agent is delegated to examine into alleged misconduct, which can only be done at great inconvenience and expense, he finds himself embarrassed by his want of authority to compel the attendance of witnesses. What is needed, and for which I respectfully ask, is the authority to appoint one or two special agents to be constantly in the employ of this Bureau, who may become familiar with the land laws and regulations, and who shall, subject to orders from this office, visit the different land districts with a view to examine into and report upon the manner in which the business is conducted. A salary of $2,500 should in my opinion be affixed to such office, and, in addition, the actual expenses of the agent while on duty should be borne. It is a system not new to other Departments of the Government, and is believed to have been productive of a salutary effect in its workings. That such a system, if adopted in connection with the administration of the affairs of the Land Bureau, would result in subserving a good purpose I have no doubt. Not only would the General Land Office be kept in closer rapport with the district officers; the officers be afforded an opportunity of explaining any false charges which might be brought against them; the people secured in their rights against the unlawful acts of bad officers; but a great desideratum would be attained in having some one to superintend the removal of district offices, the opening of new offices, and the giving of instructions to officers, when, without previous experience, they are appointed to those positions-matters which have from the foundation of the Government to the present time been productive of great hindrance to the smooth and correct working of the land system. In changes of the officers referred to, which are frequent, the new appointees in a majority of cases bring to the discharge of their duties no experience or previous knowledge of such duties. From the very first day of their official life a pressure of business is perhaps forced upon them, compelling them to decide on cases, or to render a construction of law, which, if erroneously done, may invalidate the title to hundreds of homesteads and prejudice the rights of hundreds of citizens. The details of business, so necessary to dispatch and correctness, are to be learned only by long experience; and, before that is acquired, untold numbers of almost inextricable complications may have been made. The result is seen in the mass of cases that burden our files and consume the time of the office, a great portion of which could have been avoided if this office had possessed the facilities for sending competent persons to the spot to instruct the officers and start the machinery of their offices aright. In the correction of the evils alluded to by the appointment of special agents as herein asked, the Government would save a very large amount over the appropriation necessary to meet the expenses, while the saving, both of money and trouble, to the public would be probably still greater. Respectfully submitted. WILLIS DRUMMOND, The Hon. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. A.-Report of the surveyor general of Florida. UNITED STATES SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor, in compliance with instructions, to submit the following report of surveying operations in this district during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, together with tabular statements of office and field work. The surveys during the past year have been prosecuted in regular order, as proposed, to the extent of the appropriation therefor. On the 16th of November last I contracted with Deputy Josiah H. Stearns for the survey of fifteen townships, reaching from the south boundary of the survey of Deputy J. W. Childs to the Caloosahatchee River, namely, townships 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 south, of ranges 27, 28, 29 east. The deputy took the field about the middle of December following and returned his work the 20th of May. The office-work was completed, and the duplicate plats and transcribed field-notes, with account of deputy, forwarded to the General Land Office on the 28th of June. On the 18th of November, 1870, I contracted with Deputy James D. Tannehill for the survey of thirteen townships, reaching from the previous survey of J. D. Stanbury, deputy surveyor, to the Caloosahatchee, and from the contract of J. H. Stearns, deputy surveyor, to the Okeechobee Marsh, namely, townships 39, 40, 41, 42 south, range 30 east; townships 40, 41, 42 south, range 31 east; townships 39, 40, 41, 42 south, range 32 east; and townships 39, 40 south, range 30 east. The deputy was detained by jury duty in the United States court then sitting at Jacksonville, so that he was unable to take the field until early in February following. He made return of his work on the 23d of June, his time having been extended thirty days beyond the date set in his contract, as was also done in the case of Deputy J. H. Stearns. The office-work was completed, and the duplicate plats and transcribed field-notes, with deputy's accounts, were forwarded to the General Land Office on the 11th September. The greater time taken to work up this contract than the preceding one was in consequence of less clerical force in the office. I next contracted on the 24th of April, 1871, with Deputy Marcellus A. Williams for the survey of four townships on and near the Atlantic coast, east of Lake Okeechobee, namely, township 45 south, ranges 41, 42, 43 east, and township 46 south, range 41 east. Township 45 of ranges 42 and 43 had been embraced in the previous contract of Messrs. Gleason and Williams, but they had not surveyed them, having reached and passed the estimated number of miles in their contract before coming to them, in consequence of the unusually large quantity of meanders in the coast townships. At their request the unexecuted portion of their contract was canceled and re-contracted, as already stated, to Mr. Williams, with two additional townships. He met with a misfortune on Lake Worth, being obliged to beach his boat in a storm, thus losing the greater part of his provisions. He still attempted to execute his contract by packing his stores on mules, but the summer rains being unusually heavy rendered that region of country impracticable, and he was compelled to abandon the work for the season. At his request his time has been extended to the 1st of next March. A full account of deposits made during the year for special surveys is given in document E herewith, and it is unnecessary to recapitulate them here, except to say that the apparent delay in contracting these surveys is not the fault of this office, but of the parties interested, contract having in each instance been offered to surveyors named by those parties, but not yet accepted. In Document C I again report the four unclosed contracts from before the rebellion of Jas. D. Galbraith, John B. Kilgore, Ramon Canova, and William Mickler. As these contracts are practically dead, I would suggest the propriety of canceling them, leaving open any unsettled questions as to payment for work executed. Or, at any rate, as it appears scarcely necessary to repeat the report of them unchanged year after year, I would request to be permitted to drop them hereafter from my reports. The portion of country embraced within the surveys of the past year is much the same as that surveyed the year previous, improving in quality, however, as you approach the Caloosahatchee River. There is considerable first-rate hummock bordering said river, with good pine and prairie lands back of it. The great disadvantage, however, is the liability of the land to periodic overflows from the river. But it is my opinion that when the State becomes sufficiently settled to make those lands desirable it will not be found impracticable to reclaim them by a system of drainage, and that among them, when thus reclaimed, will be found some of the best lands in the State. In its present condition the land is valuable for grazing but not for cultivation. Accompanying this report are the following documents: A.-A diagram, showing the progress of surveys. B.-A report of surveying operations in the district during the past fiscal year. E.-A report of deposits for special surveys. Submitting the above report to your consideration, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIS DRUMMOND, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. M. L. STEARNS, Surveyor General. B.-Report of surveying operations in the district of Florida during the year ending June 30, 1871, showing the present condition of contracts made date of last annual report. 7 April 29, 1871 Private claim. "Dupont's Hummock Respectfully submitted. M. L. STEARNS, Surveyor General. UNITED STATES SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Tallahassee, Florida, September 25, 1871. C.-Statement showing the present condition of contracts not closed at date of last annual report. Respectfully submitted. UNITED STATES SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, M. L. STEARNS, Surveyor General. Tallahassee, Florida, September 25, 1871. D.-Report of plats furnished the district land office during the year ending June 30, 1871. UNITED STATES SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Tallahassee, Florida, Sept. 25, 1871. Remarks. Section 55. Private claim. Andrew Atkinson. E.-Report of deposits made by individuals for special surveys during the year ending June 30, 1871. Certificate of deposit not in possession of this Application withdrawn and deposit returned, |