35. Considerations in regard to the gold and silver regions of the public domain.

36. Tabular statements and exhibits in relation to land operations.

All which is respectfully submitted.

Hon. JAMES HARLAN,

Secretary of the Interior.

J. M. EDMUNDS,

Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
October 3, 1865.

SIR: The attention of our statesmen in the earliest age of the republic was directed to the disposal of the public lands, in order to make the same available as a source of national credit, revenue, and strength. The political and commercial agent sent to France by the revolutionary Congress communicated his views in this respect in a despatch as early as December, 1776, to the organ of that Congress-the committee of secret correspondence. He predicted the rush of emigration from Europe upon the establishment of American nationality, the rise in value of settled lands, the demand for new and uncultivated territory, upon which a certain fund, he reported, might then be fixed, tracing "the river Ohio from its junction to its head, thence north to Lake Erie on the south and west of the lake to Fort Detroit, which is in the latitude of Boston, thence a west course to the Mississippi;" and returning to the place of departure, he marked out "these three lines of near one thousand miles each" as including an immense territory in a fine climate, then scarcely inhabited by any European," and invited attention to that region "as a source amply adequate under proper regulations for defraying the whole expense of the war, and the sums necessary to be given to the Indians in purchase of the native right."

At an early period of our national existence the public lands were the subject of serious political controversies. The charters of certain States extended indefinitely westward, instances having existed of their crossing each other and throwing the same territory within different State limits. Such disturbing causes retarded the organization of an effective system for opening the western territory to settlement and sale. These difficulties, however, were put to rest by several acts of cession, New York taking the lead in 1781, Virginia in 1784 ceding the great northwestern territory, Massachusetts relinquishing her claim in 1785, Connecticut in 1786, South and North Carolina and Georgia having subsequently made cessions which constitute mainly the present States of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. After the definitive treaty of peace, in 1783, closing the war of the Revolution, and before the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, Congress, by an act of the 20th May, 1785, began the work of laying the foundation of the land system by "an ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of lands in the western territory," in which the principle was established of reserving "the lot number sixteen of every township for the maintenance of public schools within the said township," in recent years duplicated in remote organizations, and before the close of the last century initiated the pre-emption system. These great principles were designed to operate upon the public domain within our then political limits, but in the march of empire, by the expansion of our territory from ocean to ocean, they have been modified and enlarged to meet the wants and interests of the multitudes now spreading over our great national land estate.

By the acquisition of new territories, beginning with the cession by the French republic in 1803 of the ancient province of Louisiana, and ending with the Gads

den cession by treaty with Mexico in 1853, we have assumed obligations under treaties to recognize and confirm inceptive and mature titles which originated under former governments. In the progress of land legislation, the Congress of the United States, under stipulations for the segregation of foreign titles from the public lands, have required by law that the peculiarities of foreign systems, to the extent of such titles, shall be faithfully observed in their survey and confirmation. To earlier legislation have been added numerous enactments providing for cash sales at a low rate per acre, carefully guarding at every step the interest of the pioneer settler, not only by pre-emption, but in conferring homesteads upon the condition of five continuous years of actual residence; thus enriching the settler and adding to the wealth of the nation. But the liberality of Congress has gone further. By munificent acts of legislation there have been conceded, for works of internal improvements and schools, over one hundred and thirty million eight hundred and seventy-five thousand acres; upwards of one hundred and twenty-five million three hundred thousand acres, by estimate, have been granted in aid of the construction of rail and wagon roads; about sixty-eight million, including land scrip, have been awarded for military services, reaching back to the Revolution; and over forty-five million three hundred and nineteen thousand acres have been conceded to States as swamp lands; whilst the agricultural and mechanic college grant in 1862 conceded for such institutions the quantity, including the late insurgent States, of nine million three hundred and thirty thousand acres. The numerous laws regulating the disposal of the public lands, beginning in the early history of this government, and accumulating at every successive congressional session, have now grown into an extended system, not merely of statutory enactments, but of departmental and judicial decisions.

The recent domestic convulsions have necessarily checked during the last four years public land operations.

The reign of peace now happily and, as believed, permanently established, what may we not anticipate in accumulated and accumulating wealth and power from the expansion of the American people over the immense regions constituting the public domain.

In administering the system during the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, 1865, and the quarter which terminated on the 30th ultimo, the following are the results:

For the year ending June 30, 1865, there were sold for cash

The aggregate quantity of surveyed land offered and unoffered, and undisposed of on the 30th September, 1865, was . . . . . . Consisting of offered lands, embracing 53, 922 acres of Winnebago trust lands

Unoffered...

Acres.

132, 285, 035

79, 274, 577

53, 010, 458

Having thus shown in outline certain features of land legislation from the beginning of our system, and some of the leading grants by Congress, with details of sales, and other disposals of the public lands during the last fiscal year and the succeeding quarter, it is now proposed to refer to the progress which has been made in preparing our territory for sale, and conveyance in fee-simple, in the extension of the lines of the public surveys.

By the establishment of base lines corresponding with latitudes and of principal meridians with longitudes, the public domain is divided into townships of six miles square, or 23,040 acres, subdivided in their turn into 36 square miles

or sections, containing 640 acres, and these into quarter sections or 160 acres, half-quarter or 80 acres, and quarter-quarter sections or 40 acres.

The initial point of the surveys or the intersection of the base with the principal meridian is established in a region of the country most needed for settlers, and likely to produce a revenue.

The principal base line serves to count the survey of townships north and south thereof, and the principal meridian to count the ranges of townships either

east or west.

