F-Statement of amount paid surveyor general and clerks in his office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, and incidental expenses for the same period.

G.-Estimate of appropriation for survey of public land in Colorado for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, for salaries of surveyor general and clerks in his office, and incidental expenses for the same period.

For 650 miles of standard lines, at $15 per mile.....

For 3,000 miles of exterior or township lines, at $12 per mile

For 7,200 miles of subdivisional lines, at $10 per mile...

$9,750

36,000

72,000

For office expenses, rent, stationery, incidental expenses, &c...

$2,000

I.-Report of the surveyor general of Montana.

SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Helena, Montana, October 14, 1872.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, in duplicate, the usual annual report and accompanying map of the Territory, and statements required, to wit:

A. Showing condition of the appropriation for surveys of public lands in Montana for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

B. Showing the amount of special deposits made for field and office work on mining claims in Montana Territory for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

C. Showing list of public lands surveyed in Montana since June 30, 1871.

D. Showing condition of surveys contracted for by the surveyor general of Montana, under appropriation by Congress for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

E. Showing condition of contracts for mineral surveys.

F. Showing the number of township plats, descriptive lists of land, and corners furnished the Helena land office since June 30, 1871.

G. Showing condition of appropriation for clerks in surveyor general's office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

H. Showing condition of appropriation for salary of surveyor general for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

I. Showing condition of appropriation for the incidental expenses of surveyor general's office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

J. Showing amount of special deposits made for the survey of public lands in Montana since June 30, 1871.

K. Statement of number of plats made in the office of the surveyor general for Montana during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.

L. Showing the amount of land surveyed in Montana.

M. Showing the number of lineal miles run, the rates per mile, and the total cost of surveys in Montana Territory during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1-72.

N. Statement giving names, nativity, &c., of surveyor general and clerks in his office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, and to date.

O. Estimate for the surveying service in the district of Montana for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

SURVEYS.

The appropriation of $40,000 for the survey of the public land in this Territory during the last fiscal year was exceeded by the amount of $736.64. Although my instructions were explicit not to let contracts to exceed the amount placed at my disposal, yet when the returns were footed up, I found the above excess, although the contracts as let only aggregated about $39,800, thus retaining a balance of $200 for cout.ngencies. But the sinuous course of the Missouri River caused the meander lines to far exceed the amount estimated in the contracts.

Seymour Nebeker's contract exceeded the estimated amount, by reason of the mountains not projecting into the fractional townships as far as supposed. I am not advisa that Congress has passed any deficiency bill to meet the excess above mentioned. although I reported the fact, and asked that such a bill be passed for the relief of the contractors who had performed their work in good faith, which was approved by this office, and returns thereof made to the honorable Commissioner General Land Office I therefore respectfully urge that steps be taken to secure the passage by Congress of a bill for the above purpose at as early a day as possible.

st

A

Meridian and standard lines have been extended and established as follows: The fifth standard parallel north through ranges three, four, five, and six east guide meridian from the fifth standard parallel north between ranges six and sever east, through townships twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four, a. twenty-five north. The sixth standard parallel north through ranges five, six, sever and eight east. The fourth standard parallel north through ranges four and five The fifth standard parallel north through ranges four, five, six, and seven west. third standard parallel north in range four east to the mountains. The Deep Cres guide meridian was run south between ranges five and six east, through townshi seven and eight north. The second standard parallel north through ranges thirteen A guide meridian between ranges seven and eight west (by offsets and fourteen west. as per plat) through townships nine, ten, eleven, and twelve north. The third stand ard parallel north through range ten west. The principal meridian was run th through ranges eighteen and nineteen north. The second standard parallel port through range seven west.

In addition to these standard lines, fifty-six townships in the different valleys have been surveyed, and proper returns made of the same to the General Land Office, an proper plats and descriptive lists filed in the Helena land office, as per statement i herewith inclosed.

OFFICE WORK.

