Solomon Meredith and the Initial Point of Montana (12 of 13)

TELEGRAM

Department of the Interior
General Land Office
November 5, 1867

S. Meredith Esq
Surveyor General
Helena, Montana T.
When will your Annual Report reach here. Ours is ready.

Jos. S. Wilson
Commissioner

Department of the Interior
General Land Office
November 8th 1867

Solomon Meredith Esq
Surveyor General
Helena, Montana Terry
Sir:
I am in receipt of your telegram of the 6th inst informing this office of your having forwarded Annual Report and Map of Montana on the 26th ulto. Also telegram of 7th inst conveying the information of the establishment of the initial point of the public surveys in your District in a different locality than that proposed by this office, for the reason assigned by you of impossibility to run the Principal Meridian from Beaver Head Rock.

You further advise this office of the completion of Benj F. Marsh contract dated August 1st 1867 of the Principal lines intersecting the initial point thus established.

Mr. Marsh's Contract received with your letter of the 27th September last for the survey of the principal Base and Meridian Line will remain unapproved by this office until explanation alluded to in your telegram as having been dispatched on the 13th day of August and 26th October last shall have been received and found justifiable.

In future lettings of surveying contracts you will not send out deputies in the field until you shall have received from this office approval of same.

I am very respectfully
Your obt servt
Jos S. Wilson

Department of the Interior
General Land Office
November 19, 1867

S. Meredith Esq
Surveyor General
Helena, Montana
Sir:
I am in receipt of your letters of the 26th ultimo transmitting your annual report in duplicate of the surveying operations in Montana and a map of that Territory, also yours of the 2nd instant reporting your action in reference to the establishment of the initial point of the surveys in Montana.

In reply I have to state that your annual report, the map which accompanied it and your report in reference to the establishment of the initial point are satisfactory.

Surveying contracts Nos. 1 and 2 with B. F. Marsh Deputy Surveyor received with your letters of the 27 September and 23rd October and creating surveying of $2160 and $5570 respectively, have been this day approved and placed on the files of this office the objection having been satisfactorily explained in your reports referred to.

I am Sir,
Very respectfully
Your obt servant
Jos. S. Wilson
Commissioner

next page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13