Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-13
Report of the Secretary of the Interior.

The report Of Hon. J. P. Usher, Secretary Of
the Interior shows that during the past year the
income from the sale OF pubic lands has been over
five times the amount received the previous year
About three and quarter millions Of acres were
disposed OF during the year. including lands To-
Gated with agricultural scrip, The cash receipts
for the fifteen months ending September 81, 1861,
were $l0l6A46 "A. Nineteen States have oe-
cepted the provisions Of tie Agricultural College
BILL
The great value Of the minerals in Idaho, Ne
yada and Arizona, and in portions Of the public
terr,orysugges hat every encouragement should
be given 10 those who are willing to deyelope the
riches Of the gold, silver and other products, by
defining and securing their rights by law. Among
the encouragement, the Pac iic railroad is speci-
fed as permanent and essential one Mr.. Ush-
er SAYS
"ihere can b. no doubt that the public re-.
sources would be much increased by he imme.
date working Of the mines to the extent OF their
capacity, and ty the settlement OF those regions
by an en,erpriSing aud industrious population,
though no direct income should be derived from
the sale OF the lands. Il is therefore worthy of
consideration, whether il would not be expedient
to give such portions OF the lands, as are required
to insure the construction Of the nrces sary rail.
roads, and the conversion OF the sterile lands TO
condition Of fertility. The benefits resulting from
such roads would not be elniagd to the Product
of the mines. \ Lew highway, At all times
exempt rom Obstruction by snow would be open
to The Pacific. Passing by the valley Of the Rio
Grande to FL Paso j; would receive a large por-
ton Of the rich commerce Of Genital NnG Western
Mexico. These benefits are So obvious and Of
such surprising importance, that do not hesitate
in expressing my earnest conviction that the
government should embrace any suitable oppor-
tunity which may be offered to secure the com
pleton ofthe railroads upon the terms suggested"
The report OF the Commits itner OF Pensions
says that Of those patriots to whom pensions for
services in the Revolutionary war had been award
ed, five still survive at very advanced ages. At
the beginning of the year, lilS widows Of Reyo.
lulonary soldiers were receiving pensions, the
aggregate of whose yearly stipends was Sll5,.
2l7 i3. The number of army pensioners tolher
than Revolutionary who were paid during the
fourteen months ending the 80 h Of June lsst was
% ,76I, and Of widows, orphans, and dependant
mothers, 25,i3j, Tie amount paid Tor army
pensions during tie year ending June 30, was
/ sI,340,36S 80. The number OF navy pensioners
who were paid during the fourteen months pre-.
cedng the date mentioned was 1906; and the
amount Of money paid them during the year was
| $l64,2H %. The whole number Of pensioners
on IT, 30,h June last vas l.l3j requiring Tor
annual compensation Si,59j, $40 SO. During the
year ending September 80, 1851, 1872 bounty
land warrants were issued requiring 2S69 $50
acres Of land TO satisfy them. Several valuable
suggestions are made relative to fixing the grade
Of disability % Invalid pensioners and as 10 dis.
eliminating regarding the connection OF the
causes OF disability or death with the government
service.
The business operations Of the Patent Office for
the year ending September so lost have been very
satisfactory. During that period G1l0 applica.
tions for patents and $50 caveats were filed, and
70 applications Tor the extension OF patents.
During the same period 1913 patents. including
reissues and designs, we're issued, aud 10 exten.
sions granted. The balance ia tha treasury 10 The
credit Of the patent fluid on 0c'obtr /, lStij, va.
/ 1918 60. The receipt, OF the office 10 Sep.
TENDER 30 1904 amounted to $3.50, S3S Gu, max.
| ing total sum OF S26S,17l IS The expendi.
lures during the SAME PERIOD were S2l2I53 ST.
leaving balance Of Sj6,ll7 80 gu hand on Oe,o
Der 1861, being SlS,Ssl So more than the bal
Anes ~ exhibited on October 1868.
| The rlmilatltr Of inp rtp1rt refers piincpa ly
10 ma,..s' 90, eerut Z ihe th.t condition Il Wash