Fractional townships 138 to 142 north, inclu- | Deputy in the field. Township 112 north, of range 50, and town- Deputy in the field. Townships 141, 142, 143, and 144 north, of range Deputies in the field. of range 52 west, of the fifth principal meri Townships 132 and 133 north, of ranges 47 and Deputy in the field. Townships 109 and 110 north, of range 49, and Deputy in the field. 50 west, of the fifth principal meridian. E-Report of the surveyor general of Nebraska. SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, September 25, 1871. SIR: In compliance with your instructions of April 7, 1871, I have the honor to submit herewith (in duplicate) the usual annual report of the surveying operations in this district for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. SURVEYS. All surveys contracted for out of the appropriation of July 15, 1870, have been completed both in the field and office; also contract No. 30, of Messrs. Paul & Gilbert, for the survey of standard lines, made July 26, 1869, out of the appropriation of March 3, 1869, upon which the time was extended until August 1, 1870. Out of the special deposits made by the Union Pacific Railway, July 21 and October 6, 1669, there have been surveyed contracts Nos. 38 and 39. Out of the special appropriation of April —, 1871, for the benefit of William Hardin, there has been surveyed contract No. 40. The total cost of surveys in the field during the year has been $53,286 23. Eight contracts have been entered into, for the survey of the public lands, out of the appropriation of March 3, 1871. The districts embraced in these contracts have been selected with reference to the wants of settlers and the interests of the Union Pacific Railway, in compliance with your general instructions of April 4, 1867. Advance returns of some of these contracts have already been received, and all of them are nearly completed in the field. In the valley of the Republican River, the presence and unfriendly attitude of Spotted Tail's band of the Sioux has materially impeded the prosecution of the surveys. One party, that of Messrs. Daugherty & Cutler, were driven from their district to the line of the Union Pacific Railway, by these Indians, about the 7th of last month, but, receiving a strong escort of soldiers from General Augur, immediately returned and resumed work. PROPOSED SURVEYS. I have prepared, and submit herewith, the usual estimate for surveys in the district for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. The amount given therein, although in excess of former appropriations, is required, to extend the surveys to keep pace with the rapid advance of the settlements. The surveyor has been followed so closely by the settler the present season that in many instances the deputies report the lands in their district of surveys occupied as fast as the lines are established. The surveys proposed include subdivision, exterior, and standard lines, and the survey and establishment of the boundary line between Nebraska and Dakota. In selecting the territory embraced in the proposed survey, I have been governed by the demand for lands for settlement in the several localities designated by the wants of the Union Pacific Railway and the interest of the General Government in preserving the lines of the public surveys in proper shape for future operations in the district. The proposed extension of standard lines is with the view of preparing for the subsequent survey of lands already bordering on the settlements. The survey and establishment of the boundary line between Nebraska and Dakota has been proposed in view of the importance of defining, at an early day, the northern limit of the political jurisdiction of the State, and to provide for the extension of public surveys north of the eighth standard parallel, and west of the second guide meridian west, which must close upon this boundary line. The execution of these surveys will prepare the way for civil organization in the new and growing settlements of that locality, and prevent the trespass of such settlements upon the Sioux Indian reservation of Dakota Territory, the southern boundary of which is the line dividing Nebraska and Dakota. The northern boundary of the State is in an unexplored region, where transportation will be difficult and costly, and I am of the opinion that $30 per mile, the rate given in my estimate, will be but a moderate compensation for the execution of this important work. OFFICE-WORK. The field-notes of 96 miles 51 chains and 85 links of standard, and 1,031 miles 23 chains and 61 links of exterior lines, have been examined, approved, and transcripts and diagrams made thereof (in duplicate) and transmitted to the Department. The field-notes of 118 townships of subdivision lines have been examined, approved, and transcripts and township plats made thereof (in triplicate) and transmitted to the Department and the proper local land offices. Descriptive lists of 124 townships have been made and transmitted to the proper local land offices. Seventy-two volumes of field-notes of surveys, including the boundaries of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado, the Fort McPherson military reservation, the base line, standard and subdivision lines have been_paged, indexed, and bound. In addition to this, there has been the usual amount of miscellaneous work performed, covering such a multitude and variety of subjects as to preclude any detailed statement thereof. The total office expenses during the year have been $9,617 89. NATURAL RESOURCES. The State of Nebraska contains a total area of 48,636,000 