3. The southern boundary of Wyoming.—The survey of this line is being prosecuted in the field, but no returns have been received.
4. The western boundary of Wyoming.—Under the appropriation of $13,800, made by act of Congress approved March 3, 1873, the contract for the survey of this land has been let to Alonzo V. Richards.
5. The western boundary of Kansas.— The survey of this line has been completed, and the returns made and approved.
6. The northern boundary of Nebraska.—The contract for the survey of this line has been let, but owing to a fear on the part of the Indian Office that the prosecution of the work would excite the Indians and lead to difficulties operations in the field have been delayed.
7. The Washington and Idaho boundary line.—The contract for the survey of this line was let on the 2d day of June, 1873, but no report of progress made by the contractors has been received.
8. The northern part of the eastern boundary of New Mexico and the eastern part of the southern boundary of Colorado.—Under the appropriation made by act of Congress approved March 3, 1873, the contract for the survey of these lines has been let to John J. Major, but returns have not been received.
4.-PRE-EMPTIONS.
The general pre-enption laws of September 4, 1841, March 3, 1843, March 3, 1853, and March 27, 1854, remain in force. The following act, entitled "An act for the relief of settlers on the late Sioux Indian reservation in the State of Minnesota," was approved February 24, 1873:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all actual settlers who have duly filed their declaratory statements under the pre-emption laws, with the register of the proper local land-office, upon the unsold lands now included within the limits of the late Sioux Indian reservation in the State of Minnesota, shall he allowed until the first day of March, anno Domini eighteen hundred and seventy-four, in which to make proof and payment for their claims.
March 3, 1873, "An act authorizing joint entry by pre-emption settlers, and for other purposes," was approved, and March 31 the following circular to the district land-office containing the law and instructions for its execution was issued by this Office:
To Registers and Receivers: Gentlemen: Your attention is hereby called to the following note of Congress,:approved March 3,1873, and entitled "An act authorizing joint entry by pre-emption settlers, and for other purposes."
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That when settlements have been made upon agricultural public lands of the United States prior to the survey thereof, and it has been or shall be ascertained, after the public surveys have been extended over such lands, that two or more settlers have improvements upon the same legal subdivision, it shall be Lawful for such settlers To make joint entry of their lands at the local land-office or for either of said settlers to enter into contract with his co-settlers to convey to them their portion of said lands after a patent is issued to him, and after making said contract, to file declaratory statements in his own name, and prove up and pay for said land, and proof of joint occupation by himself and others, and of such contract with them made shall be equivalent to Proof of sole occupation and pre-emption by the applicant: Provided, That in no case the amount patented under this not exceed one hundred and sixty acres, nor shall this act apply to lands not subject to homestead or pre-emption entry.
"Sec. 2. That effect shall be given to this act by regulations to be prescribed by the Commissioner of the General Land-Office.
"Approved March 3, 1873."
