Show S Important LaneS Decision Washington 31 Secretary Schurz today decided the important case appealed ap-pealed to him and strenuously contested during the past jear by private parties en the one hand and the war department authorities on the other concerning the correctness of Commissioner William sons decision in regard to the survey of the Itancho Corte Da Modera Del Presidio Pre-sidio in the Marin County survey which purports to have been made by Deputy Surveyors Hansom and Allaras in 1873 and 1874 It appears from the testimony testi-mony however that it was not made in the field but was compiled from the records and field notes for Other surveys principally those made by the tide land commissioners of the state of California The objection was raised that the survey executed In this manner should not be approved even if it conformed con-formed to the correct boundaries Secretary Schurz holds that this objection is well taken saying I know of no law reason for a approving a survey made in that manner A survey to bo legally effective must be based upon lines actually run or established by triangulation triangu-lation in the field by the officer who makes tno survey in the manner prescribed by law and the instructions of the general land office The marking and monuments of such sun cy must be established on tho ground as described in the field note and the whole verified by the usual and prescribed oaths etc To adopt any other mode or irregular proceeding pro-ceeding in making surveys of public lands by which the title to specific tracts must l > convoyed from government and pass indefinitely through successive and perpetual assignments and records would establish a precedent leading tj interminable intermin-able confusion and deprive the individual of that security and evidence of boundary upon the face of the earth which is guaranteed guar-anteed by the law establishing the survey inp system and regulating its require ments The secretary proceeding to discuss the ijucstlon of the correctness of the boundaries as returned by this survey sur-vey expresses the opinion that his predecessors prede-cessors decision construing this grant to baa grant by boundaries and not quantity was erroneous but holds nevertheless there is nothing in the case now which authorizes him to set aside that decision and adopt tucha construction ot tho grant as he thinks should have been adopted when the case was first presented to the department After reviewing Commissioner Commis-sioner Williamsons reasons for holdu g that the boundaries returned by Hansom and Allards turvey would be in accord with the decree of the confirmations if I modified in certain particulars set forth in Williamsons decision tho secretary coECurs withTWilliamsons conclusions on this branch of the case except to the eastern boundary directs tbe surveyor general to cause a new survey to be nude m cjnformity with the aecision |