The Struggle to Survey Washington’s Wilds

Due to the great number of letters of inquiry received by Surveyor General J. C. Breckenridge from settlers relative to the survey of public lands, he has issued a circular explaining the methods under which surveys are obtained. There are two primary methods. The first is by general appropriation, where Congress apportions funds to states and territories. However, these sums are frequently inadequate for the needs of the various districts, forcing the surveyor general to choose only the areas where the necessities are greatest.

Before a survey of any township can be considered, a petition must be forwarded to the surveyor general, signed by the actual settlers, providing a description of the land and the character of the surface. The rates of mileage allowed for surveys—$5 per mile for section lines—are considered very inadequate. Mr. Breckenridge has worked hard to induce Congress to raise these amounts, as there are now applications on file for the survey of about 260 townships in the territory that remain unsurveyed because no surveyors will take the low-paying contracts. The special deposit system, which allows settlers to pay for the survey themselves, is restricted by law to homesteaders and cannot be applied to land valuable for timber. This rigid system has left many settlers unable to gain title to their homes for years.