acres, about one-half of which has been surveyed. The reliable and accurate knowledge of the country obtained by the extension of surveys and from the observations of military and other exploring parties exhibits the fact that the State contains much less than the usual average of barren or worthless lands. With reference to resources and productions, the State comprises two natural divisions, nearly equal in area, which may properly be described as the eastern or agricultural, and western or grazing districts; the one adapted to agriculture, the other to stock-raising. The line of division between these districts approximates longitude 990 west from Greenwich, which is not far from Fort Kearney, although west of this line there is a large amount of fine agricultural lands, and perhaps some grazing lands east of it. Eastern Nebraska is adapted to all the agricultural staples of this latitude. The award of the first premium for the best collection of fruits, to the State Horticultural Society of Nebraska, made at the recent exhibition of fruits at Richmond, Virginia, where all the States of the Union were represented, may be said to have disposed of any doubt concerning the successful production of fruit in this portion of the State. Western Nebraska is peculiarly suited to stock-raising by the extent and quality of its natural pasturage, and the character of its climate. It comprises a portion of the State commonly known as "The Plains," long represented as a sterile waste, but found, upon investigation and by actual experiment, to be rich in the essential elements of material wealth and greatness. The mild, dry weather of the winter months, and winter-grazing, are the two great features that distinguish this as a stock-raising region. They enable the stock-owner to dispense with the artificial shelter and food for his herds throughout the entire year. The mean temperature for the whole year is 50 Fahrenheit; for spring it is 47°; summer, 750; autumn, 50°; and winter, 25°. Observations taken at Fort Kearney since 1849 show that at that point the months of May and September are entirely exempt from frost. The annual rain-fall is 20 inches, of which 8 inches fall in the spring, 6 in summer, 4 in autumn, and 18 inches of snow, equal to 14 inches of rain-fall in the winter. There is no rain during the cold months, and the slight snows are very dry. Observations covering a period of six years show an average of three hundred clear days in each year. The above statistics exhibit the character of the climate that renders stock-raising in this district, without shelter, practicable. The real source of the future wealth of this country, however, must be in its wintergrazing, which furnishes winter-feed for stock, superior to the hay and grain of the Eastern States. This cheap stock-food is the product of plains grasses, grown and matured under conditions of climate given above. The plains grasses are fine and short, but very rich, and contain, in condensed form, as much nutriment as the larger species. They grow and mature during the rains of spring, and gradually dry up through late summer and early autumn. Retaining their rich juices, they become as perfectly cured as the best-made hay. The slight, dry snows scarcely ever remain longer than a few hours, and do not seem to injure the natural pasturage in the least. There are several herds already occupying this region, that number their cattle and sheep by thousands, all in a healthy and prosperous condition. In the light of these facts the future wealth of this country may be outlined. For many of the statistics given above I have to acknowledge myself indebted to Dr. H. Latham, a resident of the Plains and formerly surgeon of the Union Pacific Railway, who has furnished the public much valuable information concerning this region, in a pamphlet on the grazing resources of the trans-Missouri country, containing an array of facts, experiments, and observations, that are irresistible. IMMIGRATION. Immigration to Nebraska during the year 1871 has been unusually large, and the progress of the State in material developments correspondingly rapid. A careful estimate, based upon statistics obtained from the State superintendent of immigration, and from other reliable sources, places the total increase of population during the year, by immigration, at about 75,000. This large influx is, to a great extent, due to the systematic efforts of the State board of immigration, and the railway companies, in making known the superior inducements the State offers the settler, and for the profitable employment of capital and labor. An interesting feature of this remarkable increase is the establishment of numerous colonies through the instrumentality of those railway companies owning lands in the State granted by the General Government, which they offer to sell in large quantities and on long credit. The magnitude and extent of these colonies' settlements may be inferred from the fact that the Burlington and Missouri River Railway Company has alone located, during the year, nine colonies, all reported in a prosperous condition, and that one of these colonies, located by the Union Pacific Railway, has negotiated with that company for lands sufficient to accommodate one thousand families. RAILWAYS. This great increase of population means a proportionate increase of wealth and production, demanding additional means of transportation. This demand is being supplied by the extension of numerous lines of railways into the interior of the State. Three hundred miles have been completed and put in operation during the year