During the year there have been drawn in this office (where there was but one rega lar draughtsman during the whole year) 12 diagrams of standard lines, 36 of township lines, 54 mineral claims, 20 for use of deputy surveyors, 30 of townships made fractional by mineral claims, 168 regular township maps, 1 contract map, and three complete ter ritorial maps, amounting in all to 324 maps. Besides these several other maps and diagrams have been made through courtesy for the use of citizens and certain officers During the fiscal year there have been established and perpetuated the following number of linear miles: Standard lines, 118 miles 67 chains 59 links; meridian lines

66 miles; township lines, 681 miles 47 chains 27 links; section lines, 2,889 miles 22 chains 83 links; meander, 103 miles 56 chains 18 links, amounting in the aggregate to 3,858 miles 33 chains and 87 links.

The notes of these lines as established received a critical examination, and were found to conform with the laws of the United States and the instructions of this office. They were transcribed, and the copies thereof compared closely with the original notes, and transmitted to the General Land Office with the triplicate plats, the original notes and plats being placed on file in this office for future reference for all time to come.

The total cost of the field work of the above surveys is $40,881.64, and office work $9,000, making an aggregate amount of $49,881.64. The total acres surveyed in the Territory during the year is 1,092,974.77, and the cost per acre is a fraction over 4.23 cents per acre, being sixteen hundredths of a cent less per acre than last year. This is accounted for from the fact that there were more exterior and standard lines run in 1871 than in 1872.

The public land surveyed in this district this year will, when sold, bring in a revenue of $1,366,228.46. The new territorial map made in this office, and which is to accompany this report, will more fully show the extent, direction, and location of the work above mentioned.

On account of the mountains the surveys are very irregular; but they are all properly connected by standard and meridian lines, and projected according to the regular system of public land surveys, the convergency of meridians being allowed for on all correction lines where the correction line could not be run directly from the principal meridian, thus providing for the future survey of the townships falling in the mountain regions, and which are not required to be surveyed at present under special instructions.

The total number of acres surveyed in this Territory since the inception of the public surveys in this district foots up 3,252,693.25, including military reservations and mineral surveys on unsurveyed land, as is shown in Statement L, accompanying this report. Eighteen final surveys of mineral claims for patent have been made and returned according to law and instructions, an increase of eleven over last year.

The special deposits for field work amounted to only $70, and the same for office work to $450 during the year.

On the 1st day of January, 1872, there had been deposited for office work from the time the first deposit was made $1,113; since that date $275 have been added to it, increasing the amount to $1,388 at the end of the fiscal year.

The usual office work required in the general annual duties of making out contracts and bonds for deputy surveyors, special instructions, in duplicate, and recording of same; diagrams, outline maps, and descriptions of lines and corners for guidance for deputies in the field; examination and correction of original field notes of public surveys of agricultural and mineral lands, as they are returned by the deputies; official correspondence and semi-official, and recording same; calculation of areas of fractional lots and the miles run, and the computation of the accounts for the deputy surveyors; the quarterly accounts of the office and recording of same.

This report, to be acceptable to the honorable Commissioner General Land Office, must be as full and complete as possible, and therefore of necessity must consume much of the time of the office in its compilation in triplicate.

Although this report will not give as large a list of statistics as that of last year, yet I shall endeavor to give you as much information as circumstances will allow.

The territorial map required from this office, and which is to accompany this report, has been completed, and I can say that no pains or time have been spared to make its compilation as complete, correct, and full as possible for publication.

The execution of this map and tracing thereof retained in this office is the work of many weeks for one draughtsman, requiring great patience and skill on his part, as well as truthfulness in its projection and delineation of the ever-varying topography of rivers, mountains, creeks, and valleys.

The surveys of this year come in too late to be available in making any corrections on the map without marring its surface too much.

It contains very reliable information of the country as far as known.

The Yellowstone region and National Park were laid down from maps of Professor Hayden, furnished us by Hon. N. P. Langford, superintendent of the park.

PROJECTED SURVEYS.

On account of more pressing demands by settlers in other regions, I was unable to extend the lines of the public surveys this year eastward into the Judith Basin and Yellowstone Valleys, the appropriation of $50,000 not being sufficient for that purpose; therefore those regions and the country adjacent thereto which may be found available will receive attention next season.

There is still open country on the south and north to be surveyed, and I propose to

continue the surveys in the Big Blackfoot, Bitter Root, and Flat Head Valleys, and to extend the lines into Horse Plain country, and as far west as possible.

The construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad will bring thousands of immigrants to our rich Territory, who will settle in our fertile valleys, and wish to obtain titles to their lands and be forever at rest about their homes. This they cannot do unless the public surveys keep pace with the tide of immigration and settlement. To meet the demands thus created my estimate for the surveying service in this district for the next fiscal year will be more likely to fall short than to exceed the amount required. I therefore respectfully urge that my estimate be honored with an appropriation of money equal to the amount asked for.

AGRICULTURAL.

Of the 92,016,640 acres of land embraced within the limits of Montana, it is estimated that over one-third can readily be rendered tillable by the construction of the necessary means of irrigation; of the remaining two-thirds, the larger portion, despite the mountain chains and "Bad Lands" presents upon the mountain slopes and elevated plateaus natural pastures of abundant and nutritious grasses for the perpetual grazing of countless herds of domestic as well as wild animals.

Owing to existing natural causes, the rain-fall is so limited, and so little to be de pended upon, that artificial means have to be resorted to for the purpose of conveying needed moisture to fields of grain and vegetables.

The winter snows, falling deep upon the mountain-summits, melt but slowly during the spring and summer, giving birth to constant springs and never-failing streams, which, flowing down into the fruitful valleys, are diverted from their channels, and led by means of ditches through the gardens and grain-fields of the farmer.

To husbandmen in the Eastern States, this system of raising crops by irrigation would probably, in their estimation, react against the agricultural interests of the Territory, but to those conversant with its superior and certain advantages, it is far more preferable than depending on the varying and uncertain fall of rain.

While in the States droughts come and stunt and wither up the grain, and the parched earth opens to receive moisture, here the tiller of the soil, when his grain needs water, opens ditches, and, flooding his fields, causes his crops to grow and yield largely and lur uriantly under his attentive care. Again, when a favorable season has blessed caster farmers with that which is to them an abundant crop, and they go forth with gladsome hearts to harvest it, it sometimes happens that in the midst of their joyous labors the flood-gates of Heaven are opened, and they behold prospective gaas greatly diminished, if not entirely lost. Here the rains seldom come during the summer season, and when they do are of short duration and limited extent, so that neither grains nor grasses are injured by it. Here generous Nature grants to the industrious worker of her soil her choicest and most fruitful productions; and so given, she seeks not to rob him of them.

A quarter of a century ago attempts were made by the Jesuits, at their mission in the Bitter Root Valley, to raise vegetables, but they failed to do so, by reason of the lack of knowledge of the important auxiliary afforded by irrigation, but with the i troduction of that necessary adjunct to the successful cultivation of the soil, that val now yields large crops of grain and staple vegetables, which for quality and quantity surpasses sections of country commonly believed to be more naturally adaptes for their production. The excitement which led to the peopling of the Territory caused the masses to upturn its verdant soil; not, however, for the food which it might directly yield them, but to gain the golden particles which lay hidden beneath 4. Most of the immigrants were too impatient to become suddenly wealthy to the more permanent and certain prosperity gained by the methodical and unexu! ¿ pursuits of agriculture; still the great scarcity of grain products, together with th high commercial value, led some into this branch of industry, in which their foresigh and labor has been well rewarded by the present possession of comfortable homes, isr21 herds of growing stock, and pecuniary means gained more slowly but surely than is gra erally acquired by placer mining. The constantly diminishing yield of guich claims causes their workers to seek other pursuits, or to migrate to other points, where re fields are open for following their precarious and too often ill rewarded but self-in p» «ed avocation. This has operated against the more complete development of this matera interest of the Territory, inasmuch that while it has increased its number of produces it has more largely diminished the mining population of consumers. Possessing di practicable means so as to convey surplus agricultural productions remuneratively to outside markets, when sufficient is raised for supplying the wants of its resident postlation, then farmers will have to devote their attention (as they are even now doing t the raising of horses and cattle, which will convey themselves to a profitable market. The long and tedious routes of ingress into the Territory, together with a very genera deficiency of knowledge among the laboring population of the thickly settled Eas

respecting its resources and capacities, has prevented that increase of abiding inhabitants which its superior advantages would have otherwise secured.

