Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-12-28

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF TIE int

The Secretary OF the Interior estimates 'aat l''c ~
oxncnse of hi, Department for The next fscai eur wiz p
81 o2l OBS beng reduction OF STA 302 as copas" VIM
,br amour, re luired for the iscai year. 'ouc Vi
;omn"r An item OF 5000 900 for the extension Of the
Capitol ouccd; making the estimate ior uYc ou
inps cxccc, that OF the present year os eois'uo
Attention i. invited to the recommendations OF the Com,
missioner If nc General Land Office, of whose report M
abstract has already been published compliment is pau
10 tho diligence and activity which marx that orahch u c
service. - a., p;o, purcau
exclusive Of navy pensoners-lSSbS ocins 40 c7
than the number reported in 1851 The expenditure On az
count of the las, report has been
and the Secretary remarks that il is not lSey 10 oc on
ished unless many existing abuses are corrected ny
ton He proposes connc the benefits ot the pension
laws 10 those who rendered the SERVICE and 10 me WIDOWS
and minor children OF such soldiers are Dead stringent
laws are also needed prevent the perpetraion OF ahn
which are being continually perpctruro. ft:Ja'y ana
forgery esoed 10 Tor the purpose IN nany
confcdera, ted bodies OF men, who TOO oen
and punishment in defects of the law
The number of persons penoned under the act oil March,
1915 was 90 4S5 Of whnm l046 remain on the rolls;
under The uc Of May 1915 only l66 pensoned l2S
of whom still Oh the rolls; under The act OF june 1857
not less than 53066 have been pensione 5o OF ~hom are
VET on the rolls though only 49 received payment IN the
first and second quarters OF the current year There are
$50 widows of revolutionary soldiers on the rolls, OF
whom 209 only have received payment during me year
The Mexican pensions show falling oil oi ozi during
the year, numbering now altogether US
The navy pension rolls embrace 126 nvallds VINO receive
annually s45 049; 54 widows receiving slO49 and IS or
/
The Virginia hali.pay communication claims allowed during
| the year amount 10 SIS, 9bl.
During The year. ending on the 10Th October Inc bounty
land warrants Issued for revolutionary service and service
in The war of 1872 80 $40 acres Under The act OF
ll,h February lS47 known as the Mexican bounty land
law So OeS land had been issued up 10 3lst oc,o
ber and 234 for money and scp leaving 400 suspended
claims The registered under the bounty ana a%S ~,
September 1850 about 2UUOO0 OF when iiVu 2o
have admitted; issued IN their behalf COW
ernp gas 800 acres Under The of March last Go5
cases have been registered and 2Sil admitted The new
applications now amount about lUU per day
The Secretary refers appruvinsly To Suggestions offered o
the of Pensions in regard proposed changes
in the laws relating 10 pensions PARTICULAR attention Is
called TO the proprcly of cnactlng provision rcqnr-
inc biennial medical examinations of all invalid pensioners
On the subject Indian affairs the Secretary rcerates
the opinions expressed in his last report as To the pocy
which should regulate intercourse WIN the various
tribes He argues that il is just humane and
even econoIHcal subdue them by kindness ana 10
encourage them TO pursuits OF lnous'Y .an 70 aes.l"
them by military force The efforts of the Department IN
dealing with the tribes resden. in California ana oregon
have in frustrated by The rejection W M
Senate of the treaties negotiated win lhen N1'i's .
Their can be done until the Senate decide nchc he inoans
shall removed from California ana ofeSon, iau ce
places OF refuge shall be provided lot ien'. q n.y.
sbed that the Seminole tribe VIII iuhi tef promise 10 re-
| move n.ocnhlv from Florida in the ensuing spring
n il announced that publication OF the Census report
NAV now be commenced the greater part OF the labor vi
committing and classifying the returns has been COMPLETED
To finish the preparation Of the entire work an additional
npuropaon of $50 600 will be necessary Reasons are Of
tered Tor including the report the geographical and h'sorl-
cal features which objections have been taken In some
quarters II is shown that great misapprehcnsiohs prcvo
in reference 10 the cost The publication. The publication
f the sixth by Blair & Rves cost S1o6O3 while
Messrs Lippinco Il Co propose TO publish ~ uOO copies OF
the statistics Of the seventh for S490O OF less hun
/ one third Of the amount paid on the last occasion
In connection with his remarks the Patent Office the
Secretary dSes upon the interest felt by all classes In the
operations oi that bureau and upon the beneilcen results
with which they have been attended In 1886 when the Of
fee was organized single examining clerk was snhceni
now six examiners and six assistants not able 10 keep
mace with me business thai, deyovcs Them The mo-
lie %
Gn oil the country and especially for the convenience OF
mechanics and inventors he proposes thut an and
descriptive index Of all discoveries aud inventions which
have patented re prepared for publications the expense
| TO be defrayc Of the patent fund.
