The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-12-20
Report OF the Secretary Of the Interior

Report Oh the secretary Oh the AutcItOT
The following abstract Of the interestn
report of Mr. Stuart, the Secretary Of the
Interior, we copy from the Republic !
The report commences with a summary oil
the varied and important duties devOlved on
the Department; alludes TO the vagueness Sas
the act Of Congress which created it, and Fey
commends further legislation TO define with
precisio its duties and powers, and also to
remedy the incongruity in the law in refer
ence to its designation.
| 1t recommends the creation Of the Office OF
Solicitor Of the Department to decide ques-
tons Of law upon appeals his action TO be
subject. however, in all cases, to the revision
OF the Secretary.
The estimate Of the expenditures for the
next fisca! year exceeds that Tor the present
Sl,72S, $40 63. The causes of this excess
the Secretary fully explains. The endeavor
has been TO cover the whole amount oil the
probable expenditure for the fiscal year, so
that there may be- no necessity in future for
estimating the deficiencies, unless upon some
unforeseen contingency.
The whole number of persons now on the
pension rolls Of the United States is 40, 75S.
But of these many are probably dead. The
whole number who have drawn pensions dur
ing the first and second quarters of the calen-
dar year Is 1909. The number OF deaths
reported within the year is $40.
TIE benefciares under the law designed
t. provide for the soldiers Of the Revolution
and their widows are rapidly passing away.
But the number of pensioners under other
acts has been considerably augmented in
consequence of the war with Mexico. The
whole amount expended for pensions during
the past year, is estimated at 81, 100000.
The whole number OF landwarr.nis issued
for services in the revolutionary war is IL SIS,
in the war oil 1872 rs SIS; number of claims
for land warrants and scrip III lieu thereof. for
, services i'm the Mexican war, S4705. The
number Of claims already presented under
the Bounty Land Law Of September last up
, 10 the 9th of November was 94lS. and the
, number is increasing rapidly. II is estimated
that The whole number OF claimants will be
, about 100000. 1, will thus he seen that il.is
, is by far the most important Bounty Land
, Law that has ever been passed. All neces-
sary arrangements have been made to insure
its prompt and efficient execution. Forms
and instructions have been prepared, and
: assurance given, that every proper iacll-
: ily will be afforded Tor the establishment OF
Jus, demands under the law. Plates have
been ordered 10 be engraved for printing The
1 warrants, and every prrcaution has been
adopted to guaru against l-aud and forgery.
. These plates will soon be compleled; and
, there need be no delay in communicating the
issue of the warrants. The warrants having
been decided to be not assignable, cannot be
, made available 10 the holders until located
ana patented.
The report of the Commissioner Of the Gen
eral Land Office exhibits some very interes-
ting facts. The surveys OF the public lands
4 have been pushed forward with commenda-
bic activity. The aggregate amount of land
n sold located by warrants, aud oihefwlse dis
. posed of in the first second. AMI part of the
. third quarters OF 1850, is ISIS 366, AZ acres.
n The public lands have been rich source OF
+ revenue to the Government, averaging about
one and quarter millions OF dollars per AN
!. mum for the last fifty years, over aud above
: all costs and expenses. Among the most
= prominent subjects claiming the attention OF
!. Congress, is The necessity OF extending our
land system over our possessions on the Pac-
h fic. The appointment ola commission Is re-
:, commended 10 adiudicate conflicting land
n claims in California.
3 With regard to the mineral lands the Sec.
rotary recommends that they be divided Into
small tracts, aud sold in iee-simple TO the
highest bidder at public auction. The ex
tent of the lots should depend OF the appa.
u rent richness of the mines; but they sloulC
E be small enough to afford persons in mode
l. rate circumstances all opportunity al becoIn
to ing bidders.
n Our relations with the Indians will de
= mand the prompt attention Of Congress
!" The annexation of Texas and the treaty will
Mexico have added about ia 900 persons Il
a our Indian population-mauy OF them fierce
NJ in their disposition and predatory in their ID
~ lis.
y The Indians OF that country are the mos
II savage within our boundaries. Ii is essentia
'u for the tulilment OF our treaty stipuatlons
us well us for the protection OF our own citi
zens. that agents should be sent among then
~ who can exercise restraining influence owe
them. The necessity for this measure ha
:! been painfully illustrated by the outrage
Oh committed upon our citizens travelling To am
ed from Santa Fee, as an instance of which tn
or attack upon Mr.. White and his party is men
h., toned.
The importance Of great National high
&c way to the Pacific is considered in the report
at and the Secretary suggests the proprieiy 0
nj authorizing an immediate examination OF tn
M country, and such surveys rs may he neces
sary TO determine the prac,icabilliy and prob
able cost Of the work.
The establishment of an Agricultural Bu
he reau is recommended by the report. Tn
!, purchase of a farm in the viciI ity of the Ma
iional metropolis. to be managed under tn
Oh direction OF the Bureau, has been suggesie
er as an auxiliary in illustrating the hes, mode
Al of culture. The Secretary adds that if thi
bs idea be f,voraby received, Mount Verno
~ might with great proprieiy become mode
IL farm, to illustrate the progress of that pur
suit to which the Father OF his Country wa
so much devoted.