Speech #450114247

I present a memorial of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Dakota. remonstrating against the proposed change in the p resent method of surveying publiclands. They state among other things that "the present system of division and numbering is most comprehensive. simple. and exact. readily understood by all immigrants. both native and foreign. and universally popular and satisfactory. while it is as precise in measurements and full in topographical detail as the objects and uses of the plan require or the value of the lands and the free disposal of them will permit." They further say that they are satisfied -hat the proposed change will be more expensive and will produce much greater delays than the present system. and that the Territory of Dakota and other Territories are already suffering from the serious delays in the surveys of the public lands. They urge upon Congress to refuse to make the change but to make additional appropriations to hasten those surveys. I move the reference of the memorial to the Committee on Appropriations.