Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-12-21


, tage of the community In ordinary business rela-
tons.
, Respectfully ask your attention to sundry sug
, geston OF improvements in the settlemen. of ac
, counts, especially as regards the large sums of
outstanding arrears due to the Government and
of other reforms in the administrative action of
his Department, which are indicated by the Secre-
tary as also to the progress made in the construc
tlon OF marine hospitals, custom-hOuses, and of
new mint in California and assay office in the CITY
of New York, heretofore provided for by Con
gress; and also to the emnently successful prog
ress of the Coast Survey, and of the Lght-House
Board.
Among the objects meriting your attention, will
be important recommendations from the Secreta-
ries of War and Navy. am fully satisfied that
the Navy of the United States is not i'm condition
of strength and efficiency commensurate with the
magnitude of our commercial and other interests
and commend to your especial attention the sug-
gestOns on this subject made by the Secretary of
the Navy. l respectfully submit that the Army,
which, under our system, must always be regarded
with the highest interestas nucleus around which
tn e volunteer forces of the nation gather in the
hour of danger, requires augmentation, or modif-
cation, to adapt it to the present extended limits
and frontier relations of the country and the con-
dition of the Indian tribes in the interior of the con-
tinent the necessity of which will appear in the
communications of the secretaries Of War and the
| Interior.
In the administration of the Post office Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 30 1853, the
gross expenditure was seven million nine hundred
and eighty-two thousand seven hundred gnd fifty
six dollars and the gross receipts during the
same period, five million nine hundred and forty
two thousand seven hundred and thirty-four dol
lars showing that the current revenue failed to
meet the current expenses of the Department by
the sum of two million forty-two thousand and
thirty-two dollars. The causes which, under the
present postal system and laws led inevitably to
this result are fully explained by the report Of the
Postmaster General one great cause being the
enormous rates the Department has been COM
PEELED to pay for mail service rendered by railroad
companies.
The exhibit is the report of the Postmaster
General OF the income and expenditures by mail
steamers will be found peculiarly interesting and
of character to demand the immediate action of
Congress.
Numerous and fragrant frauds upon the Pension
Bureau have been brought to light within the last
year, and in some instances, merited punishment,
inflicted; but unfortunately, in others, guilty par
ties have escaped, not through the want of suffi-
cient evidence to warrant conviction, but in con-
sequence of the provisions of limitation in the ex-
listing laws.
From the nature of these claims, the remoteness
of the tribunals to pass upon them, and the mode
in which the proofs, ofnecessity furnished tempt
atons to crime have been greatly stimulated by the
obvious difficulties of detection. The defects in the
law upon this subject are apparent and so fatal
to the ends of justice that your early action relat
ing to is most desirable
During the last fiscal year, nine million eight
hundred and nineteen thousand four hundred and
eleven acres of the public lands have been survey
ed, and ten million three hundred and sixty-three
thousand eight hundred and nnety-one acres bro't
into market. Within the same period, the sales by
public purchase and private entry amounted to
one million eighty-three thousand four hundred
and ninety-five acres; located under military boun-
ty land warrants, six million hundred and for
ty-two thousand three hundred and sixty acres:
located under other certificates nine thousand four
hundred and twenty-seven acres; ceded to the
States as swamp lands, sixteen million six hundred
and eighty-four thousand two hundred and fifty
three acres selected for railroad and other objects
under acts of Congress, one million four hundred
and twenty seven thousand four hundred and fifty
seven acres. Total amount of lands disposed of
within the fiscal year, twenty-five million three
hundred and forty-siX thousand nine hundred and
nnety-twO acres which is an increase in quantity
sold and located under land warrants and grants
of twelve million two hundred and thirty-one
thousand eight hundred and eighteen acres over
the fiscal year immediately preceding. The guam
tity of land sold during the second and third quar-
ters of 1852, was three hundred and thirty-four
thousand four hundred and fifty-one acres. The
amount received therefor, was six hundred and
twenty-three thousand six hundred and eighty
seven dollars. The quantity sold the second and
third quarters of the year 1853, was one million
six hundred and nine thousand nine hundred and
nineteen acres; and the amount received therefor,
two million two hundred and twenty-six thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six dollars.
The whole number of land warrants issued un-
der existing laws, prior to the thirtieth of Septem
ber last, was two hundred and sXty-two thousand
and forty-two of which there were outstanding
at that date, sxty-six thousand nine hundred and
forty-seven The quantity of land required to sat
sfy these outstanding warrants, is four million
seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand one
hundred and twenty acres.
Warrants have been issued to the 30th of Septem-
ber last under the act of 11th February, 1917 call
ing for twelve million eight hundred and seventy
nine thousand two hundred and eighty acres; un-
der acts of September 49, 1850, and March 90 1882
calling for twelve million five hundred and five
thousand three hundred and sixty acres; making
total of twenty-five million three hundred and
eighty-four thousand six hundred and forty acres
1t is believed that experience has verified the
wisdom and justice of the present SYSTEM with re-
gard to the public domain in most essential partic
ulars.
You will perceive, from the report of the Secre-
tary of the INTERIOR that opinions, which have of
ten been expressed in relation to the operation of
the land system, as not being source of revenue
to the Federal Treasury, were erroneous. The net
profits from the sale of the public lands to June
30, 1S33 amounted to the sum of fifty-three mill
ion two hundred and eghty-nne thousand four
hundred and sixty-five dollars.
recommend the extension of the land system
over the Territories of Utah and New Mexico, with
such notifications as their peculiarities may re-
quire.
Regarding our public domain as chiefly valuable
to provide homes for the industrious and enterpri-
sing am not prepared to recommend any essen
tal change in the land system, except by modifi-
cations in favor of the actual settler ana an eXten-
sion of the preempton principle in certain cases,
for reasons and on grounds which will be fully de-
veloped i'm the reports to be laid before you.
Congress, representing the proprietors of the
territorial domain, and charged especially with :
power to dispose of territory belonging to the Uni
ted States has for q long course of years begin
,;pcfr of