D.-Statement of surveying contracts entered into by the surveyor general of Louisiana on account of the appropriation of $7,000 for the fiscal year ending

June 30, 1877.

O. H. BREWSTER,

Surveyor General of Louisiana.

E-Estimate of funds to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, for surveying in Louisiana, for compensation of surveyor general and his clerks, and for contingent expenses in his office.

Proposed surveys and resurveys:

7,850

$34.800 is estimated for completing the resurveys of the public lands
in the southwestern district, where on account of the great lapse of
time since the original surveys were made, or are supposed to have
been made, viz: 1807, the old lines and corners are generally totally
obliterated in the field, and the disposition of land prevented by the
inability of settlers and others to describe the land desired to be en-
tered. The number of townships falling under this head in that
district is 44; and their resurvey is believed to be necessary to en-
able the officers of the government to check the destruc ion of tim-
ber now going on so extensively, by enabling them to identify the
lands despoiled, and thus pave the way to the punishment of the
offenders. This estimate is based on the rate of $12 per mile for
township lines, and $10 for section lines; for less than which sums able
and faithful surveyors cannot be obtained for Louisiana surveying.. $34, 809
$7,850 is estimated for the much-needed resurvey of a few townships
in the southeastern district, on the Mississippi River above New Or-
leans, and as far up as Donaldsonville, and for the location of pri-
vate land claims on the same, and on the bayou Lafourche....
$14,000 is estimated, at rates as above stated, for resurveys in the pine
timber lands of the southwestern district, for the original townships
and sectional surveys in the southwestern district, of the strip of
country situated on the Gulf coast and south of the limit of the
old surveys of 1807 and 1830. The township lines should be extended
across this region to the Gulf and the lands found valuable on the
ridges, bayous, and lakes within it, should be surveyed under the
radiating lot system. These surveys are demanded by the wants
of large numbers of settlers cultivating much of this land, and by
the general interest of the government and the State of Louisiana.. 14,000
$1,800 is estimated to finish the original survey of the public lands on
the southeast pass of the Mississippi and on the bayou Balize, con-
tracted for by Deputy J. L. Bradford in his contract No. 7, of April
8, 1875, but work not executed then for lack of funds..
$6,000 is estimated as necessary to survey originally islands in the sev-
eral districts, to traverse a part of the Sabine River, and connect
the township and section lines thereon, to locate private claims in the
several districts, and to finish the survey of the rich and heavily-
settled townships 4 south, ranges 1 and 2 east, southwestern dis-
trict, contracted to be surveyed by Deputy J. L. Bradford in his con-
tract No. 3, of July 26, 1875, but left unfinished by reason of insuffi-
ciency of existing appropriation.......

1,800

6,000

Salaries.

$64, 450

Fourteen clerks for office work in arrear, to prepare plats and field notes, at $1,000 each...

4,800

14,000

Contingent expenses.

14,000

Stationery, binding, messenger hire, and all other incidental expenses.

2,000

2,000

Total estimate of appropriation required....

OFFICE OF SURVEYOR GENERAL,

DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA,

87,250

New Orleans, July 11, 1877.

O. H. BREWSTER,

Surveyor General, Louisiana.

B.-Report of the surveyor general of Florida.

UNITED STATES SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,
DISTRICT OF FLORIDA,
Tallahassee, Fla., September 1, 1877.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of surveying operations in my district for the year ending June 30, 1877, together with tabular statements of the field and office work as follows:

A. Map of the district showing progress of surveys.

B. Showing contracts made during the year.

C. Showing present condition of contracts not closed at date of last annual report. D. List of township plats furnished the local land office.

E. Statement of special deposits.

F. Estimates of appropriations required for next fiscal year.

I have made contract with Charles F. Smith, an experienced surveyor, to finish up the work on the Gulf coast to and including Charlotte Harbor. When this and the resurvey of the Georgia boundary is finished, the work in the field in this district will be exhausted unless it be thought desirable to extend the surveys southward from their present terminus on the Gulf coast. It is true, that these lands are mostly

of the character donated to the State as swamp lands, but there is no provision of law for their conveyance to the State until surveyed,

The acts donating these lands to the State contemplate their survey, and the State has a right to expect it.

The estimate herewith for surveys is intended for the extension of the surveys southward from their present terminus. Some of these lands are the most valuable of any in the State.

The State is enjoying a season of remarkable prosperity, in striking contrast to the depression in other parts of the country.

The records of the State and local land offices show a large and continually increasing tide of immigration, and we are favored with a climate and soil which will render its present prosperity permanent.

The free-school system is carefully sustained. The financial condition of the State is excellent, and law and order as vigorously enforced and maintained as in any State in the Union.

The recent enactments opening the public lands to pre-emption, and other entries as recommended in the last report from this office, will prove of much benefit to the State and people.

I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant,

Hon. J. A. WILLIAMSON,

Commissioner General Land Office,

LE ROY D. BALL,
Surveyor General.

Washington, D. C.

B.-Report of surveying operations in the district of Florida, showing contracts entered into during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877.

SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Tallahassee, Fla., September 1, 1877.

C.-Statement showing present condition of contracts not closed at date of last annual report.

Name of deputy.

No. of

contract.

Date.

Location of work.

Time allowed.

When re-
turned.

Remarks.

SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Tallahassee, Fla., September 1, 1877.

26 and 27.

35 and 36.

17.

1

Ang. 4, 1877

Do.

Do.

Do.
Do.