M.-Statement of special individual deposits for compensation of clerks and draughtsmen in office of United States surveyor general for California during the fiscal year 1870-'71, deposited with assistant treasurer of United States at San Francisco, as per certificates on file in this office. July 20, 1870 W. F. Goud July 29, 1870 Nov. 7, 1870 Dec. 1, 1871 Feb. June 7, 1871 W. F. Goud A. Delmas et al.. J. M. Garther...... . Township 19 north, range 1 west. Total amount deposited for office-work on public land survey Sept. 19, 1870 | George B. Blanding Nov. 16, 1870 Oct. 4, 1870 3, 1870 9, 1871 Jan. 21, 1871 Mar. 15, 1871 April 4, 1871 .. Greenwood mine Nevada Quartz Mining Rock River Quartz R. M. Briggs, attorney. Davidson quartz mine. Rock River quartz mine. Pond & Co.'s mine Spring Hill mine. Kennedy mine Rough and Ready quartz claim.. 65 00 65 00 New York Hill mine 65 00 May 3, 1871 May 3, 1871 Pioneer Chief Mining Oneida Mining Comp'y pany. O. J. Wolcott Otto Walther.. Oneida mine Cozzens's placer claims.. Amadore mine Slate Ledge mine. Wolcott placer claim 65 00 65 00 65 00 195 00 65 00 65 00 65 00 65 00 Hancock & Tibbits's mine. 65 00 Keystone Consolidated Mining Company. June 21, 1871 June 21, 1871 Mining Company. Keystone Consolidated Spring Hill and Geneva mine... 65 00 ing Company. Original Amadore Min- Original Amadore mines... 65 00 M.-Statement of special individual deposits for compensation, &c.—Continued. Total amount deposited during the year Grand total June 30, 1871 2,375 00 Balance July 28, 1870, as per Commissioner's letter, dated Aug. 3, 1870.. 3,780 00 1, 824 23 5, 604 23 J. R. HARDENBERGH, United States Surveyor General for California. N.-Statement of account of appropriation for compensation of clerks and draughtsman in office of the United States surveyor general for California, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. 0.-Statement of account of appropriation for office rent, stationery, pay of messenger, and incidental expenses of the United States surveyor general's office for California, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. P.-Estimate for the surveying service in the district of California for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. For surveying extensions of meridian, standard parallels, township exteriors, and subdivision lines... For rent of office, stationery, fuel, lights, wages of messenger, instru- $100,000 00 7,000 00 For compensation of clerks and draughtsmen in the office of the surveyor general for work on mining surveys.. For compensation of clerks and draughtsmen in the office of the surveyor general for work on public surveys. 3,000 00 15,600 00 5,600 00 131,200 00 J. R. HARDENBERGH, United States Surveyor General for California. O.-Report of the surveyor general of Oregon. SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: I herewith transmit the following tabular statements, showing the business of this office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, together with a diagram map of this district: A.-Shows contracts acted upon during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. B.-Original plats of public surveys, and copies transmitted during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. C.-Townships surveyed since June, 1870, with area of public lands. D.-Salaries paid surveyor general and clerks for fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. E.-Estimate of surveying and office expenses for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. F.-Statement of incidental expenses for fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. The greater part of the surveys made under the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, were made along the line of the various military roads extending through the State east and west. These companies have been very urgent in their applications for surveys; much of their land yet remains unsurveyed. A small contract was entered into March 7, 1870, with James Aiken, for surveys in the vicinity of Coos Bay, which appears in the last annual report as work not yet entered upon; in the tabular statement herewith transmitted the same contract appears as canceled, while, in fact, a considerable portion of the contract has been worked up by Deputy James Aiken under his contract, and the original field-notes are now on file in this office, not yet critically examined and approved, the work having been done prior to receiving notice of cancelation. In letting the contracts, upon which no returns have been made, care has been had to contract for such work as would best meet the wants of settlements made in advance of the surveys. In the vicinity of Astoria, and reaching from thence southward to the Tualitin Plains, there is a district of country heavily timbered and somewhat mountainous, yet it is fast being settled up; the lands are valuable for the timber as well as for agriculture. Through this part of the State a railroad is being constructed, as provided for by act of Congress approved May 4, 1870. Twenty miles of this road, reaching from Portland westward, will be completed by the 1st day of January next. Along the foot-hills, and even upon the mountain-sides of the Cascade and Coast ranges, and along the coast throughout the entire length of the State north and south, the hardy pioneers are finding their way miles beyond the present surveyed limits, all clamorous for surveys. This is especially true in Coos and Curry Counties. Here are settlements that have been made ten or twelve years, with no means of obtaining titles to their lands, beyond a squatter's right, to protect them in their homes made amid the trials and privations of a frontier life. The lands are heavily timbered and broken, yet possessing many of the elements of wealth. Extensive coal-beds are being developed. The lumber trade has been of