Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-12-05
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE INTERIOR DE.
PARTMENT.

/ PARTMENT.
We have room this morning ONLY for brief abstract al
this document, which publish In full In our supple
nent presents faithful picture Of the operations Of
the Department. one which reflects much credit upon
its able and intelligent head Mr. McCieeu whose indus.
try and close application to business have been productive
Of great benefit to the county, and deserving Of
siai commentator The survey OF tho public lands in all
the territories has progressed rapidly the
serious Indian difficulties existing In some Of them
that to the Sth OF September the quantity Of hand
surveyed during the official year. 69o acres
much of which is ready for market The railroad
grants have Withdrawn from market large body Of lands
which, notwithstanding exertion could be
tored In less than nine months. Tho execution Of the
land graduation has also been attended With difficult
ties owing fraudulent entries During the fiscal wear
acres Of land we're sold for cash. sss2
located with military scrip aud land
eoS6,S7+, acres Of swamp lands were approved TO
the States aud S15 selected and gran
Ted Tor rsroad and other purposes making total OF &c.
OF executing the swamp land grants still exist
The land system has been extended California Or
cgon. Utah. Nebraska, Kansas, New MEXICO ani w ash
ngtoa Territories, which have been organized into six
surveying districts in the last -four years. the surveys
have covered nearly xty million Of acres and during that
period So have been sold for cash. l5sod
200 acres have been located for military boanties
sc have been approved under swamp land grants
aud IL asa have been granted for railroads. ma
king total OF 81, sI6 7s2 disposed Of
The Secretary that within the years four
Of thu general survey Offices may be discontinued and the
niaory steps for that purpose have been taken Under
the recently enacted bounty land laws 265 26s appca.
tons have been made, Of which number 23s 72j have
been examined and lS2 O70 allowed warrants being is
sued covering 22,00S 200 The number suspended
rejected is 81 CSC leaving IS $40 original not vet
examined. reform Of the pension list is recommended
by of discretionary poweEs be granted to the
Commissioner. On the 30h of June last there we're u.s.
9S2 pensioners, drawing per year, 81, $50, 6sI 6l
The income Of the Patent Office Tor the year. is about
$780, which scarcely sufficient deiray its expen
During the last four years 1000 patents have
ally been applied or, on average and the number
sued annually ia about $3.50 Last year the number
applied for was i4S5 being greater than in any other
country in the world For the present year the number
will probably reach 5000
During the present administration there have been ne.
gotated hftyso Indian treaties Of which thrytwo have
been ratified 10y the Senate and twenty to be act.
ed on. BY these treaties the Indian title l7Ils47lO
of land has been extingushed of which about
900 included in the ratified treaties and III,
secured by the treaties before the Senate
cept ls,SiS, 800 acres OF reservatons.-U S Gazette.
Army AND NAVY PrNsioSs.-Thc following figures are
from the official Report OF the Commissioner OF Pensions
ARMY PENSIONS
The number of original applications, and applications
for increase of PENSIONS admitted during the year ending
June SOth, 1856, as follows
Revolutionary pensions, yearly, amount SieO5. 6S
5iS Widows oi revolutionary pensioners,
yearly amount s55se O2
Ss5 Widows aud orphans half paw
pensions, yearly amount, 90. Sc,
40 ln'ahd, do do 1881, 90
1880 cases admitted. Total wear amount 74oloGs
The due the above pensions the date ossu.
ing the pension certificates, amounted
To revolution soldiers and widows Sl642s7Os
To all others, 4D5I6 20
Total a04 s33 "a
The total number Of Army Pensions is 1908 and the
annual amount paid, sl.07l sos.
PENSIONS
There have been AZ original applications and applca
tons for increase admitted the annual amount which
Is and the arrears due at the date OF issuing the
pension certificates amounted to s347 46I The number
OF pensioners the rolls June 80 1885, in the several
States and Territories,
$50 invalid, yearly amount, s225I5s5
IsS Widows and orphans, yearly amount, 9sG7O,OO
Is PHvateer, DO l3sI,OO
s5i pensioners. Total year amount l22596s5
There have been 40 pensioners added the rolls and
IS stricken off by death
The total paid by navy pension agents 10 pen.
sioners during the year Sl21, 55s.
From January TO December 8 I, 1852, the number Of
original applications aud applications for increase of
pensions both army and navy, admitted, was $4,000
The yearly amount, l99,9l6 60
Aud the arrears due at the date of issuing
each pension certificate. Co.'s "a
An average OF the time from April !, 1858,
TO June 80, 1896, shows that each year
the number of original applications and
applications for increase of pensions adj
mitied, was $4,000
The yearly amount 2l6,70i,Si
And the due at the date Of issuing
the pension certificates, 459S3S Ol
Up TO December 1886, six thousand pensioners have
been admitted under the act Of February 8, 1858.