the necessities of surveys growing out of the frequent discoveries of new mining fields, an estimate of $25,000 is submitted for the extension of public surveys during the ensuing fiscal year.

Washington Territory.-By the act of March 3, 1871, there was appropriated for the survey of public lands in Washington Territory the sum of $40,000, and deposits to the amount of $2,978 were made by individuals, for surveys, prior to June 30, 1872.

The surveyor general reports that the public surveys made during the past fiscal year have greatly exceeded those of any former year.

The amount of land surveyed in the Territory at the close of the last fiscal year was 7,031,598 acres, leaving an estimated area of 37,764,562, acres yet to be surveyed.

For a detailed description of the mineral lands, timber, &c., I would refer to the ample report of the surveyor general of the Territory, which is printed herewith.

An estimate of $70,000 is submitted for the extension of public surveys in Washington Territory for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Kansas.-The act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, appropriated for surveys in this district the sum of $40,000. Five contracts were entered into by the surveyor general covering the entire appropriation. The demands of settlers and the interests of the several corporations holding grants of land under act of Congress, were duly considered in selecting the localities to be surveyed. In addition to the surveys under the regular appropriation, the survey of fifteen townships was paid for out of special deposits made by railroad companies.

The tract of land known as the "Cherokee strip," about two and a half miles in width, extending along the southern boundary of the State, from the Neosho River to the 100th meridian west from Greenwich, was also surveyed during the year.

The subdivisional surveys were extended over an area of 3,277,440 acres, making the aggregate of lands surveyed in this State at the end of the last fiscal year 39,579,665 acres, and leaving unsurveyed at that date an estimated area of 12,463,855 acres.

An estimate of $50,000 is submitted for the extension of public surveys in Kansas during the ensuing year.

Nebraska.-The surveyor general of Nebraska reports that surveys contracted for under the appropriation of $40,000 per act of March 3, 1871, have been completed, and that eighteen contracts have been entered into, payable out of the appropriation of $60,000 made June 10, 1872, and special deposits of $41,438.54, made by the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, under the provision of the twentyfirst section of the act of July 2, 1864, (Statutes at Large, volume 13, page 365.)

In view of a very large immigration, reported to have reached 75,000 during the past year, and the rapid advance of settlements on agricultural lands, the surveyor general proposes to extend the lines of public surveys during the next year in the regions of the North Platte, Niobrara, and Loup Fork of Platte River, and an estimate of $50,000 is submitted to enable him to acccomplish that object. His report shows the completion of two hundred and fifty miles of railroad within the limits of the State during the past year, and is accompanied by a sectional map of Nebraska, exhibiting the progress and condition of the public surveys to June 30, 1872.

Colorado. The surveyor general of Colorado, in submitting the official report of the operations of his office during the past fiscal year, prefaces the same with a detailed account of the progress made in all

departments of industry, such as agriculture, mining, railway enterprises, &c., the result of a steady and healthy immigration into that Territory.

The season has been a most favorable one for the farmer, and the mining interests were never in a more prosperous condition, eighty-nine mineral claims having been surveyed during the year. A number of railroads are in course of construction.

By act of March 3, 1871, $70,000 were appropriated for the extension of the public surveys in Colorado. Contracts were entered into covering the entire appropriation, and the lines of public surveys extended over 2,076,002 acres, which, added to 8,902,899 acres surveyed prior to June 30, 1871, makes an aggregate of 10,978,901 acres surveyed at the close of the last fiscal year, and leaves an area of 55,901,099 acres unsurveyed in that Territory.

Apart from the survey of public lands under the above named appropriation, fifteen surveys were made under the deposit system provided by the act of Congress approved May 30, 1862, and the amendatory act of March 3, 1871, the deposits amounting to $6,681.91. An estimate of $50,000 is submitted for the extension of the public surveys in Colorado Territory for the next fiscal year.

Dakota.-Twenty thousand dollars were appropriated for surveys in this Territory for the last fiscal year, of which amount the sum of $10,000 dollars was required by the act to be expended in the Pembina land district. The entire appropriation was used in the survey of 133 miles of standard lines, 437 miles of township lines, and 2,390 miles of section lines. The subdivisional surveys, according to the surveyor general's returns, embrace an area of 864,034 acres, making, in the aggregate, 7,441,462 acres surveyed prior to June 30, 1872, and leaving unsurveyed at that date an estimated area of 89,154,378 acres.

