The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-09

SiatesMinesola and ascain the great valley OF thC
west, adjoining Wisconsin and Iowa Instead OF drain
ing the old States OF their population, the graduation ant
pre- empton system will, in series OF years. increase
their prosperity. by giving them customers in the west
who Will carry To them their products and receive the
imports or fabrics exchange increasing the ansporta
ton upon our railroads ana canals, and augmentng our
foreign well as coastwise tonnage. The distribution
of the proceeds OF the sales OF these lands is prevented
for at least 20 years, by the act OF 2sth January, 1871
setting apart and pedgng these proceeds TO the extn
gushment OF the public debt So far, also, dsrb,I-
ton may have been advocated with view TO favor
protective tari it is proved that tariff Tor revenue
not only yields larger income than the protective sys-
tenn, but also advances rapidly OF years
the prosperity of the manufacturers BY the augmentation
of their foreign and domestic market Every reason,
therefore which has heretofore opposed the removal OF
all restrictions from the presumption system, or the re-
ducon and graduation OF the price of the public lands
having ceased exist, is hoped that these
may receive, during the present session. the favorable
consideration OF Congress.
The mineral lands transferred by Congress to this
department. by acts OF LIST and 3D. March, 1917 After
carried into effect by the appointment by of Dr. C. I.
Jackson of Boston, to make the geological survey OF the
Lake Superior land district in Michigan, and OF DR. D.
ID. Owen, of Indiana, TO make similar survey OF the
Chippewa district in Wisconsin and northern Iowa. The
appointment of agent to collect the rents &c. by those
acts, was conferred by me upon Colonel d. k. McNair,
OF kentucky with whom was associated General h. j.
Roberts, OF Michigan, as assistant. Copies OF the IN
structons which were given by me in April last to
Aessrs. Jackson and Owen well as TO Mr.. McNair,
the agent, and General Roberts, his assistant hereto
annexed and these four gentlemen have all zealously
performed their duties II will be perceived that the in
structions given by this department Messrs Jackson
and Owen contemplate complete geological and opo
graphical description OF this great REGION together with
the barometrcal and hygrometrical observations and
series OF observations the dip and intensity OF the
needle, intimately connected with the geological
and neurological character OF the country, and lead
ing to results interesting 10 the OF general science
From. the preliminary reports already made by Drs;
Jackson and Owen, this department feels well assured
that both those gentlemen will fully sustain that high rep
utaton for perilous and aborous exploration of
hal
induced this department to confer those appointments upon
them. 1t was my pleasing duty to direct all the geological
and neurological specimens obtained in conformity with
the act of 10th August, 1916, establishing the Smthso
man institution to be deposited with view 10 their
transfer TO Professor Joseph Henry the secretary thereof
whose great discoveries have contributed large and
important addition to the of science, conferred
so much honor this his native country, and attracted
the admiration and applause of the distinguished men
The country being surveyed abounds in mineral wealth
and especially in copper; and when the mines shall be-
come the property Of individuals, and the adjacent lands
settled and cultivated to unite there cheaper sub
sstence with abundant labor it is believed that this
great REGION occupying position nearly central between
the Aantic and the Pacific must become an important por,
ton of country Much time and labor devoted
to the preparation OF these instructions, calling to my aid
the very able and efficient Commissioner OF the General
Land Office, TO whom the subject was then transferred
by me, retaining only the supervisory power required by
law.
BY the act of the 18th Of February, 1877 bounty in
land designed by Congress for the benefit OF the
brave men who are indicating abroad the rights and
maintaining the honor Of their country By the provso
that act the sale OF these claims is prohibited until
warrant certificate has issued, indicating, as is be-
ieved the benevolent intention OF Congress to secure
homes soldiers and volunteers 1t is deeply to be
regretted, however that the intentions OF Congress in this
respect to be defeated by sales OF these warrants OF
certificates at great sacrifice. which will be obviaed 10
very great extent for the future, by further restrictions
by Congress upon these assignments and especially y
orbddng the sale until the patent shall have issued Ii
this is not DONE but very few OF these brave men, when
their toll and perls shall have terminated, will have re-
tanned the right to the homes intended for them by the
benevolent policy of Congress With view, as far as
practicable TO induce the soldiers and volunteers TO retain
their rights, it decided by this department, after a
conference with the Secretary of War; who concurred in
this opinion, that if the soldier and volunteer became
pre- emptor, he might his warrant certificate in pur-
chase of the lands upon which he had settled, but tha
no assignee purchaser could thus such warrant or
certificate payment Of any lands that had not been OIL
ered at public sale Under this decision, the warrant or
certificate is of value TO the soldier and volunteer
than to the purchasers and there is additional motive
to retain the certificate Instructions have also
been issued by this department to the various registers
and receivers OF land Offices that they cannot become the
purchasers Of these warrants certificates, or any other
land scrip must they become agents Tor the sale, de-
pose or exchange of the same but conne themselves
as far a. these warrants certificates concerned eX-
cusivey TO receiving the same, when offered for location
as prescribed by law The public would thus be
augmented, and just and libef policy adopted II the
settlers upon the lands within the prescribed limits OF the
Milwaukee and Rock River canal were permitted 10 pur
chase their settlements at the usual minimum price per
acre and such modification OF the existing law Tor the
view TO augment the revenue, recommended 10 the Ia
vorabIe consideration of Congress.
The recommendation contained IN my last report LOT
the establishment of ports OF entry In Oregon, ana tne
extension there of our revenue laws, again respectfully
presented to the consideration of Congress together with
donations of farms TO settlers and emgrants and the
grant of school section the centre OF every quarter OF
township, which would bring the school heuse within
point not exceeding mile and half in distance IRON
the most remote inhabant OF such quarter township
This measure regards the additional school sections
would be highly benefcia all the new States ana Ter
rores In Oregon as general rule, the lands are much
less valuable than those in the great valley OF the west
and important to all great interests and espe
caIly as connected with with Asa and the
western coast of America that Oregon should be rapidly
settled with large populations these measures would
be attended with the most happy results Such system,
whilst would strengthen the attachment to The Union
of the inhabitants of that distant region, would rapidly
augment its settlement and population, and bring back IN
LARGE revenues through the custom house, ample re-
turn to the government for the adoption OF policy so
just and liberal.
Table contains full statement OF all the treasury
notes paid under the act OF the 10th OF August last
amounting, on the irst oil the present onh 10 he sum Vi
1888 OCT o..
Table exhibits the amount of the public debt and IN
erest paid from LIST December, 1916 10 LIST December,
lsi7 including the reimbursement OF treasury notes
under acts prior TO the of 22d july $780, under act OF
22d Juy 1885, and under act of 2Sth January, 1897,
amounting in principal to the OF S90l6,5ll 50, ana
in interest TO 81 ,i33,S5O 30.
Table f. hereto annexed shows the public debt due on
the Isl December 1s47 $i5659659 40; the amount OF
The debt due on the lth March, 1sl5, Sl7,7SS7o9 62;
Leaving the balance being the debt incurred since the lh
March 1915 s27,s70 $50 49, The same table exhibits
the reduction of the debt due the 4th March, 1915, by
payments made since that date, to $l6,47o,0l0 TO-