made up from special deposits. For several years the appropriation for incidentals has been $1,500, without regard to the amount of work performed and consequent necessity of expense.

The surveyor general calls especial attention to his estimates for surveys for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882. These estimates will be required, especially as the Ute Indian Reservation will without doubt have been abandoned under the late treaty, and thousands of miners and farmers will flock to those lands. Their standard and exterior lines should at least be surveyed, so that settlers may have the lands subdivided under the special deposit system, if not from regular apportion

ment.

The total area of lands surveyed during the year is stated as 2,568,310.96 acres, embraced in 116 townships.

The surveyor general's estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, are as follows: For the salaries of the surveyor-general and his clerks, $10,800; incidental expenses, $3,000; surveys of 400 miles of standard, 3,000 miles of exterior, and 3,000 miles of section lines, $74,000.

The State, during the year, has been unusually prosperous in all branches of its business. A large number of new mines have been discovered, which have produced largely of the precious metals.

The opening of new mining camps has induced railroads to extend their lines thither. The South Park Railroad is extending its line to Breckinridge; the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad has laid 214 miles of track on its several extensions, graded 120 miles on the San Juan extension, and is extending its lines from Leadville to Kokomo, and over Tennessee Pass to Eagle River. This company is now operating over 500 miles of railroad in the State.

Agricultural and stock interests have kept pace with mining. Every county in the State has increased in population, and in several the increase amounts to 500 per cent.

The surveyor general calls attention to the extra amount of work and responsibility devolving upon surveyors general of mining States and Territories over those of the agricultural States and Territories. While the salaries are the same, with a single exception, the work in some cases is ten times greater. In Colorado the examination of over 800 mineral surveys, with the necessary work attaching thereto, requires much labor and responsibility not assumed by officers of the agricultural class. He suggests that he be allowed a fee of $5 for "the certificate of the surveyor general as to improvements," in each mining case.

Dakota.-Assignments of appropriation, amounting to $46,000 (original, $40,00; additional, $6,000), were made to this district for surveys during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. Ten contracts were made and $40,572.41 expended, leaving an unexpended balance of $5,427.59 to the credit of unfinished contracts.

Area surveyed during the year, 2,395,693.13 acres, embraced in 55 townships; area of 961 townships previously surveyed and reported, 19,780,876.20 acres ; total area, exclusive of Indian and military reservations, town sites, and mining claims, surveyed to date, 22,176,569.33

acres.

Two hundred and twenty-two miles of base and standard lines, 1,367 miles of township lines, and 6,317 miles of section and meander lines were run during the year. Total cost of same, $50,631.22.

The amount of special deposits for the survey of public lands and office work, made during the year, was $3,380, of which $3,130 were on account of field work and $250 office work. Amount expended, $3,105.35.

Amount of special deposits in connection with the survey of mining claims, made during the year ending June 30, 1880, $2,340; balance on hand July 1, 1879, $732; total, $3,072, of which $1,972.96 were expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880.

Sixty-six lode and 11 placer claims were surveyed during the year. The appropriation of $6,500 for the salaries of the surveyor general and his clerks was all expended, except 51 cents. The appropriation of $1,500 for rent, stationery, messenger, and incidental expenses was all expended.

The surveyor general's estimates for the surveying service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, are as follows: survey of standard lines, $7,968; township lines, $20,000; subdivision lines, $120,000; total, $147,968. For the salaries of the surveyor general and his clerical force, $12,000; rent and incidental expenses, $2,700.

The surveyor general deems the estimates for the surveying service to be just and reasonable, considering the necessities of the service. His reasons therefor were given in former reports, and as they are as potent now as then, need not be repeated.

The Territory is steadily and rapidly growing, and farmers are prospering. Three railroads are built many miles in advance of the public surveys, and everything moves to the front except the surveyor-a matter over which the people of the Territory have no control.

Florida.-No public lands have been surveyed in this district during the past year. The low rate fixed by the last Congress and the distance of the surveyable land from the base of supplies rendered it difficult to make contracts with competent and experienced surveyors.

The office has been employed on the arrears of work and in arranging with order and system the large accumulation of public papers.

Contracts for the survey of lands in South Florida were transmitted to the General Land Office, but they were disallowed by reason of the lateness of the season and the character of the soil covered by late surveys in that section. The surveyor general is now advised that the section covered by said contracts embraces a large body of fine rich hammock.

All lands fit for agriculture should be immediately surveyed and the office discontinued. Should the surveys yet to be made develop other lands which ought to be surveyed, a supplemental estimate will be submitted.

The survey of no part of the State may be considered as in advance of settlement, nor that the lands therein will not soon be taken up by the tide of immigration now flowing into the State.

The increase of the orange and lemon culture is noted, as well as the increasing production of and trade in tropical and other fruits and vegetables.

