EXPLANATORY NOTES IN SUPPORT OF THE SEVERAL AMOUNTS SUBMITTED IN STATEMENT A. (1) In the southeastern district $10,000 is estimated as necessary for the much needed resurvey of a few townships above New Orleans, and as far up as Donaldsonville. The necessity for these surveys having been fully demonstrated to this office by some of its deputies who had occasion to make surveys in those localities, and who found great difficulty in making their surveys on account of misclosures existing in the old surveys, and also for want of established government lines, as in many instances the old lines can not be found, causing much loss of time in hunting up proper starting points. (2) Seven thousand dollars is found to be necessary for the resurvey of a few detached townships in the southwestern district, in support of which several petitions of settlers are on file in this office, asking that said surveys be made. (3) In the northwestern district I have estimated that $10,000 is necessary for the survey of several detached townships. These surveys have been applied for and the necessity for same fully demonstrated to this office, both verbally and by peti tions from settlers. (4) The same reasons as given for the northwestern district are applicable to the district north of Red river, where it is estimated that $10,000 is necessary for the surveys therein. (5) This estimate of $8,000 is for original surveys, resurveys, and corrective surveys of confirmed private land claims in all the districts of the State. B.-Estimate of funds to be appropriated for the compensation of the surveyor-general and his clerks in the district of Louisiana for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. EXPLANATORY NOTES IN SUPPORT OF THE SEVERAL AMOUNTS SUBMITTED IN STATE MENT B. (1) The estimate of my own salary, $2,000, is for the amount originally fixed by law, and which I consider a very moderate compensation for the labor and responsibilities of the office. (2) The salary of my chief clerk I have estimated at $1,800, as he not only does the duties required of him, but, in addition, by his knowledge as stenographer and typewriter has, in such capacity, rendered much valuable service to the office, and I think the amount estimated as necessary for his compensation is only fair. (3) To perform with safety and credit to the government the duties of chief draftsman, whose duties are also to examine all the surveying returns, I believe the amount of $1,500, as estimated, to be moderate. (4) The salary of the clerk and calculator should be at least $1,400. His duties are very important, as when not employed as calculator, which work, by itself, is very tedious, he is required to examine into all applications made for certificates of location under the act of June 2, 1858; and, as the department is well aware, these examinations can only be made by a person of much experience and who is also thoroughly acquainted with the land laws and regulations as well as the many different decisions regarding private land claims. (5) In my humble judgment the salary of the first assistant draftsman, which has been for the past years entirely too small, and should be increased to $1,300, the amount estimated by me as necessary for his compensation. His duties are very technical, as he is not only required to make copies of maps, but has also to protract maps from the field-notes and to assist the first draftsman generally. ADDITIONAL FORCE VERY MUCH NEEDED. (6) The second assistant draftsman, whose duties will be to help the other draftsmen and also to prepare maps and notes to be furnished to deputies, etc., should receive a compensation of $1,200 as estimated. (7) I estimate that a salary of $1,400 would only be a very ordinary compensation for the most important work of continuing the exhibit of private land calims. The work is of so peculiar and technical a nature that it will necessitate the employment of an expert to continue the work. (8) I have estimated that 7 clerks at a salary of $1,000 each will be necessary to bring up the work in arrears. The estimate, I hope, will be found very low considering the work which will have to be done under this head, which is detailed in statement marked D, and to which I beg to refer. For the above reasons I earnestly recommend that the amount asked be appropriated so as to enable me to increase the much needed clerical force of this office a well as the salaries of my present force. C.-Estimate of funds to be appropriated for contingent expenses in the office of the United States surveyor-general, district of Louisiana, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. EXPLANATORY NOTES IN SUPPORT OF THE SEVERAL AMOUNTS SUBMITTED IN STATE MENT C. (1) I have estimated a compensation of $720 for messenger hire and $600 for porter hire to be moderate for each the messenger and the porter, considering the general help they are expected to give in the office in addition to their regular work. (2) The amount of $500 estimated as necessary for stationery, binding, etc., is necessary, especially if the appropriation for clerks is increased. D.