Occupying a geographical position far to the westward, yet almost wholly north of that parallel of latitude which forms the northern boundary of the States of New York and Vermont, and extending over a country more than twice as large as the area of those two States combined, its present population does not probably number over 25,000 white inhabitants. Its climate, despite its altitude and northerly location, is not controlled by the thermal lines which pass through the States referred to, but in most respects its valleys possess temperatures similar to those prevailing in Northern Missouri and Southern Pennsylvania. Its agricultural productions principally consist of wheat, potatoes, barley, oats, turnips, cabbages, beets, and kindred vegetables, while corn is raised and ripens in some portions of the Territory; the nights are ordinarily too cool to permit its profitable culture to any considerable extent; for feeding stock, oats and barley are substituted in its place.

AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.

At the third annual territorial fair, held near Helena the present autumn, the following well-authenticated yields of cereals and vegetables were entered for and received the offered premiums:

The best acre of wheat yielded 6,120 pounds, or 102 bushels; the best crop of barley yielded 1134 bushels per acre; the best crop of oats yielded 101 bushels per acre; the best crop of potatoes yielded 613 bushels per acre; the best crop of onions yielded 3984 bushels per acre.

Other entries were made, showing that while the yields were rather more than ordinary, (probably by reason of extra care,) the production of from sixty to eighty bushels of wheat per acre is by no means of unusual occurrence; still the average yield throughout the Territory is about forty-five bushels to the acre. The fair was a financial success, and was very creditable to the Territory. Although nearly every one of the counties were more or less represented, still three-fourths of the articles were placed on exhibition by the citizens of Lewis and Clarke County. The gross receipts of the association amounted to about $7,500, leaving a net profit of $1,000 over the amount expended in the payment of premiums and incidental expenses. A fair of the combined counties in Eastern Montana is now being held at Gallatin City, where the "Three Forks" unite to form the majestic Missouri.

STOCK RAISING.

There are comparatively but few sections of our immense country which possess such facilities for the raising of horses, cattle, and sheep as this does. With crystal streams coursing down the mountain sides, and meandering through the grass-covered valleys, water, pure and cool, is always easily accessible by thirsty herds. The foot-hills and mountain sides, with few exceptions, afford abundant pasturage during the summer, while in the winter the comparatively light fall of snow in the valleys usually enables the stock to supply themselves with a sufficient amount of food to come out in tolerably fair condition in the spring. The wild bunch-grass, which ripens in midsummer, becomes sun-cured, and retains its wonderful nutritive qualities, until the recurring season causes its roots to send forth new shoots. The past winter was unusually severe here as well as elsewhere. The snow fell early and to an unusual depth, and remained on the ground much longer than ordinary, so that for many weeks horses and cattle suffered from hunger; but little hay was on hand, and many herds received none at all; yet, by the best information obtainable, it is estimated that not over 2 per cent. of the stock of the Territory perished from starvation. Many of the valleys were singularly free from snow, and cattle wintered in them as usual. Indians and old traders who have resided long in the country report that every ten or twelve years there occurs a winter of unusual severity. Little or no care is taken of the dumb brutes while they supply their own food; they would thrive much better if stabling was constructed by their owners for sheltering them nights and during storms. The cattle are, as a rule, by birth, of an inferior quality, coming from Texas and California, but finer breeds have been more recently imported, so that it is being perceptibly improved. The same is true relative to horses, by far the larger portion being "bronkas," from California, or "cayuses," obtained from Indians. These animals are small, but possess sinewy limbs, enabling them to travel long distances at a rapid pace, but are inferior as draught horses. Many stock growers are engaged in improving their equine animals by the importation of blooded stallions and brood mares from the Eastern States. Considering that the Territory cannot be surpassed for the profitable raising of sheep, it is indeed singular that comparatively so few have been brought into it. The climate is such that the diseases which afflict them elsewhere are unknown here. The wool is of fine quality, and the yield of wool averages more per head than in any other section of the country. Of 1,100 sheep driven into the country from Oregon two years ago, the average weight per fleece last year was five pounds, while this year from