Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-18


HE present system Of managing the mine.
raj lands OF the United States is belle we'd to
pc radically defective. More ih;,a a mil
ion Of acres of the public lands. supposed
to contain lead asd other minerals, have been
reserved from sale, aud runs rots leasl sup.
o. TEN have been giait,cd to individuals up.
en- stipulated rent The system IF granting
leases has proved to he not only Improbable
J to tie government, but ussstisfactolyso The
/ citizers 10 have gone upoH the l.,,d. and
mus, if cont rusd, lay the foundation of nnsi
future difficulty between the government and
lessees. According To the official * cords
the amount Of rents received by the enxern-
ment for the wears 1891. 1872. 1873, aud
1874, was $685. n. while the expenses
efhe system during the same period, inc!u-
ding salaries Of superinendents, agents
I clerks,and incidental exrenses,were S26, ILL.,
I 1.-THE income being less than ore-tenrth Of
the expenses. To this recuni.,ry loss may
be added the injury sustained BY the public
in consequence of the destruction OF timber,
and the careless and wastefli manner CT
working the mines. The system has given
I, rise to much litigation between the Unites.
States and individual! citizens, producing irri-
tation and excitement i'll the mineral region,
and involving The government in heavy adj
Ft.onal expenditures. 1t is believed that SINH
to occur, while the present system of leasing
these lands remains unchanget'. These lands
are now under the superintendent and care
oi the War Department, with the ordinary
Fsluties Of which they have no proper or nat
ural connection. l recommend the repeal
ct The present system. and that these lands
| De placed under the superintendent and
management OF the Genertl Land Office, as
otter public lands, and be brought into mar.
| ket and sold upon such terms Congress in
their wisdom may prescribe, reserring the
government an equitable per centage of the
gross smount of mineral product. and that the
pre-. emption principle be extended to resident
miners and settlers upon them, at the MINI
mum price which may be established by
Congress.
I l refer YOU to the accompanying report Of
the Secretary of War, for information respec-
/ ting the present situation of the army. and
its operations during the past year, TIE state
| OF our de fence, the condition, of the public
works. AID our relations with the various In
dian II bes within orr limits Or upon our bor-
ders. invite your attention to the sugges-
I ton contained in that report, in relation to
these prominent objects OF national inief-
est.
When orders We're given during the past
the western frontier OF Texas, our troops were
I widely dispersed, and IN small detachments,
occupying posts remote from each other
! The prompt AMI expeditions manner lii which
an army, embracing more than hall our peace
establishment. was drawn together on an en-
Urgency sudden reflects great credit Oh
/ the officers who were inutisted with the exc
cuton of these or,lers,as we'll as upon the dscl.
! pine Of The army itself 10 be in strength
to protect and defend the people and territory
foi rexas,a the vent Mexico should conn ad
inence hoesIitties, CT -liivadc her territories
/ with large army which ste threatened. I
authorized the general assigned to the COM
of The ARMY Of occupation to make requisi-
tons for additions; forces from several ot the
States nearest the Texan TERRITORY, and which
could most expeditiously furnish them, if, in
his opinion Il larger force than that under his
command, and the auxiliary aid which, Under
like circumstances, he was authorized to re-
+ ceive from Texas, should be required The
contingency upon winch the eXercise OF this
authority expended, has not occurred. The
circumstances under which ta companies OF
State artillery from the city OF New Orleans
were sent into Texas. add mustered into the
service of the United States are fully stated
in the report of the Secre!aIy OF VI ar. Ire
commend to Congress that provision be made
iof Vie r.! 'i'e'.' o. .''s 40, Ps, as wen as
a'''"ii hu'''''el oi exam 'oiui'e9rs' whom
INC ,co'i'''''ho'hS sehefai 'housat ne
eess@'s ~ -ee'ee o' "'"s'sf !.i'o our SCI
| wee
bG'1''S we last summer 'ie "is' regiment
OF Dragons maize extensive eAcu's'o"s
through me ihdian country on our no'uers' 1t
part OIL s''e'h advancing he-iit 10 'he posses
SONS OF 'i'e fiAosoh DAY IoilP;'! ~ ms
hof'h' ara ..'aft as lar rs 'he sou'h r'ss q
| she rocky mountains aaA the mead %a'eis o.
the tributary screams OF lhe eoioi AGO OF 'he
| "ese. he e&hioiilon oi ms Hsitaiy 'Vfee
among ule ihdi.i' s!ioes IN 'iose "s'ait &c
s'ohs' ana '"e so"heit he'd WIZ, mem ~ '"e
commanders OF t''v eAped''oi's' " ~ per e'sa