Speech #440100289

All the stateimests and argiimetitsnf your repert ot last year inaregard tetheseoarveys in California apply with equal Sore to the sitnatton in this territory. It is not only for the benefit of the claimants that the land embraced in these grants should hoesurv eyed and segregated from the commion domiaiin. but the Government is also deeply interested in having it done at the earliest practicable moment. Utnder the provisiotns of the act of 1854. these lands are reserved and held from the market until confirmation by Congress and eurvey by the Interior Department. whereby and Is consequence of the ncertwin extent of these grants before they are surveyed vast quantities of the public lands are liable to be. and no doubt are. kept out of the market. and immigration great.ly retarded by the refusal of this Government against its own interest to fulfill a solemn treaty obligation. This view of the subject was entertained by the last Congiess. and resulted in the repeal of the act of 1862. which provided that the cost and expense of platting abd surveying these private land claims shonld be paid by the claimants. As the law now stands. they are to be paid by the Government as provided by treaty slipulations.