North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-12-14
VOL. 4 NO. + 9

| tion with them by Tudian hostilities, have
been only partially organized; but It is un-
derstood that these difficulties are about to
disappear, which will permit their govern
ments, like those of the others, to gointo
speedy and full operation as intimately con-
nected with and promodve Of this material
growth of the nation, ask the attention of
Congress to the valuable information and
! important recommendations relating to the
public lands, Iudian affairs. the Pacific rail-
roads, and mineral discoveries, contained in
the report of the Secretary of the Interior,
which is herewith transmitted, and which
report also embraces the subjects of patents,
pensions, aud other topics of public interest
| perta lining 10 his department. The quantity
of public land disposed Of during the FIVE
quarters ending on the thirtieth of Septem-
Der last, was 4,22l, ,342 acres, of which, 1853
S,6l4 acres were entered under the home
stead law, The remainder was located with
| military land warrants, agricultural scrip
certified to states for railroads, ard sold for
cash. The cash received from sales and loca
ton free was 81 or, ,446. The inc ONE from
sales during the fiscal year, ending June 30th
1864, was S678,0O7 81, against $136 6,077,95
receiaed during the preceding year. The az
| gregate number of acres surveyed during the
year has been equal to the quantity disposed
| #, and there is open to settlement about
133,000,000 acres of surveyed land,
PACIFIC RAILWAY AND TELEGRAPH
The great enterprise Of connecting the At.
lantic with the Pacific states BY railways and
telegraph lines has been entered upon with
yigor that gives assurance of success, not
withstandng the emharrassments arising from
he prevailing high prices Of materials and Ia
Dor. The route Of the main line of the road
| has been definitely located for one hundred
| miles westward from the initial point at Om~
aha City, Nebraska, and a preliminary loca-
ton Of the Pacific Railroad Of California has
been made from Sacramento esstwasd to the
great bend of Mucker river in Nevada. Nu-
merouS discoveries of gold, silver, and cinni-
bar mines, have been added to the many
heretofore known, and the country occupied
tains and The subordina te ranges, new terms
with enterprisDg labor, which is richly re-
uIu"erauve. II Is believed that the products
OF the mines OF precious metaIss IN region has
during the year reached, if not exceeded
SlUO,OO0,O0O in value. 1t was recommends
ed in my last annual message that our In
dian system be remodeled. Congress at it's
| last session, acting upon the recommendation.
uid provide for recognizing the system in
California and 1t is believed that under the
present organization the management of the
Indians there win be attended with reasona~
bic success. Mnch yet remains to be done to
provide for the proper government of the Inv
dlans IN other parts of the country, to render
It secure for the advancing settler and to pro-
vide for the welfare Of the Indian. The sec.
retary reiterated his recommendations, and
10 them the attention Of Congress is invited.
The liberal provisions made by Congress for
paying pensions on invalid soldiers and sailors
of the public, aud to the widows and or
phans. and dependent mothers of those who
have fallen in battle or died of disease cons
| tracted, or of wounds received, in the service
Of their country have been diligently admin
lstered.
PENSION BUREAU.
There have been added to the pension rolls
during the year ending the 30th day of June
last the names of 1910 inv aid soldiers, and
Ct 27l disabled seamen, making the present
number of army invalid pensioners 22,767,
and of navy enrolled pensioner,7l2 OF wld-
| ows, orphans, and mothers %, 1913 have been
placed on the army pension rolls, and 24S on
the navy rolls The present number of army
pensioners of this class is 25, ,433, and of navy
pensioners 793.
AT the beginning Of the year the number
Of revolutionary pensioners was 1,430. Only
twelve of them were soldiers, of whom seven
have since died. The remainder are those
who, under the law. receive pensions because
of relationship to revolutionary soldiers.
During the year ending the 30th June, 1854
4,504, 616,92 have been paid to pensioners
of all classes.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
| cheerfully commend to your continued
patronage the benevolent institutions of the
District Of Columbia, which have hitherto
been established or fostered by Congress, aud
respectfully refer for information concerni nc
| them, and in relation to the Washington
aqueduct, the capitol, and other matters oil
local interest to the report of the secretary. :,
| AGRICULTURE. r, -
| Tho Acricultural Denartment, under tha
supervision OF its present energetic and faith
lul head. is rapidly commencing itself to the
great and vital interest it was created to adj
vance. tits peculiarly the Peoples Depast-
ment, in which they feel more directly con
cerncd than in any other. commend 1t to