The surveys made during the year were confined to the southern portion of the peninsula, and according to returns made to this office. embraced an area of 354,389 acres, making the aggregate of lands surveyed to June 30, 1872, 28,092,409 acres, and leaving unsurveyed at that date an area of 9,839,111 acres.

For continuing the public surveys in this district during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, an estimate of $12,000 is submitted.

Oregon. There were appropriated for surveys in this State for the fiscal year ending 30th June last the following sums, viz: for surveying the public lands $50,000, and for surveying Indian reservations $24,000. Contracts were entered into by the surveyor general to the extent of the apropriations, and the surveys of the public lands were so distributed as to afford the greatest possible accommodation to the settlers, and to the various corporations, to which grants of land had been made by Congress. According to the returns made to this office there were surveyed in this district, during the past year 1,541,314 acres, making an aggregate of 12,220,795 acres surveyed to June 30, 1872, and leaving unsurveyed at that date 48,754,565 acres.

The surveyor general, in his annual report herewith submitted, earnestly recommends the extension of the public surveys in advance of settlements, particularly along the routes of the several military roads and railroads, as the want of these surveys retards settlement along these lines. Settlers cannot afford to expend the labor of years in improving lands which, when surveyed, may be found to be the property of some corporation; and, aside from the interest of settlers, the Government should urge forward to completion the surveys of lands within the several grants, in order that the companies may be enabled to select the lands inuring to them under the grants. This office fully concurs in the recommendation of the surveyor general, and, for the purpose of carrying the same into effect, an estimate of $70,000 is respectfully submitted. The surveyor general reports that the Oregon and California Railroad, to extend from Portland to the southern boundary of the State, is now in operation as far as Oakland, a distance of one hundred and eighty-one miles, and it will probably be completed to Roseburgh, eighteen miles farther, by the middle of November. The Oregon Central Railroad, at the date of the surveyor general's report, September 9, 1872, was nearly completed to Saint Joseph, on the Yamhill, and it was expected that it would be in running order by the first of October. The extension of the latter road up the west side of the Willamette River, to connect with the Oregon and California Road at Junction City, is contemplated; also, a branch road from Hillsborough to Astoria. Upon the completion of these lines, and one making connection with the Northern Pacific Railroad, and a line connecting the Columbia River with the Union Pacific Railroad, near the junction with the Central Pacific, Oregon will be rendered easy of access, and her fertile valleys and moderate climate will doubtless attract a great number of settlers. Placer gold mines are being profitably worked on the waters of the John Day, Powder, and Burnt Rivers, and in Union County a valuable lode of copper ore has recently been discovered.

Coal has been discovered in the Calapooia Mountains, and at the head-waters of the Nehalim River, but the deposits have not yet been explored sufficiently to determine their extent and value.

The manufacturing interests of the State are in a flourishing condition, and are being extended as rapidly as the necessities of the country require.

Minnesota.—Under the appropriation of $40,000 made by Congress

March 3, 1871, for surveying the public lands in Minnesota, the surveyor general reports that all the contracts entered into have been completed. The progress of surveys under the appropriation of $75,000, per act approved June 10, 1872, is satisfactory, considering the unfavorable season for field operations in the Red River Valley, where the great amount of rain-fall inundated the country.

From the returns of partial surveys made by deputies, it appears that the northwestern portion of the State abounds in timber, and the surveyor general, referring to the trespasses committed on the timber in the pine region, recommends an early survey of said lands and the sale of the same by the Government as the best means of preventing the spoliation of the timber by lumbermen.

An estimate of $50,000 is submitted for the survey of public lands in the State of Minnesota for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

California.-By the act of March 3, 1871, there was appropriated for surveys in this State during the past fiscal year the sum of $70,000. Under this appropriation, the surveyor general entered into thirteen surveying contracts, which in the aggregate absorbed the entire appropriation.

According to the returns made to this office, the subdivisional surveys were extended over an area of 1,724,675 acres, making 36,152,323 acres surveyed to June 30, 1872, and leaving at that date an estimated area of 84,795,517 acres unsurveyed.

For extending the lines of public surveys in this district during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, the sum of $70,000 is submitted.

New Mexico. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated by act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, for continuing the public surveys in this Territory during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

Two surveying contracts were entered into, creating an estimated liability of $9,720. According to returns made to this office, the subdivisional surveys were extended over an area of but 2,990 acres, the greater part of the appropriation having been expended in extending the standard and township lines. The total area of land surveyed in this Territory at the close of the fiscal year was 4,422,975 acres, leaving unsurveyed at that date an area of 73,145,665 acres.

An estimate of $30,000 for surveying the public lands in this district during the ensuing fiscal year is submitted.

