The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-12-11
WASHINGTON, December 9, 1856.
Report Of the Secretary OF tE,e
Interior.

INTERIOR
The Secretary of the Interior complains
bitterly Of, and diates at length upon, the
immense amount of work he has to do, and
the incongruous nature Of the matters over
which his jurisdiction extends. He protests
against any further burdens being imposed
upon his Department, and evidently hints,
though he says nothing directly on the
subject, at the propriety of erecting a new
Department or two 10 share his lubors.
The surveys of public lnnds have pro-
gressed with rnpidity; but of the seventeen
millions nearly or quite ready for market, 4
/ large portion has been withdrawn from sale
| in consequence Of the recent railroad grants,
and cannot be restored Tor nine months or
more.
The actual settlement caused in the grad.
uation act seems to be almost universally
! neglected, and the Secretary appears to be
Of the opinion that it might be dispensed
with altogether.
There has also been good deal OF cheat
ing in locating the State swamp lands; but
the Secretary thinks that the shortest and
easiest way will be to overlook all departures
from law, and to confirm without question
the selection made by the States interest.
ed.
The sales Of land for cash the Lost fisca
year hHve been 1897 ,S7S acres for $S,S2l,
Ala. There have been located on military
land warrants $3.50 ,4S0 acres. There hive
been selected under railroad donations about
l5660,0 ,0U0 acres, and confirmed TO the States
under tie Swamp Land grant 6,O36 O0C
acres. The public domain has thus beer
diminished to the extent Of SO ,32S GOO acres
The sales for cash during the second upt
third quarters Of the current calender yea
were 2,O00,O65 Ocres for Sl,9O6,SS2.
The total snes for the four years pas
have been 30,935,l74 acres for 27,940, ISL
= while, iucluding military bounties, swan
y lands and railroad grants, the total aliena
: tions amount to about 81. 100000 acres.
On the 30h Of June last there were 10
923 pensioners, at q cost of 81 ,360,664. |
this department, too, many frauds are per
, pet?ated. aud the Secretary calls for addition
! al power TO strike from the lists the name
= :, Of those who have ceased to be entitled q
:, invalid pensioners.
y The number of patents issued during th
year is about 25 000.
> The abuses Of the Judiciary Gepartmen
, are still far from cured, and the Secretar
calls for new laws-which we doubt not ar
= very much needed to suppress The specu
laiing spirit which prevails there.
. The Indian agents, too, the Secretar
thinhs 5, need locking after; and he suggest
! i the appointment of a travelling agent to Wis
them and report on their proceedings.
There are now twenty Indian treaties be
! fore the Senate, involving the cesSion q
Il 1872 600 coo acres Of land fuT q considerable
of about $ll,000000
The Indians within our limits are estmat
v cd at about three hundred thousand sou Is
;, AS we become more familiar with the NOR
y remote tribes, it is found that their number
= have in general been greatly cxaggerated.-
. The Indian Department costs abou, 81 900
coo annually. The Secretary evidont
: concurs in the opinion, SO generally express
u ed by all who have impartial!y examine
!, the subject, that it is the aggrcssions Of un
t principled white men that all our India
wars take their origin. Under these cir
u cumstances he thinks the only policy tha
promises protection to the Indians is tn
system Of colonization upon limited reser
: vations-a policy which he represents Il
y going en- very favoraby.-Ne.O York IT,
bune.