considerable importance for several years. More recently considerable attention has been paid to agriculture, it having been found that lands cleared of this dense forest produce vegetables and grapes in abundance, and in many places the small grains and fruits do well. In view of these facts, surveys should be extended along the coast and on each side of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue River Valleys as fast as practicable. Through these valleys the Oregon and California Railroad is being rapidly constructed; one hundred and eighty miles by the 1st day of January next will be completed. Settlements have been made in the Goose Lake country, near the line between Oregon and California; also on Jordan Creek, a tributary of the Owyhee, coming in from the east, there is quite a settlement, many of the settlers having resided upon their claims since 1864. In northeastern Oregon, on the waters of the Grande Ronde, Powder, and Burnt Rivers, extensive settlements have been made. Surveys, consequently, should be made in each of these localities at an early day; also along the lines of the several military wagon roads. In making up my estimate for surveying and office expenses during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, I have borne in mind the necessity of making the estimates as low as a prudent regard for the future of this State would warrant. In view of the many demands upon the General Government, growing out of the late civil war, every department of the Government should see to it that no unnecessary or extravagant demands are made, yet there are times and instances which demand prompt action and a liberal policy. Already settlements have in very many places gone beyond the surveyed districts; some of them have been established for years. The tide of immigration is flowing in upon us in greatly increased numbers; our valleys, hills, and mountains are fast being settled. It is but natural that settlers upon unsurveyed lands should anxiously await the surveys, more especially since, by the action of the Government, half of the lands in large districts are made the property of corporations, for the purposes of internal improvements; in every case, with one exception, without restriction in regard to price, leaving the settler who unfortunately located upon the odd-numbered sections at the mercy of the corporation within whose grant he may have settled. While it is true whoever goes upon unsurveyed lands goes at his own risk, yet these immigrants are here; they cannot wait for their lands to be surveyed; they must take their chances, oftentimes to suffer loss. Government has wisely provided homestead and pre-emption rights for the landless citizen; and in view of these provisions they gather together their little all, and bid farewell to home and friends, sever the ties that bind them to "their dear native land," and go out bravely to endure the privations of a frontier life, in order to obtain for themselves a home "under their own vine and fig-tree." To protect these, the Government is in duty bound to adopt such a policy as will best secure them in their rights. I deem it unnecessary to enter into details in reference to the resources of this State, further than to speak of the developments made since the supplemental report of September 15, 1868. Since then coal mines, that give promise of value, have been discovered on Butte Creek, in Clackamas County, near the base of the Cascade Mountains, in township six south, range two east. On the divide between the middle and coast forks of the Willamette River, gold-bearing quartz has been found which gives rich prospects. A quartz-mill has just been erected upon the ground, and will soon test the value of the mines. The agricultural interests of the State are being rapidly developed; an abundant yield, with an active demand, at remunerative prices, has given an impetus to farming beyond anything since the early mining days on this coast. The rapidity with which the Oregon and California Railroad is being built through the State carries with it the assurance of quick and easy communication with the commerce of the world, and adds to the inducements, already superior, to the tide of immigration "westward bound." The certainty of crops gives confidence to the tiller of the soil that his labors shall be rewarded. During the twenty years that I have resided in the State, there has been no failure of crops or an approximation thereto. Referring to the table of estimates marked E, I deem it my duty to especially call attention to the item of $2,400 compensation for two copying clerks in this office. This I consider indispensable, in view of the increased work in this office. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIS DRUMMOND, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington City, D. C. W. H. ODELL, Surveyor General. A.-Surveying contracts acted upon during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. 134 May 24, 1870 George Mercer. township 7 north, range 5 west; also, an island Exterior and subdivisional lines of township 11 135 Aug. 17, 1870 James A. Warner. Standard parallels between townships 13 and 14 136 Aug. 16, 1870 Wm. B. Pengra.. south, through ranges 2 and 3 east; exteriors Exteriors and subdivisions of township 37 south, 137 Aug. 18, 1870 Jesse Applegate... Exteriors and subdivisions of township 37 south, ranges 3, 4, and 5 east; township 38 south, 138 Aug. 20, 1870 John H. McClung. Standard parallels from the corners to townships 15 and 16 south, ranges 13 and 14 east; west 139 Aug. 31, 1870 John W. Meldrum. Exteriors of townships 11, 12, and 13 south, ranges 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 east; subdivisions of township 11 south, range 14 east; township 12 south, ranges 13, 14, and 15 east; township 13 south, range 16 east; standard parallels west from |