PUBLIC LANDS. 173 



surveying districts, and sixty-three land offices ; beside sixty 

 or seventy officers and clerks in the City of Washington. 

 All this executive patronage may be dispensed with by the 

 proposed system, except about a corporal's guard at Wash- 

 ington. The knowledge that would be brought into the 

 administration of the land laws by the change, would be a 

 great consideration. By the intimate knowledge which the 

 State Governments have of this interest, a standard for the 

 graduation of prices might be attained, much more accurate 

 than that of mere time. If the surveys were made under 

 the authority of the States, a farther economy may be made 

 in that part of the business, probably. But if the surveys 

 should be made by the United States, the eight Surveyors 

 General, and a large number of officers at Washington, could 

 not be dispensed with. 



