Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-08


Improvement aud governmental institu
tons over the new and uuoccupied por
tions of our country have scarcely besI
checked much less impeded or destroyed
by our great civil war. which at first glance
would seem to have absorbed almost thI
entire energies OF the nation. The organi
Latiou and admission Of the State of Ne
vada has been completed in conformity
with law, and thus our excellent system Il
firmly established in the mountains, which
once seemed barren aud inhospitablC
waste between the Atlantic States ant
those which have grown up on the coast o
the Pacific Ocean. The territories of the
United States are generally in condition
of prosperity and rapid growth. Idaho aDt
Montana, by reason of their great dig.
tance and the interruption of commu-
nication with them BY the Indian hos
tilities, have been only partially or.
gauiSed, but it is understood thai
that these difficultles,are about to dissp.
pear, which will persfiit their govern ments,
like those Of others 70 60 into speedy aud
full operation. AS intimately connected
with and promOtiVe of this material
growth of the nation, | ask the attention
Of Congress to the valuable information
and important recommendations relating
to the public lands, Indian affairs, the Pa
cihc railroads and mineral discoveries,
contained in the report of the Secretary OF
the Interior, which is herewith transmit.
ted, and which report also embraces the
subject of patents, pensions and other tops
les Of public interest pertaining TO bis de-
partment. The quantity Of public land
disposed of during the fve quarters ending
on the 30th of September last, was 4, ,22l,.
342 acres, of which 1878. GA acres were
entered undered the Homestead law. The
remainder was located with military land
warrants, agricultural scrip certified to
States for railroads, and sold for cash.
The cash received from sales and loca.
ttOu fees was $l,0l9,446. The income
from sales during the fiscal year ending
June 30th, 1864, was SCI 300, ,72l, against
$l3, ,607, ,795 received during the preceding
year. The aggregate of acres surveyed
during the year has been equal to the
quantity disposed of, aud there is open to
settlement about l33. .00o, 900 acres of sur
veyed land. The great enterprise of con.
meeting the Atlantic with the Pacific
States by railways aud telegraph lines had
been entered upon with vigor that gives
assurance Of success, Notwithstanding the
embRrrassments arising from the prevail
ing high prices Of material and labor. The
route OF the main line or road has been
definitely located for one hundred miles
westward from the initial point of Omaha
City, Nebraska, aud preliminary location
Of the Pacific Railroad of California has
been made from Sacramento eastward 70
the Great Bend of Mucker River, in Ne
vada. Numerous discoveries Of gold, sill
yer and cinuRbar mines have been added
to the many heretofore known, and the
al hU hn ia
and the Rocky mountains and the subor-
dinate ranges now teens with enterprisipg
labor, which 10 richly rem1nerAliTe, II
is believed that the products OF the mines
of rich nAtAis n stst ssslou hRa dufiug
the year reached, 81 not Feeed HOO =
900 Ia value. sIt WABiT6OommoBded in'my
last annual message that our Iudiau sys-
TEN be remodeled.
Congress, at its last session, acting upon
the Recommendation, did provide for reor-
gauizlug the system in California, and is
believed that under the. present organiza-
tiou the management Of the Indians there
will be attended with reasonable success.
Much yet remains to be done to provide for
the proper government of the Indians in
other parts of the country, to render II SO.
cure for the advancing settler. and to pro-
vide for the welfare otthe Indian. The
Secretary reiterates his communications,
aud to them the attention of Congress Is
invited.
The liberal provisions to invalid soldiers
and sailors Of the Republic, aud TO the
widows, orphans and dependent mothers
of those who have fallen in battle, or died
of diseases contracted, or Of wounds re-
ceivcd in the service of their country, have
been diligently administsred.
There had been added ID. the pension
rolls during the year ending the 30th
day of June last, the names OF 1910
invalid soldiers, and OF AL dis
abled seAmen, making the present mum.
her of army invalid pensioners 22,767, and
Of navy invalid pensioners 7l2, and of
widows, orphans and mothers ~ 1913 have
been placed on the army pension rOlls and
24s on the navy rolls. The number of
army pensioners of this class Is 90, ,483,
aud of navy pensioners 1893. At the be-.
ginning of the year the number of reVolu-
tiouary pensioners was l, ,430. Only twelve
of them were soldiers, of whom seven
have since died. The remainder are those
who under the law, receive pensions be-
cause Of relationship to Revolu ttonary sol F.
diers. During the year ending the goth OF
June, 1864, $450, 461,692 have been paid
to pensioners Of all classes.
cheer:ully commend to your contiuu.
ed patronage the benevolent institutions
of the District Of Columbia, which have
hitherto been established or fostered by
Congress, aud respectfully refer for infor-
nation concerning them, and In relation
to the Washington Aqueduct, the Capital
aud other mattars of local interest to the
report of the Secretary.
The Agricultural Department, under the
H.. aad
faithful head, is rapidly commencing it.
self TO the great and vital interes
It was created 70 advance. 1t is peculiar
Iy the peoples department In which they
feel more directly concerned than in any
other. commend il to the continued at
tention and fostering care of Congress.
The war has conEiRped since the last