surveys prepared.. Plats and tracings showing location of contracts prepared.. 12 Original field notes of public surveys examined and approved. 48 Transcripts of field notes of public surveys prepared, examined, and approved Standard and meridian plats prepared, examined, and approved 12 Descriptive lists of corners prepared, examined, approved, and transmitted to local land offices... Descriptive lists of land, soil, &c., prepared, examined, approved, and transmitted to local land offices. Estimates for office work on mineral survey's prepared and transmitted to applicants 125 124 118 Transcripts of field notes of mineral surveys prepared, examined, and approved....... Q.—Estimate for surveying services and office expenses in the district of Montana for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. FIELD WORK. For surveying 110 miles base line, at $10.. For surveying heavily timbered and mountainous land, at rates OFFICE WORK. For salary of surveyor general.. 3,000 00 For salary of chief clerk 1,800 00 For salary of draughtsman.. 1,500 00 For salary of transcript clerk 1,500 00 For incidental expenses, messenger, rent, fuel, lights, stationery, &c...... 1,500 00 For mounting and binding maps and field notes, and office furniture 1,000 00 10,300 00 SIR: In compliance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the annual report, in duplicate, of this surveying district for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, together with the usual tabular statements relating thereto. A. Estimate of expenses incidental to the survey of public lands in Idaho for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. B. Statement of expenditure of appropriation for compensation of surveyor general and clerks in his office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. C. Statement of incidental and office expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. D. Statement of expenditure of appropriation for surveys for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. E. Statement of original maps and copies transmitted to the General Land Office and to the district office since the last report. F. Statement showing the condition of contracts entered into since June 30, 1877. G. Statement of descriptive list sent to the local land office since the date of last report. H. Tabular list of townships surveyed since the date of last report, showing the areas of the public lands. I. Statement of applications for the survey of mineral lands and mill sites for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. J. Statement of amount deposited with the United States assistant treasurer for office work for mineral claims in Idaho for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. K. Names, nativity, &c., of surveyor general, clerks, &c., in his office at Boise City, Idaho, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. On assuming charge of this office on the 16th day of July, 1878, I found that my predecessor, the Hon. La Fayette Cartee, had all the office work completed up to that date. I am also much indebted to him for the tabular statements accompanying this report, they being all completed on my taking charge of this office. Too much praise and credit cannot be awarded to Mr. Cartee for the neatness, correctness, and efficiency he has displayed while in charge of the office of United States surveyor general. The surveys of the public lands for the fiscal year just closed have been confined to the southern and southeastern portions of this Territory, where there are yet large portions of valuable agricultural lands unsurveyed, which are being gradually settled. Especially is this the case on the line and in the vicinity of the Utah Northern Railroad, which is expected to be completed to Snake River, in the vicinity of Old Fort Hall, some time this fall. The surveys contracted for by my predecessor during the last fiscal year have been all completed and notes returned, with the exception of Mr. Allen M. Thompson's, whose work lay in close proximity to the hostile Indians; and on account of their hostility I have granted an extension of time to complete the surveys named in his contract, No. 74, dated February 20, 1878. OFFICE WORK. Some of the field notes of the survey of townships contracted for during the last fiscal year have been carefully examined, approved and protracted. Triplicate plats of each one constructed and transmitted as required by law and regulations. Transcripts of the field notes have been prepared and transmitted to the General Land Office, all of which have been carefully compared with the originals. The field notes of contract No. 73, dated November 27, 1877, have just been received and will soon be examined and protracted. In connection with office work, I respectfully but earnestly call your attention to the small amount appropriated to this office for clerk hire. It is impossible to keep a competent chief clerk and draughtsman the entire year on so small an appropriation. The chief clerk receives $1,500 per annum, which leaves only $1,000 for the salary of draughtsman; and in a country where board and lodging alone costs from $12 to $15 per week no person can afford to work for so small a sum; consequently the draughtsman has to be hired temporarily, which, to say the least, is very detrimental and sometimes a serious impediment to office work, for a competent draughtsman cannot always be obtained. It may be said we have a relief in the special deposit fund. True, it will makə up a part of the deficiency, but it comes at such uncertain times and irregular amounts as to make it impossible for me to engage a competent draughtsman for the entire year. Men who are employed this month and discharged next are not always the most desirable class to have in the responsible position of draughtsman, and do not stay long enough to become proficient and expert in their duties. I hope Congress will give us an appropriation large enough to keep a chief clerk and draughtsman the entire year. In compliance with your letter of May 1, 1878, my predecessor forwarded you an estimate for the surveys in this surveying district for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. The estimates are as low as the best interest of the surveying service requires. The first standard parallel north ought to be extended the distance given, for many valuable mines and rich agricultural valleys lie contiguous to it. The third standard parallel ought to be run to the east boundary of the Territory. It will run (it is believed) through one of the largest and finest valleys in the Territory, situated on the Upper Payette River, and will run in close proximity to the famous Yankee Fork mines, which, if reports are true, are second to none in the richness of its ores. The timber lands also ought to be surveyed, for, judging by the present despoliation of valuable timber, the day is not far distant when our heavily timbered mountains will be stripped of timber and thus become worthless to the government, yet at the present rates allowed by law it is almost impossible to get competent surveyors to take a contract in a timbered and mountainous country. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. J. A. WILLIAMSON, Commissioner General Land Office. WM. P. CHANDLER, Surveyor General of Idaho. A.-Estimate of expenses incidental to the survey of the public lands in Idaho for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. For rent of office, messenger, fuel, books, and other expenses. 2,000 00 $9,000 00 SURVEYING SERVICE. For surveying first standard parallel north 96 miles, at $15 per mile For surveying third standard parallel north 180 miles, at $15 per mile 1,440 00 2,700 00 For surveying 120 miles exterior lines timber land in mountains, at $15 per mile.... For surveying 600 miles subdivision lines timber land in mountains, at $12 per mile..... $1,800 00 mile For surveying 360 miles exterior lines, 30 townships, at $12 per 7,200 00 For surveying 1,200 miles subdivision lines, 20 townships, at $10 per mile 4,300 00 12,000 00 29,440 00 38,440 00 B.-Statement of expenditure of appropriation for compensation of surveyor general and clerks in his office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. DR. CR. C.-Statement of incidental and office expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. D.-Statement of the expenditure of the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. Number. E.-Statement showing the condition of appointments made for the survey of mineral claims in Montana, under acts of Congress, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. Remarks. 3 Appointment revoked Jan. 2, 1878. ROSWELL H. MASON, United States Surveyor General for Montana. F.-Statement 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. HELENA LAND OFFICE, HELENA, MONT. |