and distribution of the reports, maps, and documents, and other results of said surveys. As a complete suspension of the work already done by the commission would have been followed by serious embarrassment of the interests of a large population as well as those of the government, I requested — by direction of the President under date of June 25, 1878 — the late commissioners to take charge of the records of the proceedings had before them while acting as a commission, and to perform such work as would facilitate the early adjudication of the claims, expressing the hope that Congress at its next session would adopt such legislation as might be needed to confirm the acts done, and provide for a due compensation for their services. The late commissioners complied with the request, had the records of the commission and all the testimony and other papers brought to Washington, and, as will be seen by reference to their report, have rendered valuable service which will greatly facilitate the final adjudication of the cases, when empowered by the law to act. Stenographic notes not before written out, amounting to about 3,000 pages of foolscap, have been transcribed and properly briefed and filed. Careful consideration and much study have been given to the subjects of laying out, widening, and straightening streets, and such other duties have been performed as could be, properly, under the letter of instructions. They have devoted their time and money to the service of the government, and although no legal obligation has been incurred to repay them, yet, under the circumstances, I feel warranted in earnestly recommending that the expenses incurred by them while acting, and pay, at the rate formerly given, be allowed them for the time they have served.
The Hot Springs Reservation contains about 2,565 acres. The Hot Springs Mountain, containing about 265 acres, from whence the supply of water is received, has been set apart as a permanent reservation, to be owned and held by the United States; this will leave about 2,300 acres to be disposed of under the provisions of the act of March 3, 1877.
Before the expiration of their term of office, the commissioners had
closed the work of taking testimony from the claimants in interest.
More than six months were occupied in this; 2,750 witnesses were
examined in 897 cases. The oral testimony and documentary evidence are
reported to be equal to 25,000 pages of legal cap. Accurate surveys have
been made of the entire tract; boundaries have been
reëstablished, and
permanent monuments erected on the exterior and section lines and
corners. Monuments have also been set at each angle of the permanent
reservation. Claims of individuals have been surveyed and plaotted on
sixteen large maps, representing the quarter-sections. A topographical
survey has been made of the entire reservation, and three maps prepared
and photolithographed — one topographical map, one claim map, and
the third combining the two.
From this it will be seen that the work left unfinished by reason of the clerical omission in the enrollment of the sundry civil bill is of vital importance, not only to the citizens of Hot Springs, but to the govern-
