Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-06
Report Of the Secretary of i4he Int.risr.

Report Of the Secretary sfAhc Interisr.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Interior is a
carefully pre- pared and able document.
The income from the public lands during four
wears rast has not been so great as was expected
The commercial revision of 1857, followed as IL
was by short crops in most of the new States and
Territories, checked emigration. and also the in
clinatiOn Of capitalists to make further invest
ments But this is not the sole cause Of the reduc
ton IN this revenue. The manner Of disposng
Of the public lands has been made topic Of po-
ltcal discussion; and whilst some emigrant fam
lilies have made settlements and delayed giving
the proper notice, or making any payments, in the
expectation of a donation, other persons, who are
contemplating emigration, have deferred their
removal from their old homes and the purchase Of
lands for settlement, awaiting some definite legis
IatiOn upon the subject Should the discussion
of alterations In our land system cease Ii Is be
neved that the revenue deIyed from sales would
speedily rise to a reasonable annual average, es-
peclsly II the quantity Of INDICATED land warrants
outstanding should continue to diminish from
wear to year for three years past.
The donation-improperly termed homestead
PoIicy-based upon the faIiacy that arestdence'on
tract Of land for certain number OF years shall,
instead Of fixed price, be made the consi dera-
riOn which snail entite the settler 70 the land he
selects and occupies has been tried, and stated
in my annual reports OF 1883 and 1859, has every
II was anroying to the settler, productive Of con-
froversies, and injurious 20 the communities in
which the donations were made.
During the past year, in every case Of the proc
Of the public lands, urgent requests have been
nude, as heretofore, for a pOstponement Of the
sales thus ordered. These requests could not be.
scCeded to without inteTFupting the harmonious
operation Of the laws constituting our land sys-
TEN, which uires the public lands to be brought
into market from time to time, In proportion as
surveyed lands disposed Of and other lands
surveyed. As there has not been any considerable
competition or cash demand for new lands during
The past year, the settlers on the lands brought
into market who Were unable, from particular
t. hnf,r -
sale, have generally been able to file declaratory
statements after the day of sale, and thus avail
themselves Of the twelve months credit secured
by law to preemptors of lands subject to private
eatry Il Is believed therefore, that settlers have
suffered no serious hardships Owing to the
sight demand. for lands as an investment, the
cash receipts from the public sales have been in
considerable, when compared with the quantity
of land offered.
Ia reviewing the results Of the policy pursued
by the Government Of the United states towards
the Indian tribes within their limits, il should
be borne in mind that, while the same general
relation exists between the United States and all
tue tribes, that relation has been modified in
sPeCt 70 many Of them by treaty stipulations and
acts Of Congress and as these notifications vary
Ia each case, and often in essential particulars,
The subject becomes complicated, and the diff
Guilty Of suhlectng the Indians TO a uniform
policy greatly increased.
Oar Intercourse with those tribes with whom
we have no treaties, except those in California,
Itah, and New Mexico, who are under the con-
the necessity of maintaining friendly relations
with the whites, and assuring them that acts Of
violence and Iapine will be sure TO draw upon
them severe chas.iseI aent. This Intercourse is
had mainly through the medium of officers Of the
army stationed on the remote frontier or engaged
ia exploring and surveying expeditions. With
the exception of the NaVajos and Snakes these
indians have besa al peace with as during the
Peace has also prevailed among the treaty In
dianS; with one conspicuous exception-the kio-
ways, whose increasing turbulence would seem
TO render military operations advisable. The
same may be said OF the fanctoanais and Cut
Head band of Sioux
Experience has shown that two conditions are
Indispensable to the OF any policy, looking
beyond the mere immediate and Temporary
lief Of the Indians. IL IL is designed to effect
radical change in their habits sfsd modes OF life,
and establi-n for them permanent civilization,
the ideas OF separate, rather private property,
and isolation, must form the basis alike Of our
diplomacy and our legislation
rhe whole number Of pensioners Of all classes
remaining on ths rolls is III ,2S4, and the SUN
requ red to pay their pensions Is 81 ,O1l,0l5 95
During the past year the amount thus expended
Was 81 ,lU3 .562 t3.
Although there appears TO have been but 81 ght
dimunItiOn In the work Of the office, yet such Is
the condition Of the business that Ii will admit Of
considerable reduction of the clerical force du-
ring the next year, and, conseq uently, the esii-
mates now submitted for this bfanch Of the ser
vice have been reduced by the sum Of s2s 30
The increase Of business IN the Patent Once,
tOnal force 10 the recommendations heretofore
made for a reorganization Of this bureau.
The recommendation of previous reports In re-
gard TO the anomaly of allowing appeals from the
Commissioner ofPatents to one Of the three dis
trlct judges is renewed.
The income OF the office, for the three quarters
ending September %. 1850, was sl97 ,6iS 10, and
It's expenditures, Sl59,672 %, showing surplus
Of 1896 ~. st =
During tails period five thousand six hundred
and tnirty-eight applications for patents have
A. f.-&,
caveats fled Three thousand six hundred and
twelve applications have been rejected, and three
thousand eight hundred and ninety-six patents
issued, including reissues additional improve
ments, and designs In addition TO this, there
have been fOrty-nine applications Tor extensions,
and twenty-eight patents have bcen extended for
period of seven years from the expiration Of
their 1irst term.
Agriculture is one of the main pillars Of the
prosperity and power Of any country, and IL as
sumes additional importance in ours, because OF
the extent Of our territory, embracing every
variety Of soil and climate the cheapusss Of land
and the facility with which it's products can be
transported TO market Il is manifest that, when
we have received adequate supply Of the di Fer
eat plants and seeds adapted 70 our various soil
ana climate and have developed our agricultural
resources, by the judicious application of the
results OF scientific Investigations, the United
Stst"s must become the granary Of the world
In regard to the censns, suftcient inform atior
has been obtained to justify the conclusion tha
our population has kept pace with Its ordinary
natural progress and that the Increase in the pro
ductions Of agriculture, manufacturer and mines
will show an accelerated advance In materia
prosperity. ..... .sra