The surveyor general reports that the past summer has been the most favorable one for agriculture since the settlement of the Territory. A warm season and an abundant rain-fall have contributed to the production of unusually large crops. A considerable surplus of wheat was raised, which is being forwarded to eastern markets. The steady tide of immigration setting toward this Territory will probably be largely augmented during the next year, as increased facilities are offered by the several railroads completed to and across its eastern border. To meet the demands of settlers, and to enable railroad companies to make selections of lands granted to them by Congress, an estimate of $50,000 is submitted for surveying the public lands in Dakota during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

Nerada.-By an act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, there was appropriated for continuing the public surveys in Nevada during the last fiscal year the sum of $15,000. Seven surveying contracts were entered into, absorbing the entire appropriation, and the subdivisional surveys were extended over an area of 1,289,233 acres, making the aggregate of lands surveyed in that State prior to June 30, 1872, 6,165,680 acres, leaving unsurveyed at that date 65,572,061 acres. The localities selected for field operations were the different valleys where parties had located with droves of cattle, horses, flocks of sheep, &c.

The surveyor general of Nevada, in his annual report to this office, furnishes a very interesting statement of the mining resources of that State, and the progress made in that industry during the past fiscal year. The total value of bullion produced during that year exceeded

$22,000,000.

For the extension of public surveys for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, an estimate of $50,000 is submitted.

Arizona.-By the act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, there was appropriated for surveys in this Territory the sum of $20,000. Six surveying contracts were entered into by the surveyor general, absorbing the entire appropriation.

The subdivisional surveys made during the year embrace an area of 517,332 acres, making the aggregate area of surveyed lands in Arizona, at the close of the last fiscal year, 2,468,675 acres, leaving unsurveyed at that date 70,437,629 acres. The surveyor general in his annual report urges an early survey of the boundaries of the several Indian reservations, in order that settlers may avoid establishing themselves upon them, and thus prevent those conflicts which are liable to arise between the settlers and the Indians until the legal limits of the reserves are definitely fixed and known.

Referring to the separation of the public lands from those claimed under Spanish and Mexican grants, he shows the necessity for congressional legislation creating a commission similar to that authorized by the act of March 3, 1871, for California, and indorses the suggestion made in the last annual report of this office on that subject.

Two parties of the Texas and Pacific Railway engineers are now within the Territory prosecuting the work of surveying the line of that road.

For the continuance of the public surveys in Arizona during the next fiscal year an estimate of $30,000 is submitted.

Idaho. The surveyor general's report, for the past fiscal year, shows that under the act of March 3, 1871, appropriating $30,000 for the surveying service in Idaho, six contracts were entered into, exhausting the appropriation..

The surveys of exterior and subdivision lines were extended over the northern part of the Territory to Cœur d'Alene Lake, and over the grazing lands in the central portion thereof, covering an area of 870,749 acres, which, added to 1,524,055 acres previously reported, equals 2,364,804 acres surveyed prior to June 30, 1872. This deducted from 55,228,160 acres, the total area of Idaho, leaves 52,863,356 acres yet to be surveyed.

The surveyor general reports that the northern part of Idaho is rapidly filling up with settlers, and that about one hundred claims have been located there during the past year. He attributes this increase of settlement to the genial climate, fertility of soil, proximity to the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Columbia River, which furnish superior facilities for travel and the transportation of merchandise and produce, and give this part of the Territory an advantage over the central and southwestern portions.

The report contains a detailed account of the mining interests, and shows that while mining is energetically prosecuted the agricultural products are more than adequate to the wants of the community. The surveyor general recommends the survey of the boundary of the Shoshone and Bannock Indian reservations, embracing 1,800,000 acres, and strongly urges some action on the part of Congress for the reclamation of barren and desert lands, and the protection of timber.

An estimate of $40,000 is submitted for the survey of public lands in Idaho during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

Montana.-The act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, appropriated the sum of $40,000 for surveying the public lands in Montana Territory

during the fiscal year ending June 30 1872. Eight contracts were entered into, covering an estimated liability of $39,784.

The subdivisional surveys were extended over an area of 1,071,740 acres. making the aggregate of lands surveyed at the close of the fiscal year 3,530,908 acres, and leaving unsurveyed at that date an estimated area of 88,485,732 acres.

An estimate of $50,000 is submitted for the surveying service in Montana during the next fiscal year.

Wyoming. The sum of $40,000 was appropriated for surveying the public lands in this Territory during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Under this appropriation the surveyor general entered into fifteen surveying contracts, which in the aggregate absorbed the entire amount.

The lines of the public surveys were extended over an area of 766,070 acres, making an aggregate of lands surveyed in this district to June 30, 1872, of 1,854,343 acres, and leaving unsurveyed at that date 60,790,777 acres.

The field operations were confined to those lands suitable for agricultural or grazing purposes, to the lands falling within the limits of the Union Pacific Railroad, and to those localities containing coal, of which extensive and very valuable deposits have been discovered.

Surveys of Indian reservations.

(a.) White Earth Indian reservation, in Minnesota.-In conformity to the treaty of March 19, 1867, with the Chippewas of the Mississippi, this reservation, embracing an area of thirty-six miles square, was located by commissioners December 23, 1867, in the northwestern part of the State of Minnesota. It is bounded as follows, to wit: "Commencing at the southeast corner of township (141) one hundred and forty-one, range (37) thirty-seven; thence running north (36) thirty six miles; thence west (36) thirty-six miles; thence south (36) thirty-six miles; thence east (36) thirty-six miles to the place of beginning." contains thirty-six townships, fifteen of which, covering 339,550.40 acres, have been subdivided into forty-acre tracts.