by the following railway companies, viz: the Burlington and Missouri River, the Atchison and Nebraska, the Midland Pacific, the Omaha and Northwestern, and the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley. The Burlington and Missouri River Railway is an extension of the road of that name in Iowa, from Plattsmouth, on the Missouri River, to Fort Kearney, a distance of about two hundred mlles, where it connects with the Union Pacific, and to which point it will be completed before the close of the present year. The average cost per mile of this road, when completed, including buildings, rolling-stock, and general equipment, as estimated by the superintendent, will be about $40,000. The pay of conductors on this road is from $60 to $80 per month; brakemen, $40 to $50 per month; engineers, $350 per day; firemen, $1 50 to $2 per day; machinists, $2 75 to $3 per day; and common labor, $1 60 to $2 per day. Passenger tariff is five cents per mile. The road being the traffic, as yet, is light. The following extract from statement of the superintendent gives the totals of freight_transported over the road during the eleven months ending June 30, 1871, to wit: Lumber, 5,376,000 feet; merchandise of all kinds, 9,675,000 pounds; grain of all kinds, 6,000,000 pounds; coal, 1,548 tons; cattle, 211 head; and hogs, 40 head. so new, The Atchison and Nebraska Railway is located in the valley of the Great Nemaha River, in the southeast portion of the State, with about forty-five miles completed within the State. The Midland Pacific is located from Nebraska City to Lincoln, the State capital, with fifty-eight miles completed. The Omaha and Northwestern runs from Omaha north, through Douglas and Washington Counties, with the Niobrara River as its ultimate terminus, and has about fifty miles completed. The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley starts from Fremont, on the Union Pacific, and runs up the Elkhorn River, with about fifty miles completed. In addition to these railways which have extended their lines during the year, the great national thoroughfare, the Union Pacific, is prosecuting work on the railway bridge across the Missouri River at Omaha, with probability of its completion early in next year. The Omaha and Southwestern Railway is completed to Platte River, a distance of about twenty-five miles, where it connects with the Burlington and Missouri River Railway. The Brownville and Fort Kearney have completed the grade of twelve miles, and located seventy-five miles of road from Brownville west to Fort Kearney. Thus it will be seen that the various portions of the State are fast being provided with the facilities of transportation, so necessary to the growth and improvement of the country. The pay of employés on the several railways is probably about the same as that of those on the Burlington and Missouri River, given above. The amount of values added to the wealth of the State by the construction of these three hundred miles of railway, adopting the estimated cost per mile of the Burlington and Missouri River, is $12,000,000. The increase of values in the entire State, by immigration, during the year, will swell this amount to about $20,000,000. The total population of Nebraska, as shown by the census of 1870, was a little more than 122,000; the actual number was much greater, as the census was imperfectly taken. The total of values in the State at the beginning of the present year, as shown by the books of the State auditor, is $55,512,658. These statements, partial and incomplete as they are, may, I trust, prove of interest in showing the rapid strides made by this new State during the brief period of one year. The statements, estimates, map, &c., accompanying this report are: A.-Schedule showing the condition of the public surveys under the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. B.-Schedule showing the condition of the public surveys under the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. C.-Statement showing the amount expended for salaries of surveyor general and clerks, and condition of account during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. D.-Statement showing the amount expended for rent of office and incidental expenses and condition of account during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. E.-Statement showing the description of land, area, and number of miles for which duplicate plats and transcripts of field-notes have been transmitted to the Department, and triplicate plats and descriptive lists have been furnished the local land offices, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. F.-Statement showing the description and number of township plats and descriptive lists furnished to the different local land offices during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. G.-Estimate of sums required for the extension of public surveys in the State for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. H.-Estimate of sums required for office expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. K.-Sectional map of Nebraska, exhibiting the progress and condition of the public surveys for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, upon which the surveys completed are shown in black; those under contract, in green; and those proposed, in red. Care has been taken to render the primary object of the map as clear as possible, and to avoid a multiplicity of lines. The boundaries of the five United States land districts have been given in a descriptive note. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. E. CUNNINGHAM, |