Township No. 3 in the 4th range, on the head branches of the Witspitlock stream has been recently surveyed into lots for settlement. The surveyor has not yet made his returns to this office, but the township is represented to contain a large proportion of superior farming land. The tract of country embracing the six eastern ranges of townships, extending from the military road north to the St. John river, being about one hundred miles in length, by thirty six in breadth, contains the most valuable portions of our settling lands, and although there is within those limits some good timber tracts, yet in general it is not a pine timber country.

If I may be permitted to suggest any alteration in the present laws, I would recommend that these lands be sold only to actual settlers, and that the timber be permitted as fast as called for, to any one who will furnish good security for the stumpage. Massachusetts owns as much or more than Maine within the above limits, and has this year granted permits to cut timber on sixteen townships, giving us nearly four hundred miles of exterior lines to look after. We must incur considerable expense annually in protecting this timber, and considerable risk of losing it. The country is filling up with inhabitants who are all engaged in clearing land, and a drought is always the time for burning new lands. Every year, more or less will be likely to be destroyed by the spreading of the settlers' fires.

The first settlers of a new country usually select the hardwood land, as the easiest to clear and the best for first crops. A majority of the Aroostook settlers have no tim!ber fit for building. They cannot buy a pine tree, and must therefore do without, or run the hazard of being treated as trespassers. When none are permitted to cut,

no one will inform against him who trespasses; but when any one can buy at a fair rate, those who buy will generally expose those who trespass. Now the settlers are required to build houses, but the means are denied them. Mills have been erected when the builders hoped to be able to procure timber to supply them, but find now they can neither buy timber land or timber; and it is to be feared that many of our hardy pioneers will suffer considerable loss and much inconvenience the coming year for the want of lumber, which they might procure if the Agent were allowed to sell.

The Land Agent was authorized by a resolve of the last Legislature, to locate and open a road from township Letter F, 2d range, north to the St. John river, provided Massachusetts would contribute her equal share of the expense. The resolve was immediately forwarded to the Land Agent of Massachusetts, with the request that he would lay the matter before the Legislature of that State; but unfortunately it was not received there till after their adjournment, consequently nothing could be done. The Agent of Massachusetts has assured me, that he will at an early day present the subject to the Legislature of that State. It seems to me very desirable that an appropriation should be made as early as possible by our Legisla ture, to aid in opening the contemplated road.

This road would open a direct communication between Houlton and the Madawaska settlements, through the finest portions of our public lands.

It has already been opened and made, the most of the way, passable from Houlton to the Aroostook river in Letter G, a distance of about forty miles. It is about thirty five miles from there to the St. John river, on a due nc line.

The Madawaska settlement on the south side of the St. John, is supposed to contain from fifteen to twenty hundred inhabitants, who are entirely deprived of the advantage of any intercourse with the citizens of our own State, except by a circuitous route through the province of New Brunswick.

They have heretofore been under the jurisdiction of British laws, and as by the late treaty they are acknowledged to be within our borders, those laws can no longer be enforced; and they are left to learn their duty as citizens of Maine, without a knowledge of our language or laws, without any municipal charters or regulations, without magistrates and without roads. In discharge of our duty to these people, the opening of this road appears to be indispensable. I may be permitted to add that a portion of our school fund might be well expended there, if a competent teacher could be obtained to instruct them in the English language.

The State road from Houlton to the Aroostook, has been very much improved the past season. An alteration has been made by the county commissioners of Aroostook, through half township Letter B, Mars Hill township, and the Deerfield Academy Grant.

The proprietors of the Deerfield Grant have opened and grubbed very handsomely the road on the new route over their lands. The Agent of Massachusetts has put the road through Letter B under contract, which will probably be completed early next season. There should be laid out and opened a few miles of road from the north line of Letter B, where the road now being made by Massachusetts will terminate, across the corner of Mars Hill township, to the road already made by the owners of the Deerfield Grant. The whole road will then be under the care of

the county commissioners of Aroostook, who will no doubt pay proper attention to it.

The Aroostook road, as far as the St. Croix, in Masardis, has been well made, and is in a good state of preservation.

From the St. Croix to the Aroostook river, it can hardly be called passable, yet it has been considerably improved by the labor of the inhabitants in payment for their lands. Nothing has been expended this year on this road, excepting the labor due from settlers.

The road from the Aroostook to fort Kent, at the mouth of Fish river, will be of little use to the public, except as a winter road, unless considerable expenditure be made upon it. Portions of it which were passable when first made, have by use become miry, and must be turnpiked or causewayed, in order to make it safe and convenient for travellers. As this road passes entirely over the public lands, there is no possible way of improving it unless it be done by the State, and as it is the only one in the State extending to the St. John river, it will be readily perceived, that if made passable, it would very much increase the value of the public lands on that river.

If any thing is proposed to be done on any of the roads north of the Aroostook river, the co-operation of Massachusetts should be asked early, so that the necessary supplies may be sent in to the Aroostook and St. John, while the sledding is good.

Early in June I appointed the Hon. Silas Barnard special agent to examine the several townships of land lotted for settlement, to lay out such roads as might be deemed necessary for the convenience of the settlers, and to superintend the laying out of the labor due for land, on the roads. Capt. Rines at Fish river had up to this

time been retained, to look after the lumbering operations under the verbal permits referred to in my communication to the Legislature in February last. Finding that the timber would remain where cut and that no stumpage could be collected, Capt. Rines was notified that his services were no longer required, and the demands and public property in his hands were passed over to Mr. Green at Fort Kent; and Major Barnard was authorized and directed to look after the interests of the State generally in that section, and to take such measures as he might deem necessary to prevent trespassing on the public lands. From his report to me I am satisfied that he has thus far faithfully attended to the duties assigned him, and that no trespass of any magnitude have been committed.

During the season he has extended the line between the 6th and 7th range of townships due north to the St. John river, and made the surveys in township No. 13 in the 7th range which were contemplated by the resolve of March 10, 1812.

He also located three lots in each of the townships belonging to Maine on the Fish river road, under the resolve of March 11, 1842.

Improvements have been commenced on several of these lots, and the persons entering upon them have agreed to remain on the road and furnish accommodations for travellers.

None of the settlers on those lots have given bonds as required by the resolve, therefore no conveyance of the land has been made.

Finding the Fish river road was very much obstructed by windfalls, I directed Major Barnard to clear it out and endeavor to make it passable for the present. He cleared the road and made about seventy-five rods of causway