Forty-five plats were furnished during the year, of which number 5 were transmitted to the General Land Office and 40 to the district land office. Sixty descriptive lists were also sent to the latter.

The appropriation of $3,800 for the salaries of the surveyor general and his clerks was all expended. Of the appropriation of $1,000 for rent and other incidental expenses, $828.90 were paid out.

Estimates for the surveying service during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, are as follows: Salaries of the surveyor general and his clerks, $5,000; contingent expenses, $1,000.

Idaho.-The amount of appropriation assigned for public surveys in Idaho, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, was $13,000. Four contracts were made, payable out of the assignment, and the amount of

work paid for was $6,415.78, leaving a balance unexpended, but cov ered by contracts, of $6,584.22.

The salaries paid the surveyor general and his clerks amounted to $4,965.52, which were paid out of the regular appropriation of $5,000, leaving a balance of $30.48 reverting to the Treasury.

Of the appropriation of $1,500 for incidental expenses, all was expended except twelve cents.

Total area surveyed since last report, 551,313.32 acres, embraced in 38 townships; which, added to 6,404,410.16 acres of public lands and 464,907.28 acres of Indian reservations, previously surveyed, makes the total area surveyed, 7,420,630.76 acres.

One hundred and thirty-four descriptive plats and 38 descriptive lists were prepared, of which 86 plats and all the descriptive lists were transmitted to the General Land Office and district land offices.

Amount deposited with United States assistant treasurers for office work on mineral claims during the fiscal year, $726. Number of mineral claims surveyed and platted, 9; amount deposited therefor, $261, of which $255.48 were expended.

The surveyor general's estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, are as follows: For office expenses, including the salaries of surveyor general and clerks, rent, messenger, fuel, stationery, &c., $9,000; for the survey of 200 miles of standard lines and 2,760 miles of exterior and subdivision lines, $26,240; making a total of $35,240. The surveys for the past year were made to meet the wants of settlers, so far as could be done with amount of appropriation assigned. Rich argentiferous lodes have been discovered along the headwaters of Wood River. A wagon road has been constructed into Yankee Forks district, and extensive mills are being erected there for the reduction of ores. The Utah and Northern Railroad has been completed through the eastern part of the Territory. Stock raising and agriculture are yearly increasing in importance, and immigration is steadily flowing into the Territory.

Louisiana.-The surveyor general reports that under the assignment of appropriation of $15,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875, five contracts for surveys were made, on which $10,387.79 were expended. Under the assignment of $15,000 for the year ending June 30, 1876, the full amount was expended under seven contracts. For the year ending June 30, 1879, $17,500 were apportioned, of which $15,628.22 were paid out under two contracts, $1,871.78 not reported for payment at closing of report, and $1,500 retained to meet unforeseen excess of contracts. the apportionment of $14,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, $13,840 were expended under seven contracts.

Of

The surveyor general's estimates for the surveying service for the fis cal year ending June 30, 1882, are as follows: For completing the resurveys in the southwestern district, $12,800; resurveys in the southwestern district, on Mississippi River, and for location of private land claims on same, $7,850; original surveys in the southwestern district, $31,200; to finish contract for original surveys contracted for in 1875, $1,800; original survey of islands, part of Sabine River, to locate private land claims and finish contract of July 26, 1875, $6,000; survey of lands in Houmas grant, $15,000; resurvey and relocation of donation claims in the Greensburg district, $6,000; extension of section lines and meander of Pearl River in Greensburg district, $2,400; making a total for surveys of $83,050. For salary of the surveyor general, $2,000; clerical force, $4,800; additional clerks for arrears of office work, $10,000; contingent expenses, $2,000.

The field work has been very limited, owing to the small allotment of

appropriation. Four contracts were confined to resurveys of pine-timber belt in the southwestern district. A part of the Houmas grant has been subdivided into sections, and in due time the lands may be put on the market. The insufficiency of the present allotment and the necessity of increased appropriations for future surveys of the Houmas grant are urged.

Sixteen townships of the timber belt in the Calcasieu region remain to be surveyed under the policy heretofore pursued.

Nothing has been done on the unsurveyed belt along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico extending from the Sabine River eastward to Vermillion Bay, containing 40 or 50 townships, with an estimated area of over a million of acres. Under the original surveys of 1805 to 1838 this tract of land, 100 miles in length and from 20 to 30 miles in width, was totally ignored, under the assumption that it was uninhabitable and unsurveyable. It is now known that all the margins of the lakes, streams, and bayous in that region are high, dry, and exceedingly rich land, and that much of the residue is composed of broad chenièrs, or ridges, and valuable wooded slopes, which are of the richest alluvial land, and in many places sustaining large numbers of settlers. The failure of the government to extend the lines of public surveys over this tract retards emigration and the development of that part of the State. The exterior township boundaries should be extended over this region, and the apparently attractive and inhabitable portions subdivided into sections. It is estimated that to extend the township lines and traverse the Gulf coast, lakes, and principal streams would cost $12,000. If township lines were run settlers could avail themselves of the deposit system.

