Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-01-11
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

1t appears from the report of the Secrs-
tary Of the Interior that, during the past
year, A5l3, 73S, 400 acres Of the public
lands have been granted to various par
ties, and that on the 3Oth September there
were still l32, 2S5, O3j acres surveyed and
u~ndisposed Of. Fol- lands sold he has re-
ceived S74s.427 %, an excess Of 10 per
cent. over the previous year. Different
regulations are in force in the different
territories regarding claims to unoccupied
lands, and some uniform law is asked.
The lands are very wisely sold for the
sum necessary to survey and transfer
them to actual settlers and purchasers. 1t
is estimated that 100000 able-bodied men
are mining upon the public domain with
out paying anything for the privilege. In
view of the tax upon most other pursuits
it is suggested they be not neglected. The
number of army invalid pensioners added
to the roll during the year was 1928, re-
quiring Sl,22O,7 S5 for annual payment,
and the number of claims of widows and
other dependents allowed during the year
was 1858, making an annual charge OF
S~2,574,l79. The whole amount paid for
pensions during the year was $s,3ls,62h
and the whole number of pensioners on
the rolls June 80, 1865, was Si,l30, re-
curing an annual appropriation OF ST..
1872 Up. Only two Of the revolutionary
pensioners still survivo-William Hutch
ings Of Penobscot, Me-, and Samuel Cook
of Clarendon, N. Y. The large increase
in the number Of pensioners demands
largely increased appropriations. There
were 266 naval pensions awarded during
the year, and the amount paid was $685.
$50. The money accruing to the Govern
ment from the sale Of naval prizes forms
the naval pension, fund, and tn. interest
of this fund exceeds by 100 per cent. the
amount required for the payment of the
existing naval pensions. There have been
6,292 patents and 81 extensions granted
during the year. The balance to the
credit Of the patent fund October l, 1865,
was $ll0,669, the receipts for the year
having been $3l6,9S7 and the expendi-
lures S262,445. The expediency of d.
minishing the powers Of the commissioner
of patents in regard to all applications for
extensions is submitted to Congress. The
fourth and last volume OF the census Of
1860 is in the hands Of the printer. The
Secretary presents statements from the
officers of the Union Pacific Railroad
Company. showing how far the work has
progressed on the various sections Of that
road. Sixteen miles Of track have been
laid west Of Omaha. and arrangements
made to prosecute the work at the rate Of
half a mile per day. No doubt is enter
tanned that the first one hundred miles will
be in operation by July next. On the
eastern division, or Kansas branch, forty
miles have been completed from the mouth
Of the Kansas river to a point near Law
renee. On the Atchison branch the
bridges and masonry OF the first twenty
miles are completed, and forty miles Of
track will be laid by May. The Central
Pacific Railroad Company Of California
reports forty-three miles Of track east
ward from Sacramento in running order
and the grading completed for twenty
miles more. The work on the capitol
building still drags along, and the Secrc-
,ary does not intimate that it will ever be
finished. An appropriation Of $4,000
will be required to continue it until June
80, 1867. The library is being enlarged
at an expenditure of $4,000 and the
architect recommends extending the GEN.
trail building portico to the line Of the por-
ticoes of the coverings, and enlarging the
capitol grounds. Money is asked from
Congress for local, sanitary and benevolent
purposes in the District of Columbia.