Utah. The surveyor general of this Territory reports that the appropriation of $15,000 (act of March 3, 1871) was expended in a manner to meet the wants of settlers.

The lines of public surveys were extended over an area of 646,865.33 acres, which, with the previous surveys of 3,935,239 acres, makes a total of 4,582,104.33 acres surveyed prior to June 30, 1872, and leaves yet to be surveyed 49,482,970.67 acres. The report recites at length the improvements made in Utah. Within the past year a horse railway has been constructed at Salt Lake City, and cars are now running. Extensive gas works have been erected, also a brass and iron foundery, with accessories capable of supplying all kinds of castings for smelting works, &c. The year was very propitious to the farmer. The mining law of May 10, 1872, meets with general favor throughout the Territory, and the development of new mines has been greatly accelerated. The success of the Utah Central Railway has caused capital to seek investment in connecting lines, and the construction of the Utah Southern Railroad, destined to connect with the 35th parallel at the most feasible point in Arizona, has been prosecuted with energy.

To meet the requirements of a continuous increase of population, and

the necessities of surveys growing out of the frequent discoveries of new mining fields, an estimate of $25,000 is submitted for the extension of public surveys during the ensuing fiscal year.

Washington Territory.-By the act of March 3, 1871, there was appropriated for the survey of public lands in Washington Territory the sum of $40,000, and deposits to the amount of $2,978 were made by individuals, for surveys, prior to June 30, 1872.

The surveyor general reports that the public surveys made during the past fiscal year have greatly exceeded those of any former year.

The amount of land surveyed in the Territory at the close of the last fiscal year was 7,031,598 acres, leaving an estimated area of 37,764,562 acres yet to be surveyed.

For a detailed description of the mineral lands, timber, &c., I would refer to the ample report of the surveyor general of the Territory, which is printed herewith.

An estimate of $70,000 is submitted for the extension of public survers in Washington Territory for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Kansas.-The act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, appropriated for surveys in this district the sum of $40,000. Five contracts were entered into by the surveyor general covering the entire appropriation. The demands of settlers and the interests of the several corporations holding grants of land under act of Congress, were duly considered in selecting the localities to be surveyed. In addition to the surveys under the regular appropriation, the survey of fifteen townships was paid for out of special deposits made by railroad companies.

The tract of land known as the "Cherokee strip," about two and a half miles in width, extending along the southern boundary of the State, from the Neosho River to the 100th meridian west from Greenwich, was also surveyed during the year.

The subdivisional surveys were extended over an area of 3,277,440 acres, making the aggregate of lands surveyed in this State at the end of the last fiscal year 39,579,665 acres, and leaving unsurveyed at that date an estimated area of 12,463,855 acres.

An estimate of $50,000 is submitted for the extension of public surveys in Kansas during the ensuing year.

Nebraska.-The surveyor general of Nebraska reports that surveys contracted for under the appropriation of $40,000 per act of March 3, 1871, have been completed, and that eighteen contracts have been entered into, payable out of the appropriation of $60,000 made June 10, 1872, and special deposits of $41,438.54, made by the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, under the provision of the twentyfirst section of the act of July 2, 1864, (Statutes at Large, volume 13, page 365.)

In view of a very large immigration, reported to have reached 75,000 during the past year, and the rapid advance of settlements on agricultural lands, the surveyor general proposes to extend the lines of public surveys during the next year in the regions of the North Platte, Niobrara, and Loup Fork of Platte River, and an estimate of $50,000 is submitted to enable him to acccomplish that object. His report shows the completion of two hundred and fifty miles of railroad within the limits of the State during the past year, and is accompanied by a sectional map of Nebraska, exhibiting the progress and condition of the public surveys to June 30, 1872.

Colorado.-The surveyor general of Colorado, in submitting the offi cial report of the operations of his office during the past fiscal year, prefaces the same with a detailed account of the progress made in all

departments of industry, such as agriculture, mining, railway enter prises, &c., the result of a steady and healthy immigration into that Territory.

The season has been a most favorabie one for the farmer, and the mining interests were never in a more prosperous condition, eighty-nine mineral claims having been surveyed during the year. A number of railroads are in course of construction.

By act of March 3, 1871, $70,000 were appropriated for the extension of the public surveys in Colorado. Contracts were entered into covering the entire appropriation, and the lines of public surveys extended over 2,076,002 acres, which, added to 8,902,899 acres surveyed prior to June 30, 1871, makes an aggregate of 10,978,901 acres surveyed at the close of the last fiscal year, and leaves an area of 55,901,099 acres unsurveyed in that Territory.

