Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-12-17


The business OF this bureau has exhibited
increased activity the past year. During the
year from October l, 1861, to September 80,
1862, there were received 5,302 applications
for patents, of which 8 ,522 were granted. In
the same time Sl1 caveats were filed, and 90
which Is were granted. Seven hundred pat
ents remain in the office awaiting the payment
OF the fee which is due on delivery.
PENSIONS.
The report OF the Commissioners of pensions
presents in detail the operations of the Pen
sion bureau during the past year.
The number OF pensioners of every class
in the loyal States on the 30th June, 1862.
was 8 ,l59, requiring the sum of S752 III, II
to pay their pensions. The amount actually
paid the past year, including expenses Of agen-
cies and arrears of pensions, was 1882 ,l6l Al.
1t is ascertained, from the latest informa-
ton, that there were 2,073 pensioners in the
disloyal States, whose pensions amounted to
Sl65, 1864 9S- The entire amount of pensions
paid in those States in 1861, accounted for,
was So ,233 IS.
Al the close of the last fiscal year there re-
mained in the hands of pension agents in the
disloyal States ,627 S. OF this sum $l5-
535 30 have been properly accounted for at
different points taken and he Id by the Federal
forces, at which pension agencies were loca-
ted
An examination of the statistics furnished
by the records of the Pension Office shows a
decrease in the number of pensioners, since
1861, Of AZ. The aggregate payments in that
year TO pensioners was 1912 ,461 80. For
the present year the amount due to pension
ers is $3.50, ,5S4 IS, being S282 or 70 less than
was paid the previous year.
The number of bounty land warrants issued
in 1861, was 5,3f1. granting S34 720 acres
For the present year but .636 warrants were
issued, granting 257 500 acres. being de-
crease OF 3,705 warrants, and 576 800 acres of
land
Since the adoption of the Constitution there
have been granted for naval and military ser
vices, 65 sol ,o62 acres of the public domain
which, if estimated at 81 % per acre, amounts
to So, ,257 ,327 90; and the aggregate amount
payment of army and navy pensions, since its
is ascertained to be 500, $685.
52I Co.
The general pension act passed by Congress
at its last session, and approved on the 14th
july, 1862 has largely Increased the business
Uf the Pension Office, aud viii aid materially
10 the expenditures on behalf of the pension
list. The law embraces in its terms every
oI auch of the military and naval service of the
UHited States since the 4th March, 1861, and
provides for two classes of pension
srs hitherto not recognized, VIZ mothers and
soldiers, and the pensions to disabled seamen,
and to widows and minor children of persons
in both the army and navy, are increased.
The Commissioner states that s:these facts,
in addition to the consideration of the great
numbers now employed in the army and navy,
have led to apprehensons, in some quarters,
Of au extravagant, if not insupportable, annu-
al burden resulting from this law, in itself
no more liberia! than simple justice
demands towards the armed defenders of the
in this day of trial. From 4 careful
examination of the data upon which estimates
may be based II is my conviction-always sup
posing the results of the war to be commeu-
surate with what may reasonably be expected
rom the means employed-that the total
nual sum required to carry out this law will
in no year exceed 81 GOO ,000.''
The number of applications for army inva-
lid pensions under this act was, to November
l5, All. The number of applications of
widows (army) under this law to the same
late Was 3,10l; of mothers, 301; of minor
20, and of sisters, 10.
In the navy branch there were filed previous
to November Is, 163 applications for invalid
lis for widows, 20 for mothers, and
sin behalf of minor children. Making the
otal number of applications growing out OF the
present war, 10 ,S04.
The eighth section of the pension act of Ju-
y IA, 1862. made it the duty of the Commits
sicner of Pensions to designate physicians and
surgeons to make biennial examinations of
pensioners, as required by the act of March;
1859, and also to examine applicants for inva-
lid pensions under the late act. In the per-
formance of this duty the Commissioner has
selected persons in the various States with
to-their professional skill and integ-
rity OF character. 1t is believed that the ben
,fits designed by this provision of the law will
De fully realized, and the greatly augmented
abors imposed upon the Pension bureau will
De performed with little difficulty If the zeal
oEs operation of these officers is obtained.
The act of July ii, 1862, authorizing the
lpp ointment of special agent of the Pension
Office to assist in the detection of frauds a.