An act ^bill^ to create the Office of Surveyor of the Public Lands for the Territory of Oregon; and to provide for the disposal of said lands, and for other purposes.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a Surveyor General’s Office shall be established within, and for, the Territory of Oregon.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That a Surveyor General shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the aforesaid Territory, who shall have the same authority, and perform the same duties, respecting the Public Lands and Private Land Claims in the Territory of Oregon, as are now vested in, and required of, the Surveyors of the Lands of the United States, in the other States and Territories of the Union.

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the Surveyor of the Public Lands in the Territory of Oregon, to be appointed in pursuance of this act, shall establish his office at such place as the President of the United States may deem most expedient for the Public Service; and he shall enter upon the discharge of his duties so soon as he shall be legally qualified to perform the conditions specified in this act.

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the lands, contained within the above designated Territory, shall be surveyed into Townships, six miles square, or as near as may be, unless where the courses of navigable rivers may render it impracticable; and then this rule shall be departed from no further than such particular circumstances may require. The corners of the Townships shall be marked with progressive

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numbers from the beginning; each distance of a mile, and half-mile, between the said corners, shall be also distinctly marked with marks different from those of the corners. Each Township shall be subdivided into Sections, containing, as nearly as may be, six hundred and forty acres each, by running through the same, each way, parallel lines; and by marking a corner, on each of the said lines, at the end of every mile and half-mile. The sections shall be numbered, respectively, beginning with the number one in the North East Section, and proceeding West and East alternately, through the Township, with progressive numbers, till the thirty-sixth be completed. And it shall be the duty of the Deputy Surveyors, respectively, to cause to be marked on a tree, near each corner, made as aforesaid; and within the section, the number of such section, together with the number of the Township and Range: and the said Deputies shall carefully note, in their respective Field Books, the names of the corner trees marked, and the numbers so made: but, in all cases, where trees may not be found, suitable mounds shall be raised, as provided for by law: also, they shall survey, into Sections, the fractional parts of Townships, in manner aforesaid. All lines shall be plainly marked upon trees; (where mounds are not raised;) and shall be measured with chains, containing two perches, subdivided into fifty equal links; and the chain shall be adjusted to a standard, to be kept for that purpose in the Surveyor’s Office,—nevertheless, the reckoning shall be kept in chains of four poles, or one hundred links. Every Deputy Surveyor shall note in his Field Book the true Situation of all mines, salt licks, and Salt Springs, which come to his knowledge; all water courses over which the line he runs shall pass;

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and also the quality of the lands and timber. These Field Books shall be returned to the Surveyor General, who shall therefrom cause a description of the whole lands surveyed to be made out, and transmitted to the Officers, who may superintend the sales. He shall also cause a fair Plat to be made of the Townships and fractional parts of Townships, contained in said lands, describing the subdivisions thereof, and the marks of the corners. This Plat shall be recorded in Books to be kept for that purpose: a copy thereof shall be open at the Surveyor General’s Office for Public information; and other copies shall be sent to the Places of Sale, and to the General Land Office.

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That the Surveyor General shall receive, for his compensation, two thousand dollars per annum; and the sum of six thousand, three hundred dollars for compensation to clerks in his Office, making, in the aggregate, the sum of eight thousand, three hundred dollars, the same which is now paid in Arkansas and Iowa & Wisconsin: therefore, the said sum of eight thousand and three hundred dollars shall be, and the same is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That Deputy Surveyors shall, before they enter upon the performance of the several duties, connected with their vocation, severally take an oath or affirmation, faithfully to to perform the same, according to the instructions they may receive. And the Surveyor General shall contract with them for the faithful execution of the work entrusted to them; which contract or agreement shall be binding on the Government of the United States,

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provided, they shall not be allowed more than four dollars, per mile, for every mile that shall be accurate by surveyed, marked, and returned to his Office.

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That no sub-contractor, or Member of the Congress of the United States shall have any share in such contracts.

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That one Land Office shall be established, by the President of the United States, at such point as he may deem most expedient, which shall be under the direction of an Officer to be called, “Register of the Land Office;” who shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall give bond to the United States, with approved security, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the faithful discharge of his duties: and he shall reside at the place where the Land Office is directed to be kept. Also, there shall be a Receiver of Public ^the^ Monies, appointed in the same manner; who shall be required to give Security, in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, for the faithful performance of the duties pertaining to that Office.

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That, when the lands, in the Territory of Oregon, shall have been surveyed according to the provisions of this act, they shall be publicly exposed for sale at such time, as the President of the United States may designate in his proclamation; and they shall be disposed of according to the forms, heretofore adopted for the disposal of the Public Lands, with the following exceptions:—Section Sixteen, in every Township, (for the maintainance of Public Schools within the said Township,) and all the lead mines and salt Springs shall be reserved to the Government

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of the United States, to be disposed of as Congress may hereafter direct.

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That the sum of fifty thousand dollars be, and it is hereby appropriated, for the survey of the Public Lands in the Territory of Oregon.