The proceedings and position OF The Mexican boundary
Commission give rise heightened statement the part
Of the Secretary the Interior He states that the survey
OF the river CHA, from its confluence with the Colorado TO
the point where il strikes the western boundary OF New
Mexico has been completed; and il is believed that
wohrds Of the survey Of The Rio Grande have also been
accomplished To explain the course OF the Department on
the subject Of the initial point the Rio Grandc und the
line thence MISUNDERSTANDING the southern boundary
of New Mexco-a history Of all that has been done is
HE treaty Guadalupe Hdalgo and the construction To be
put upon the commission which that treaty contemplated.
II is shown that the present head of the Department has ia
ken upon this subject which comedies with the views
of Mr. BucHASAS-undcr whose instructions the treaty was
negoated-aso with The opinions entertained by Mr. For
syT Secretary Of State the period when the convention
for marking the boundary between the United States and
Texas concluded The practice OF the Mexican govern
| nent comedies with this understanding H. however an
power correct and which must therefore be referred TO
other departments of the Government In reference to The
provso attached by Congress the appropriation voted last
session. The Secretary shows that he had no alternative but
instruct the Commissioner 10 discontinue all operations
The disputed portion of the boundary until further action
shall be taken by Congress- The result Is great hardship
and persons attached 10 the Commits
son who have been for five months diligently employed in
The full confidence Congress would make tie necessary
provision for expenses This expectation has been
disappointed; they left in the wilderness far from home
without The means OF susenance or travel; while the Gov,
accredited Prompt action the part OF Congress
is therefore recommended.
The progress Of the work upon the extension of the Capt.
to Is described having been rapd consistent
proper execution high compliment is paid to Mr.
WALTER the genius and with which he has planned
the Library and to Messrs
BEEpE g. Co.. of New York. for The skill and fidelity with
which his plans have been carried into effect.
recommended that suitable houses be erected for the
Vice President and members of the Cabinet and that they
be provided with furniture fuel and Lights. In support oil
this recommendation the report refers TO the greatly in
creased of house and all the neccssarics OF Lille In
WashingtoD the practical effect OF which Is To reduce the
value Of salaries paid to little more than half their value at
the time when they fixed by law. If measures not
adopted equaze the and expenses but those
possessed of private fortunes will be able 10 fill the most
aponsioie puoiic ounces II - esha,eu uiii oS eau "
bought and eight houses erected furnished aud lifted up as
proposed, for 100000.
Attention is invited the wants Of the District OF Column
hia the claims which il has upon the fostering care o
Congress The introduction of ample supply of pure
water Washington and Georgetown s dwe upon as OF
primary importance An officer Of tho Engineer Corps is
employed in examining the matter with the view of deter
mining the best method Of accomplishing this object and as
tits probable that his report will be presented TO Congress
during its present session. hope expressed that the
cessary appropriations for the commencement of the work
will be made without delay. The necessity that exists for
The erection of bridges the Potomac is also noticed
and appropriation for the necessary surveys plans and
Inmates is suggested The proposition OF grant OF public
lands in aid OF the public schools of the Dsrct-submcd
by the Commissioner of Public Landss cordially approx
the Secretary who remarks that hn would be happy
adopted, with amendment extending lis benefits
| the charitable institutions OF the District.
| Recommendations
ed the attention OF Congress- dcsc wing OF their
able consideration. These include The establishment OF
agricultural statistical bureau, and the elton Of
a aunal highway through our own territory to the Pa
| ci6c.-[ Republic.
! LAND OFFICE REPORT.
The report Of the Commissioner Of the General Land or
flee that during The past fiscal year less than
4S70 067 of the public domain sold of which
1901 3l4 located with bounty land warrants. In
addition 52l9lSS reported under the swamp
land grant, and 3025920 for internal improvements
making aggregate of Is lis LIS The
The sales and locations OF The previous year amounts
3i2 372 acres; and the Commissioner remarks that the