Thus far the surveying system which has been extended from the State of Ohio to the Pacific ocean, with the exception of interior territories recently organized, has brought into requisition six principal meridians, with corresponding principal bases, and several independent meridians with similar bases as follows:

The first principal meridian divides Ohio from Indiana, and runs north on the 84° 51' longitude west of Greenwich, governing the surveys in the State of Ohio.

The second principal meridian, starting from the mouth of Little Blue river, in Indiana, governs the surveys in that State, and partly in Illinois.

The third principal meridian begins at the mouth of the Ohio river, and terminates on the northern boundary of Illinois, governing the surveys lying east therefrom, and west to the Illinois river.

The fourth principal meridian commences in the centre of the channel at the mouth of the Illinois river, in latitude 38° 58' 12'' north, and longitude 90° 29′ 56′′ west of Greenwich, and governs the surveys in Illinois situated west of the Illinois river, and of the third principal meridian north of the river and east of the Mississippi. It also extends due north through Wisconsin, and continues through the northeastern part of Minnesota, governing the surveys in Wisconsin and Minnesota lying east of the Mississippi river.

The fifth principal meridian commences at the mouth of the Arkansas river, in the State of Arkansas, and passing due north through Missouri and Iowa, terminates in township 91, north of the base line, which runs due west from the mouth of St. Francis, in Arkansas. This principal meridian governs the surveys in Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota west of the Mississippi river, and Dakota Territory east of the Missouri river.

The sixth principal meridian, the initial point of the intersection with the principal base line being coincident with the fortieth parallel of north latitude, is near the 92° 13' of longitude west from Greenwich. This principal meridian governs the surveys in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and that part of Dakota Territory lying west of the Missouri river.

Besides the foregoing six principal meridians there have been established independent meridians and bases for the surveys in the following States and Territories:

The Michigan principal meridian commences on the north boundary of Ohio, 22 miles east of the first principal meridian, and runs north, corresponding with longitude 84° 19' 9" west of Greenwich, and terminates at Sault St. Marie, governing the surveys in the State of Michigan.

The Tallahassee principal meridian intersects the principal base at the city of Tallahassee, and governs the surveys in Florida.

The St. Stephen's meridian, in Alabama, intersects the principal base line on the 31° north latitude, and Huntsville basis meridian starts from the principal base or the northern boundary of the State, and governs the surveys in the State of Alabama, the former governing also the surveys in Mississippi lying east of Pearl river and south of township 10 north.

The Choctaw meridian and Washington meridian govern the surveys in Mississippi; the base line of the latter is the 31° north latitude, and that of the former sixty miles north of it.

In Louisiana there are two principal meridians, with a common basis parallel, passing near the mouth of the Red river, from which surveys have been made; one governing the surveys east of the Mississippi river, and the other west.

The initial point of the intersection of the base line with the principal meridian in New Mexico is ten miles below the mouth of the Puerco river, being a hill of two hundred feet high, on the Rio Grande del Norte; these principal lines govern the surveys in New Mexico.

The surveys in California are controlled by three different meridians and as many base lines. The San Bernardino meridian intersects its base line in latitude six miles north of Los Angeles, the initial point being on the high peak of the San Bernardino mountain. This meridian is on the 116° 55' longitude west from Greenwich, and controls the survey in the southern part of California.

The Mount Diablo meridian intersects its base line in latitude six miles north of that of the city of San Francisco, distant from the ocean 38 miles, the intersection being on the highest peak of Mount Diablo, about 3,600 feet high. This meridian corresponds with the 123° 53′ of longitude west from Greenwich, and governs the surveys north and south of the initial point in California, and also in Nevada.

The Humboldt meridian intersects its base line in latitude of about 40° 24' north, on the peak of Mount Pierce, 5,000 feet above the level of the Pacific ocean-this initial point being commemorated by an iron monument. These principal lines govern the surveys in the northwestern portion of California situated west of the coast range of mountains.

The Willamette meridian and base line govern the surveys in Oregon and Washington Territory, the initial monument being at the point of the intersection of 45° 31' 13" of north latitude with the 122° 30' 26" of longitude west from Greenwich.

The Salt Lake meridian starts from the corner of the Temple block in the Salt Lake City, where it is intersected by the principal base line, the point of intersection being commemorated by a monument; these standard lines, running north and south, east and west, govern the surveys in Utah.

The surveying machinery has accomplished its work in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. In the State of Louisiana the survey of the New Orleans township and some subdivisions remain to be executed. In Florida the surveys have been extended to Lake Okechobee, leaving unsurveyed the portion of the peninsula south of that lake, which is a swampy and overflowed region.

Should it be deemed proper to restore the surveying districts of Louisiana and Florida for the time-being, it would be necessary to make appropriations for salary of both officers of surveyor general, and existing appropriations, to a limited amount, might be set apart and applied to meet any surveying exigency in either of the States; or, in case such salary appropriation should not at this time be made, the power might be exercised which is delegated to the Commissioner of the General Land Office by the act of January 22, 1853, of acting exofficio surveyor general, where a district is discontinued.

It is now proposed to present a view of the progress which has been made in other States, beginning with the surveying districts of

WISCONSIN AND IOWA.

The surveying operations in the State of Wisconsin have been advanced during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1865, by the application for the completion of surveys in Wisconsin of four-fifths of the fifty thousand dollar appropriation, per act of July 2, 1864, for surveys of public lands.

Contracts to the full extent of the means provided have been made, and returns of the surveys have been received, amounting to 2,608 lineal miles,