No. 6. The United States in account current with Warner Lewis, surveyor general of the United States for Wisconsin and Iowa. SALARY ACCOUNT. 1853. Dec. 31 DR. To amount paid surveyor general and clerks for the 4th quarter of $4,626 82 To this amount due the United States, carried to 1st quarter of 21 86 4,648 68 1854. March 31 To amount paid surveyor general and clerks for 1st quarter of June 30 To this amount due surveyor general from 1st quarter of 1854.... Sept. 30 To amount paid surveyor general and clerks for 3d quarter of 1854. 5,216 36 619 50 4,319 22 316 28 5,255 00 4,370 87 145 41 4,516 28 CR. 1853. By this amount due the United States from 3d quarter of 1853 ... $73 68 4,575 00 4,648 68 By this amount due United States from 4th quarter of 1853.. 21 86 4,575 00 619 50 5,216 36 July 31 By treasury draft No. 7922 on treasury Interior warrant No. 7626. 5,255 00 July 1 By this amount due United States from 2d quarter of 1854 No. 7. The United States in account current with Warner Lewis, surveyor general of the United States for Wisconsin and lowa. DISBURSEMENT ACCOUNT. 1853. Dec. DR. 31 To amount disbursed during 4th quarter of 1853..... $356 06 162 05 518 11 1854. Mar. 31 To amount disbursed during 1st quarter of 1854. 224 31 To amount due United States, and carried to 2d quarter of 1854.. 760 04 984 35 June 30 To amount disbursed during 2d quarter of 1854.. 812 47 447 57 1,260 04 Sept. 30 To amount disbursed during 3d quarter of 1854. To this amount due United States, and carried to 4th quarter of 620 97 8 97 629 94 By this amount due United States from 3d quarter of 1853.... $18 11 500 00 518 11 By balance due United States from 4th quarter of 1853.... 162 05 497 30 325 00 984 35 Mar. 31 June 10 By this amount due United States from 1st quarter of 1854 .... 760 04 500 00 1,260 04 July 1 By amount due United States from 2d quarter of 1854... 447 57 182 37 629 94 WARNER LEWIS, Surveyor General. SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 8.-Statement of surveys contracted for out of the appropriation of May 31 and August 4, 1854. June 20 July * Advance. Advance of eight towns. REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA. U. S. SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, San Francisco, Cal., September 28, 1854. SIR: During the past season the surveys have been extended with as much rapidity as the public interest seemed to justify under the existing circumstances. The operations of the office, however, have been very considerably retarded, so far as a subdivision of townships into sections is concerned, owing to the unsettled condition of the private claims. This has been more particularly the case in the most desirable portions of the State, and where the lands are valuable. As my views in relation to the survey of private claims have heretofore been fully expressed, it is not deemed necessary to repeat them at this time. I would, however, merely remark, that the experience of another year only serves to confirm my opinion as to the great importance of being enabled, at the earliest possible period, to separate the unclaimed public lands from those claimed under foreign titles. The accompanying map will show the present condition of the surveys in this State, and also the work which, as at present advised, it is contemplated to have performed during the fiscal year. Since the date of my last annual report, the following work has been done in the field, to wit: Humboldt meridian. In my last annual communication to your department, you were informed that a report was soon expected from the deputy surveyor, to whom had been confided the duty of selecting the initial point, near Humboldt bay, for the meridian and base lines, which were to govern the surveys in the northwest section of the State. That duty was performed, and those lines were in part run, and a copy of his report, with the field-notes and plat of the survey executed by him, were duly forwarded to your office. These lines form the basis of the work which has been done in the region adjacent to Humboldt bay. Surveying in this section of the State is rendered extremely difficult by the steep and rugged mountain-ranges, and the deep and precipitous ravines and gulches, covered, as they usually are, by a dense growth of redwood and pine timber. I have been unable, even at the apparent high prices allowed by law, to let contracts in this region since Col. Washington returned his work, except in two instances, and these where the settlers more particularly interested agreed with the deputies to render them such assistance, over and above their contract price, as would equal an adequate compensation. These lands are, for the most part, very valuable on account of the forests of timber which is being manufactured into lumber for market. Under these contracts the meridian line has been extended 30 miles |