-Statement of office-work in arrears in the surveyor-general's office, district of Louisiana. (1) Continuing and completing the exhibit of private land claims for all the districts of the State, except the southeastern district. (See L. O. R. for 1886, p. 507.) (2) Preparation of patent plats in duplicate for the located confirmed private claims for 5,886 claims. (See L. O. R. for 1889.) (3) Two hundred township maps to be reprotracted or reproduced. (See L. O. R. for 1889.) (4) Examinations and researches to prepare confirmed private land claims for survey and location. (See L. O. R. for 1889.) (5) One thousand one hundred and eight private land claims for which certificates of location are to be issued under the act of Congress approved June 2, 1858. (See L. O. R. for 1889.) (6) Indexing record of letters to individuals from January 1, 1890, to date. (7) Indexing books of field-notes in the different districts. (8) Copying general index of Commissioner's letters to surveyor-general from July 26, 1803, to December 26, 1873, and completing said index to date. (9) Labeling and wrapping anew bundles containing field-notes, and also plats, certificates, and orders of survey. (10) Labeling and wrapping anew the bundles containing letters from registers and receivers. (11) Labeling and wrapping anew old vouchers for disbursements. (12) Recording nearly all the field-notes for preservation, a great number of which have become so torn and partly defaced on account of constant use and age, rendering them illegible, and if not soon recorded will become useless. E.-Statement of surveying contract entered into by the surveyor-general of Louisiana on account of the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1839. (See Commissioner's letter dated June 13, 1889.) Surveys completed and approved, plats and field-notes transmitted, account adjusted and closed. F.-Statement of surveying contract entered into by the surveyor-general of Louisiana on account of the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. (See Commissioner's letter of March 4, 1890). Surveys of T. 10 S., Rs. 4 and 6 E., completed, plats and transcripts of field-notes forwarded to the department, and the surveys therein accepted with the exception of the location of the back line of the McDonogh and Fontenot claims. The surveys of all the other townships embraced in this contract have been completed, and are now undergoing examination in the office. G.-Statement of surveying contract entered into by the surveyor-general of Louisiana (see Commissioner's letter dated May 21, 1891) on account of appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. Contract and bond forwarded to the honorable Commissioner for authentication, and approved July 10, 1891. REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL OF MINNESOTA. OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SURVEYOR-GENERAL, St. Paul, Minn., July 31, 1891. SIR: In compliance with instructions contained in your letter E of April 18, 1891, I have the honor to submit herewith in duplicate my annual report of the surveying operations in the district of Minnesota for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, with the following tabular statements: A.-Statement of contracts entered into by the surveyor-general of Minnesota for the survey of public lands, payable from the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890 (contracts not closed at date of last annual report). B.-Statement of contracts entered into by the surveyor-general of Minnesota for the survey of public lands, payable from the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. C.-Statement of contracts entered into by the surveyor-general of Minnesota for the survey of Indian lands, payable from the appropriation for the survey of the Chippewa Indian Reservation. There have been surveyed during the year 23 townships or fractional townships, the field-notes of which have been examined, the plats made, and transcripts of fieldnotes nearly completed. Six townships have been surveyed and the field-notes returned to this office, but not examined. Nineteen other townships are reported to have been surveyed of which no returns have been received. The number of miles run and marked in the field during the year, the field-notes of which have been examined, is as follows: The number of acres surveyed is 337,071.66, which, added to the amount previously reported, 42,992,015.78, gives the total number of acres surveyed in this State to date 43,329,087.44. The number of township plats made is 68. The development of the iron interests and the construction of new lines of railroad is causing a large immigration into the northern portion of this State, and a large number of settlers are this year going upon the unsurveyed lands who are anxious for a speedy survey of the towns in which they are located. Applications have already been received for the survey of twenty-one townships of public lands, which will more than exhaust the amount assigned to Minnesota for surveys during the present fiscal year. Settlers are known to be located in several other townships who will soon apply for surveys. There is evidently a demand for increased appropriations for the surveying service in this State. All of which is respectfully submitted. JAMES COMPTON, Washington, D. C. The COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, A.-Contracts entered into by the surveyor-general of Minnesota for the survey of public lands, payable from the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. (Contracts not closed at date of last annual report.) B.-Contracts entered into by the surveyor-general of Minnesota for the survey of public lands, payable from the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. 2232 and north exterior Ts. 149, 150, and 151 4,000.00 Alvah A. Crampton... Oct. 28 Range line between Rs. 18 and 19 W.,throngh 24 George R. Stuntz..... Dec. 3 1891. Ts. 65, 66, 67, and 68 N. The south exterior The south exterior T. 66 N., R. 19 W., and 27 George A. Ralph...... Apr. 30 Subdivision fractional T. 52 N., R. 41 W., fifth meridian, west of Red Lake Indian The west exterior of T. 63 N., R. 20 W. 3,000.00 15.00 1,300.00 *Survey completed and accepted. No returns. Survey completed, partial returns. § Deputy now in the field; no returns. Survey completed and field-notes returned. |