tain cases. After showing him my means for their safe keeping, he carried them with him to San Francisco. I cite these instances to show that claimants regard a good safe necessary to this office, and that Congress may recognize the fact that people who are decidedly anxious to have their titles investigated ted and passed upon, regard my delay in the premises well founded. To get a safe here it will have to be hauled by wagon 300 miles, and, as before stated, $1,200 will be required to procure such a one as is needed. To purchase a safe, procure record and other books, and necessary articles in this connection, $2,000 ought to be appropriated in addition to the $1 500 already appropriated for incidental expenses for this fiscal year. Mr. Perrin asked if he and those acting with him could not be permitted to advance the money needed to properly open and conduct the investigation. Of course they could not be permitted to do so, and I only cite this case to show that Congress ought certainly to provide means for the execution of a law of its own enactment when those for whose benefit the law was enacted are willing, if admissible, to do so. Upon the strictest business principles, Congress should act in this matter as requested, and that, too, without delay. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, there was $2,000 apportioned for survey of confirmed private land claims in this district, and $5,000 for the present fiscal year. None of the $2,000 was used, and it is very doubtful if any of the $5,000 will be, even with the utmost expedition on the part of Congress and this office. GENERAL PROGRESS. Arizona is gradually increasing in population and wealth. Her exports consist chiefly of gold, silver, copper, lead, wool, and hides, and the increase in each is highly encouraging; and she produces flour, bacon, lard, butter, cattle, mules, and horses enough for the actual population, and furnishes some of these items for military and Indian consumption. Horses, cattle, and sheep are being brought here from California and Texas, and among them are many blooded animals. Stock of all kinds is healthy in Arizona, and the winters are so mild that they never need shelter, and they fatten on the natural grasses the whole of the year. During the present year there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of peaches, grapes, apples, and other fruits, and a corresponding improvement in their quality. Many privations incident to newly settled Territories are things of the past. Better dwellings are being erected and furnisbed in a manner that clearly indicates a purpose of the owners to permanently remain. The Territory has passed through that period wherein much of the population was undecided whether to remain or go elsewhere. To the hostility of the Indians much of this uncertainty was due. There is now no reasonable doubt that peace will hereafter prevail. The general prosperity of the people ought to be very satisfactory. Not a single case of failure among merchants has occurred for over a year. Very few, if any, people are necessarily idle, and the demand for labor is gradually increasing. This condition of advancement has been reached at great disadvantage in some respects. Much of our imports has been transported from 300 to 500, and some 900 miles from the steamer and railway, at an expense of from eight to twelve cents per pound, and our best means of travel and transporting the mails were stages over like distances. This drawback prevailed when we had to import much and bad but little to export. Now the Southern Pacific Railroad runs daily passenger and freight trains to our western border on the Colorado River, and will soon extend to the heart of the Territory; and as transportation is quickened and cheapened, our imports are decreasing and exports increasing, relatively speaking. And owing to this general advancement made by capital and labor in Arizona, it is but reasonable that Congress should be asked to shape its legislation with reference to our various classes of lands, so as to promote the welfare of the people. In doing so the government will also be benefited. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, To Hon. J. A. WILLIAMSON, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. JOHN WASSON, Gila and Salt River ..do $5,000 00 $224 67 $224 67 ...... 2,578 77 2,578 77 do 4,000 00 Not completed. ...do 4,500 00 4,613 54 4,500 00 do 2, 196 56 2, 186 67 A 2.-Statement of contracts entered into by the United States surveyor general for Arizona with deputy surveyors for the survey of public lands during the fiscal year endiny June 30, 1877, and payable out of the deposits made by individuals. during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, and payable out of the apportionment to Arizona for that year. A 1.-Statement of contracts entered into by the United States surveyor general for Arizona with deputy surveyors for the survey of public lands in Arizona Name of deputy sur Date of con Meridian. veyor. tract. Description of work. A mount of Amount Amount contract. returned. audited. Theodore F. White Sept. 18, 1876 1. Survey of tracts in township 14 south, range 13 east. 2. Townships in Sonoita and Santa Cruz Valleys Oct. 11, 1876 Survey township 15 north, range 4 west; township 13 north, range 2 east; township 11 north, range 6 west; lands at Date Creek and in Chino and Upper Verde Valleys. Theodore F, White Dec. 7, 1876 Connect boundary of Camp Grant military reservation with lines of pub. lic surveys, and surveys lands along the Gila River. Do.. Dec. 28, 1876 Continue surveys along the Gila River. Name of deputy sur Date of con- Description of work. Meridian. Amount of Amount Amount audited. C. Burton Foster. Dec. 6, 1876 Survey outboundaries of location No. 5 of Luis Ma. Baca's heirs. Mar. 5, 1877 Survey township containing Sulphur Spring ranch, in Pima County,viz, Gila and Salt River. township 16 south, range 25 east. $750 00 605 18 $750 00 605 18 $750 00 605 18 B 1.-Statement of account of apportionment for surveys of public lands in Arizona for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. May 26, 1877 July 31, 1877 4,009 89 Dec. 20, 1876 Theodore F. White....... Sept. 18, 1876 $224 67 Feb. 19, 1877 ....do Sept. 18, 1876 2,578 77 Aug. 23, 1876 By apportionment to Arizona for fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $13,500 00 13,500 00 C. Burton Foster Oct. 11, 1876 Estimated surplus from contracts made prior 4,000.00 By balance of apportionment applicable to contracts made 13,500 00 to June 30, 1877. 4,009 89 1B 2. - Statement of accounts arising from contracts entered into by the United States surveyor general of Arizona with deputy surveyors for the survey of private Nov. 2, 1876 Apportionment for survey of outboundaries of confirmed private land claims, (unavailable.) Deposit by Merchants' Exchange Bank of San Francisco, for survey of location No. 5, Luis Ma. Baca's heirs. $2,000 00 825 00 2,825 00 == On account of Amount. B 3.-Statement of accounts arising from contracts entered into with deputy surveyors for survey of public lands in Arizona, and payable out of deposits made by individuals during fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Date of account. In favor of Date of contract. Amount. Date. 730 00 Date of ac land claims during fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. In favor of count. Date of contract. Amount. Date. On account of A mount. Apr. 7, 1877 C. Burton Foster ..... Dec. 6, 1876 Office work...... $750 00 75 00 Aug. 23, 1870 June 30, 1877 Balance of apportionment, (unavailable) 2,000 00 2,825 00 June 30, 1877 Unexpended balance....... 2,000 00 $730 00 Mar. 5, 1877 Deposit made by I. S. Fried, administrator of estate of N. M. Rodgers, deceased, for survey of township containing Sulphur Spring Ranch, in Pima County. Balance due I. S. Fried, administrator, &c. Mar. 5, 1877 Theodore F. White...... Office work Mar. 5, 1877 $605 18 40 00 Balance due I. S. Fried, administrator, &c 84 82 730 00 81 82 C.-Statement of the account of the appropriations for the salary of the surveyor general of Arizona, for clerks in his office, and for incidental expenses, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. D.-Account of the fund created by individual depositors in Arizona for the survey of public lands during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. E.-Statement of plats made in office of the surveyor general of Arizona during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Plats of lines connecting Camp Grant military reservation with pub lic surveys Total.... 63 40 58 47 208 |