Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-07

the leading statistical and historical facts Of the
year, that the report is complete without being
! lengthy.
In the general policy of the laws administered
through the Department the Secretary perceives no
necessity of change The land service in its extent
and simplicity, in its past and present history and
condition, is eloquenily defended. Its general Sta
tistcs at present are as follows:
'O H. 20 aoth ,' Sen,nn'6er last 1879, 500
| T ooatod nth Warrants 36l7, 40
AP gpapts 0' I,Tl2,O4O
0e rs;Iroads u''O'' 631s2O3
Total 166lS1S3
Surveyed during the same period, l3,Sl1,zZl
Tine time UNIV ~ 16,7s3,55s
>C offered " '''O 5s,971 900
Number of acres now subject to private
crecatc so, 1000, 600
The policy of radical change in the land laws,
as proposed in general homestead bill, is ably dis
cussed and condemned with brevity, but with such
truth and plainneSS to astonish the reader, and
cause him to wonder why it was that suggestions
so palpable and opposite had not long ago occurred
to himself
As near as we can classify his terse statements,
the Secretary condemns the new policy by four
classes of considerations
First: Its ruinous effects upon the results that
have been attained by the discriminating liberality
of Congress- through series of years, IN its grants
of land to States for public objects and ends.
Second: The failure of all the partial donation
laws heretofore enacted for particular localities or
portions of the country.
Third: Its want of adaptation to promote the
prosperity of those States and Territories in which
the public lands are situated
Fourth: Its general injustice.
No one will rise from the perusul of the Secrcta-
rvs remarks without new and important informa-
ton on the topic discussed.
Passing to Indian affairs the reader is struck with
the magnitude of the financial relations of Indian
tribes to the government.
Reducing the annuities to present value the liza
biteS of the government to Indian tribes amount
to near twenty-one and half millions of dollars,
and the average annual expenditure on Indian
count exceeds 100000.
The number of Indians within the limits of the
United States and Territories is set down at $50 000
The semi-civilized tribes living on the frontiers have
been for years the increase in population, and
improving morally and socially. With the more
barbarous tribes the reverse the case; they arc
fast waning. The plan of assigning separate farms
to individual Indians within the limits of tribal
reservation is regarded as the most promising in its
adaptation to arrest this degeneracy, and restore
these tribes to prosperity.
the number of pensioners now on the rolls is
stated to be eleven thousand five hundred and egh
ty-fve; and the annual sum required to pay them
at the present rates, is 81 ,0349l4 10.
During the year ending the 30th September last
6,S0l bounty-land warrants issued, calling for
1,030, $50 acres.
The Secretary calls attention to the desirablenesS
of having some rule established by which it could
he determined what class of public improvements
e Al
expense of Congress or what portion Of the annual
expense of the municipal government ought to be
paid from the federal treasury. He suggests
nual appropriation by Congress, to be applied as it
shall direct approve for city purposes. The
dition and progress Of the public buildings and
grounds, under the supervision of the Department
is briefly stated; and the condition and present
wants of the district penitentiary the government
hospital for the insane, and the institution for the
education of the deaf and dumb and blind, are set
FORTH
Information is given, and suggestions are made,
in reference to the distribution of public documents
and other books printed or purchased by order of
Congress- and attention is invited to the expenses
of the judiciary and the proprcty of sundry amend
ments in the laws regulating the expenditures of the
federal courts and their officers
The census of 1860 will be conducted under the
law enacted in 1850. An appropriation of 81 ,O0O
900 will be necessary to defray the expenses; and
under the present arrangements the marShals will
enter vigorously upon the performance of their du
ties on the LIST of June next.
The business of the Patent Office has continued
10 increase during the year. The number of app-
cations for patents during the three quarters ending
on the 3Oth September, 1852, was 5l67 being an
increase of 1,076 over the same months in 1885,
The other business of the office and its income in
creased in corresponding degree the present
plus of the patent fund on hand being S3l ,437 g.
The Secretary is of the nDininn that ipcraovad
number of examiners and clerks should be provided
that the business of the Office may be done well,
and with proper dispatch.
1t has been the policy of the Department recent
y to conne the purchase and distribution of plants
seeds, cuttings &c, under the appropriations made
by Congress, to such varieties as had not already
been introduced into the country. 1t has been i'm
practicable to open and conduct an experimental
farm at the expense of the government and agri-
cultural experiments have been left to the various
agricultural societies and interested individuals
throughout the country. The functions of the De-
partmen in this direction have been confined to the
collection, arrangement, and publication of the re-
suits of individual experience.
The tea plant has been terminated in houses pre-
pared for the purpose and at the proper time it will
be distributed to such persons in the proper ocali-
ties as will probably conduct the experiment of cul-
tvating the plant and curing the leaves successfully
The success Of the culture Of the vine in the
United States is mentioned, and it is estimated that
we now have more than / 200 acres of land in
Vineyards the average crops of which, per acre.
will compare faVorably with the most successful
wine growing countries of Europe; and the value
of which is five or six hundred per cent greater at
the respective places of production.
The>Secretary takes occasion in the Introductory
part of the report to mention, in terms of general
commentator, the fidelity of the officers connected
| with his Department. Washington Constitution.
| Abstract of the Report of Postmaster General.
This report opens with an ausion to the death of
the late Postmaster General and Third Assistant
! Postmaster General, which filled this Department
| With gloom and encouragement Associated with
| this double calamity, came another which awakened
painful anxieties, not only from its intrinsic magni-
4 tu6p bntfr tl,a fa,tt hat A.