Apart from the survey of public lands under the above named appropriation, fifteen surveys were made under the deposit system provided by the act of Congress approved May 30, 1862, and the amendatory act of March 3, 1871, the deposits amounting to $6,681.91. An estimate of $50,000 is submitted for the extension of the public surveys in Colorado Territory for the next fiscal year.

Dakota.-Twenty thousand dollars were appropriated for surveys in this Territory for the last fiscal year, of which amount the sum of $10,000 dollars was required by the act to be expended in the Pembina land district. The entire appropriation was used in the survey of 133 miles of standard lines, 437 miles of township lines, and 2,390 miles of section lines. The subdivisional surveys, according to the surveyor general's returns, embrace an area of 864,034 acres, making, in the aggregate, 7,441,462 acres surveyed prior to June 30, 1872, and leaving unsurveyed at that date an estimated area of 89,154,378 acres.

The surveyor general reports that the past summer has been the most favorable one for agriculture since the settlement of the Territory. A warm season and an abundant rain-fall have contributed to the production of unusually large crops. A considerable surplus of wheat was raised, which is being forwarded to eastern markets. The steady tide of immigration setting toward this Territory will probably be largely augmented during the next year, as increased facilities are offered by the several railroads completed to and across its eastern border. To meet the demands of settlers, and to enable railroad companies to make selections of lands granted to them by Congress, an estimate of $50,000 is submitted for surveying the public lands in Dakota during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

Nevada. By an act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, there was appropriated for continuing the public surveys in Nevada during the last fiscal year the sum of $45,000. Seven surveying contracts were entered into, absorbing the entire appropriation, and the subdivisional surveys were extended over an area of 1,289,233 acres, making the aggregate of lands surveyed in that State prior to June 30, 1872, 6,165,680 acres, leaving unsurveyed at that date 65,572,061 acres. The localities selected for field operations were the different valleys where parties had located with droves of cattle, horses, flocks of sheep, &c.

The surveyor general of Nevada, in his annual report to this office, furnishes a very interesting statement of the mining resources of that State, and the progress made in that industry during the past fiscal year. The total value of bullion produced during that year exceeded

$22,000,000.

For the extension of public surveys for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, an estimate of $50,000 is submitted.

Arizona.-By the act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, there was appropriated for surveys in this Territory the sum of $20,000. Six surveying contracts were entered into by the surveyor general, absorbing the entire appropriation.

The subdivisional surveys made during the year embrace an area of 517,332 acres, making the aggregate area of surveyed lands in Arizona, at the close of the last fiscal year, 2,468,675 acres, leaving unsurveyed at that date 70,437,629 acres. The surveyor general in his annual report urges an early survey of the boundaries of the several Indian reservations, in order that settlers may avoid establishing themselves upon them, and thus prevent those conflicts which are liable to arise between the settlers and the Indians until the legal limits of the reserves are definitely fixed and known.

Referring to the separation of the public lands from those claimed under Spanish and Mexican grants, he shows the necessity for congressional legislation creating a commission similar to that authorized by the act of March 3, 1871, for California, and indorses the suggestion made in the last annual report of this office on that subject.

Two parties of the Texas and Pacific Railway engineers are now within the Territory prosecuting the work of surveying the line of that road.

For the continuance of the public surveys in Arizona during the next fiscal year an estimate of $30,000 is submitted.

Idaho. The surveyor general's report, for the past fiscal year, shows that under the act of March 3, 1871, appropriating $30,000 for the surveying service in Idaho, six contracts were entered into, exhausting the appropriation.

The surveys of exterior and subdivision lines were extended over the northern part of the Territory to Coeur d'Alene Lake, and over the graz ing lands in the central portion thereof, covering an area of 870,749 acres, which, added to 1,524,055 acres previously reported, equals 2,364,804 acres surveyed prior to June 30, 1872. This deducted from 55,228,160 acres, the total area of Idaho, leaves 52,863,356 acres yet to be surveyed.

The surveyor general reports that the northern part of Idaho is rapidly filling up with settlers, and that about one hundred claims have been located there during the past year. He attributes this increase of settlement to the genial climate, fertility of soil, proximity to the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Columbia River, which furnish superior facilities for travel and the transportation of merchandise and produce, and give this part of the Territory an advantage over the central and southwestern portions.

The report contains a detailed account of the mining interests, and shows that while mining is energetically prosecuted the agricultural products are more than adequate to the wants of the community. The surveyor general recommends the survey of the boundary of the Shoshone and Bannock Indian reservations, embracing 1,800,000 acres, and strongly urges some action on the part of Congress for the reclamation of barren and desert lands, and the protection of timber.

An estimate of $40,000 is submitted for the survey of public lands in Idaho during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

Montana. The act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, appropriated the sum of $10,000 for surveying the public lands in Montana Territory