It

(b.) The Cherokee strip, in Kansas.-This tract, ceded to the United States, in trust, by the fourth article of the treaty of July 19, 1866, has been surveyed into legal subdivisions. The strip extends along the southern boundary of Kansas, from the right bank of the Neosho River to the 100th meridian west from Greenwich. Its average width is two miles and a half, and it embraces, by actual survey made and returned to this office, 431,679.36 acres; the proceeds of the sale will inure to the benefit of the Cherokees.

(c.) Umatilla Indian reservation, in Oregon.-This reservation is situated on the Umatilla River, in the northeast part of the State, and was established under treaty with the Walla Walla, Cayuse, and Umatilla Indians of June 9, 1855. The boundaries of this reserve have been surveyed, and subdivision lines have been extended over 150,531.58

acres.

(d.) Klamath Indian reservation, in Oregon.-This lies east of the Cascade Mountains, near the southern boundary of the State. The survey of the exterior boundaries of this reservation has been completed, and it embraces fifteen townships which had been subdivided as public lands before the limits of the reserve were definitely fixed or known.

(e.) Warm Springs Indian reservation, in Oregon.-This reservation lies on the Des Chutes River, and between it and the Cascade Mountains, partly within townships 6, 7, and 9 south, range 12 east, Willa

mette meridian. Subdivision lines have been extended over an area of 34,806.25 acres.

(f) Siletz Indian reservation, in Oregon.-The lines of subdivisional surveys have been extended over lands situated in townships 9 and 10 south, ranges 9 and 10 west, of the Willamette meridian. This subdivision is into twenty-acre tracts, and embraces 17,191.75 acres.

(g.) The Grand Ronde Indian reservation.-This reservation, falling within townships 5 and 6 south, ranges 7 and 8 west, in Oregon, has been surveyed partly into twenty-acre tracts and partly into ordinary legal subdivisions, embracing in the aggregate 10,573.42 acres.

(h.) Chickasaw lands in the Indian Territory.-This extensive tract is situated north of the Red River, and is bounded as follows: On the south by the Red River, on the north by the Canadian River, on the east by the 98th degree of longitude west from Greenwich, and on the west by the 100th degree of longitude west from Greenwich. There being no surveyor general in this Territory, these lands were, at the request of the Indian Office and by direction of the Secretary of the Interior, subdivided into one hundred and sixty-acre tracts, under the immediate supervision of this office. This subdivision was required by the eleventh article of the treaty of April 28, 1866, with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians. The survey covers 1,350,107 acres, mentioned in my last annual report, and 3,299,851.60 acres surveyed during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, making an aggregate of 4,649,958.48 acres.

(i.) The Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole lands.-These lands were ceded to the United States for the use of various Indian tribes by the treaties of 1866. That portion of the Cherokee lands situated between the 96th and 98th degrees of longitude west from Greenwich, and the Creek and Seminole lands, were subdivided last year under contracts, entered into at the request of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and by direction of the Secretary of the Interior, with surveyors designated by the Indian Office. The work was prosecuted with diligence. The survey embraced an area of 4,297,515 acres. Under the appropriations of $150,000 and $55,000, for surveying boundaries of Indian reservations and for subdividing portions thereof, made May 29, 1872, instructions have been issued or contracts let as follows: 1. For a further subdivision of the Nez Percé Indian reservation, in Idaho Territory, into twenty-acre tracts. 2. For the subdivision of 50,000 acres of that part of the Pawnee Indian reservation in Nebraska which lies south of the Loup Fork of the Platte River. 3. For the subdivision of the Sac and Fox reservation lying in Kansas and Nebraska, south of the Great Nemaha River and west of the Nohart Creek. This reserve was made for the Iowas by treaty of May 17, 1854, and was afterward ceded by them to the Sac and Fox Indians of Missouri by the treaty of March 6, 1861. 4. For the subdivision of the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole ceded lands, lying west of the 98th and east of the 100th degree of west longitude from Greenwich, to the extent of the means set apart by the Indian Office, viz, $80,000. 5. For the subdivision into forty-acre tracts of the Pottawatomie lands, in the Indian Territory, assigned them in lieu of their lands in Kansas. These lands are bounded on the north by the North Fork of Canadian River; on the east by the Seminole reservation; on the south by the Canadian River; and on the west by the lands ceded by the Creeks and Seminoles. 6. For the subdivision into eighty-acre tracts of the La Pointe Indian reserve, in Wisconsin. Under act of Congress approved May 29, 1872, authorizing the removal of certain Indians to this reservation, instructions were issued to the surveyor general of Minnesota to contract for the subdivision of the townships in this reservation