Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-04-01

this floor are so fond Of reverhng to
and which have been reverted to during
the last FIVE thousand years by succeed
ing generations in reference to preceding
ones. Fifty years ago the Rev. Sydney
Smith wrote 4.
''All this can't then, about our ancestors is
merely an abuse Of words, by transferring
phrases true Of contemporary men TO succeeding
ages. Whereas, Of living men the oldest has
the most experience Of generations, the oldest
has the least experience. Our ancestors up to
the conquest, were children in arms; chubby
boys in The time of Edward l. s,ripplinqs I'M
der Elizabeth; men in the reign Of Queen
Anne AID we only are the whi,e-bearded,
silycr-headcd ancients who have treasured up
and are prepared TO profit byall the experience
which human life can supply"
It was well said, in a report made to
this House at the last session Of Congress,
by the gentleman from South Carolina,
CIR. Boyce,) that ''the United States
have made the most astonishing advance
ment in material progress of all the peo-
pic in history, ancient or modern" The
true basis of expenditure in our Govern
mcnt is population, extent Of country,
and wealth; and when you compare these
now with the year 1900 you will find
that the Government is as economically
administered at this time as it was at that
period. TO prove this I have only to
institute comparison between those two
periods, and let the House and the coun-
try judge for themselves;
+ The population OF the United
States in 1900 was.,.."......~ 5,sO5, o1i
Value ofreal and personal estate
belonging to indiyiduals....Sl $50, 455, $50
Extent Of territory (sq. miles,. 7J4, COZ
The expenditures, exclusive Of
the public debt, were....... S74ll 800
| The population IN lst9........ %, 500, 600
/ Value Of real and personal es-
tate OF 500 600, 600
| Extent Of territory, lsq miles, 1887. 100
/ Expenditures for The year end
I ing June 30 1859, as estima-
| ted by the Secretary Of the
treasury. sd 0G5, 1896
This shows an increase in the cxpcnd-
lures from 1900 to 1859, exclusive of
/ payments on the public debt, Of 1910
per cent; increase in population of $50
| per cent, F.; increase in wealth 7G0 per
cent; increase in extent Of territory 80
per cent. These are the three principal
elements which constitute the basis Of
expenditure; but to them may be added
the increase Of 100 per cent. at least,
10 almost every article Of subsistence,
which has caused like increase in tie
wages Of labor, and Of the salaries of all
the officers, men, and laborcrs engaged
in the public service.
In 1900 our territory was small, being
only seven hundred and fify-four thou
sand and seven square miles. In 1903
We acquired Louisiana, with territory
stretching across the Rocky Mountains to
the Pacific Ocean. The territory was
inhabited by savages, whose usufruct
right to the land had to be distinguished
before it could be settled by the white
man. In 1916 we acquired Florida, and
took it with all its responsibilities. its
claims, and its hostile Indians. In 1915
we annexed Texas, taking in at once a
whole Republic as large nearly as the
original thirteen States, with its debts.
its liabilities, and its hostile savages. In
1913 we acquired New Mexico and Cal
ifornia and in 1854 we purchased the
Mesilla Valley, or what is now called
Arizona BY these acquisitions we have
now one hundred and scyenty-fve dis
tinot tribes or bands of Indians in the
United States. The amount Of land to
which the occupant or usurfruct right of
these Indians has been extinguished by
the Government is five hundred and
eighty-one million one hundred and sixty
three thousand one hundred and eighty
eight acres, at cost Of $40, 81G, 344.
Tho whole cost Of the Indian Bureau in
1900 was 53l %, and it did not reach
$500, geo until the year 1915, During
the year ending Both June. 1859, it was
81, $50. These expenditures may
be considered in the nature Of pcrma-
nent Investments, as the Government is
yearly in the receipt Of millions Of dol
lars for the sale of these lands to which
the Indian title has been oxtinguished
The following tables, which 7 have had
prepared at the General Land Office, will
exhibit another item Of largely increased
expenditures on account Of the accunu-
lation Of territory as well as the rapid
progress and development Of our coun-
try:
1900. 1853.
Area in square miles...... 754oo7 2,G3I755
Numuer Of Land Omces. 81
Number Of Surveyor Cen
fIftI. OiliCtE............... u