An examination of surveys in the southwestern district, embracing 27 townships, proved that the work had been substantially well done.

Little or nothing has been done, during the past year, in issuing certificates of location in satisfaction of confirmed and unsatisfied land claims. Many parties owning these claims desired the surveyor general to contract with deputies for the survey of their claims; but such applications, under the laws and regulations governing the same, have not been acceded to. An estimate of this work is embraced in the table of estimates submitted by the surveyor general in his report in full.

Under the resolution of the United States Senate and the official request of the General Land Office therefor, the surveyor general's office furnished a compilation of the report and tabular statement showing all the unconfirmed but located land claims in the State. It is earnestly hoped that Congress will relieve the people who own these lands by enacting a law incorporating the schedule and relinquishing all right of the United States to such lands whose owners under the local laws would own them.

But little has been done toward bringing up arrears of office work. Notes of resurvey of 42 townships in the Greensburg district have been transcribed and forwarded to the General Land Office, leaving about 718 townships still to be transcribed in all the districts. Twenty-four patent plats have been prepared, mostly in the Greensburg district, leaving about 5,976 still to be prepared.

Minnesota. Since the date of the last report, one contract not closed under the assignment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, has been completed, involving an expenditure of $3,585.09.

Under the assignment of appropriation of $20,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, three contracts were made, all of which are completed. Amount expended, $17,461.11, the balance to be applied on surveys executed.

The amount of special deposits during the year was $1,700, of which $1,598.56 were expended.

The area surveyed during the year was 420,404.39 acres; previously surveyed, 40,053,639.83 acres, making the total area surveyed to June 30, 1880, 40,474,044.22 acres. Miles run, 2,255.

Seventy-six plats were made, of which 30 were transmitted to the General Land Office, and 16 to local land offices.

The surveyor general's estimates for the surveying service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, are as follows: Survey of 125 miles of standard, 600 miles of exterior township, and 4,000 miles of subdivision lines, $50,400; salaries of the surveyor general and his clerical force, $10,500; pay of messenger, printing, binding, and incidentals, $1,500. The appropriation of $7,000 for the salaries of the surveyor general and his clerical force was all expended except $1. Of the appropriation of $1,500 for incidental expenses, $1,329.06 were expended.

The surveys made were mostly in the northern portion of the State, extending along the international boundary, from the west end of Knife Lake to Loon Lake, a distance of about 75 miles on the boundary line. Most of the townships subdivided border on and include a large number of lakes, which necessitated meandering.

The estimate for the surveying service is based on the large and increasing demands for the timber lands in the northern part of the State, and for lands lying contiguous to Rainy Lake and Rainy Lake River. Surveys should be extended over this region as early as possible, so that the country in the vicinity of Rainy Lake may be opened for settlement, and the timber lands disposed of before they are despoiled of their value by trespassers or by fire.

Montana.-The assignment of appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, was $14,000 and the expenditures, under five contracts, were $14,571.16, showing a deficiency of $571.16.

Amount of special deposits for office work on mining claims, during the year, $4,460, of which $3,258.74 were expended.

Area surveyed in 27 townships, 347,417.98 acres, including 2,560 acres of coal and 28,832.69 acres of timber lands; also mining claims on unsurveyed lands, 939.40 acres; previously surveyed, 10,798,370.21 acres; making a total of 11,146,727.59 acres surveyed to date.

Five hundred and nine plats were made, of which number 122 were transmitted to the General Land Office, and 116 to local land offices. The appropriations of $5,750 for the salaries of the surveyor general and his clerks, and $1,500 for incidental expenses, were all expended. The amount of special deposits by individuals for the survey of public lands was $802.76, of which amount $712.96 were on account of field work, and $90 on account of office work. Three contracts were made and completed, amounting to $608.26.

The surveyor general's estimates for the surveying service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, are as follows: Survey of 550 miles of standard, 1,200 miles of township, 3,000 miles of section, and 100 miles meander lines, $32,900; survey of heavily timbered and mountainous land, $10,000; inspecting past and locating future surveys, $3,000; salaries of surveyor general and his clerks, $13,200; rent, messenger, and incidentals, $1,500; mounting and binding maps and field notes, $1,200.

The surveys during the past year embrace 129 miles of standard, 47 miles of meridian, 578 miles of township, and 927 miles of section lines. The townships subdivided are those in the valleys of the Yellowstone and Tongue Rivers and Horse Prairie Creek; also timber lands west