The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-12-17

ent Cfice and Indian Bureau. During the
fiscal year ending June 3Oth, 1868, six mil
lions six hundred and ffty-fve thousand
seven hundred acres of public land were dis
posed of. The entire cash receipts of the
General Land Office for the same period were
$1,632, ,745, being greater by 1924 1888 than
the amount realized from the same sources
during the previous year. The entries un-
der the Homestead law cover two million
three hundred and twenty eight thousand
nine hundred and twenty-three acres, nearly
one-fourth of which was taken under the act
of June 2lst. 1867, which applies only to
the Srules of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana, Arkansas and Florida.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
On the Goth Of June. 1868, one hundred
and sixty-nine thousann six hundred and
fity-three names were borne on the pension
rolls, and during the year ending On that
day, the total amount paid for pensions, in
Guiding the expenses of disbursements, was
$24,010, 1882, being SIS, ,891 ,O25 greater than
that expended for like purposas during the
preceding year.
Exception is taken to the act of 2sd July
last, which reduces the interest on the fund
loaned to the Government by the Secretary
as trustee, to three per cent, instead of six
per cent, which was originally stipulated
when the investment was made, An amend
ment of the Pension laws is suggested to
remedy omissions and defects in existing en-
actments. The expenditures of the depart
ment during the last fiscal year were S2O1,-
203,94, and the estimates for the coming
year amount to $40, ,993 ,3l4.
zldf THE PATENT OFFICE.
During the year ending the 30th of Sep
tember last, the expenses of the Patent Office
exceeded the receipts by one hundred and
seventy one dollars, and including REISSUES
and designs, fourteen thousand one hundred
and hfty-three patents were issued
t. INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Treaties with various Indian tribos have
been concluded. aad will be submitted to the
Senate for its constitutional action. / cor
diallay sanction the stipulations which pro-
vide for reserving lands for the various tribes,
where they may be encouraged to abandon
their nomadic habits, and engage in agricul-
tural and industrial pursuits. This policy,
inaugurated many years since, has met with
signal success whenever it has been pursued
in good faith and with becoming liberality
by the United States. The necessity for ex-
tending it as far as practicable in our rela-
tions with the aboriginal population is greater
now than at any preceding period. Whilst
we f1rnish subsistence and instructions to
the Indians and guarantees tlIu ~..-1;.t,,.L-i
enjoyment of their treaty rights, we should
habitually insist upon the faithful observance
of their agreement to remain within their re-
spective reservationsr This is the only mode
by which these collisions with other tribes
and with the whites can be avoided and the
safety of our frontier settlements secured.
THE PACIFIC RAILWAYS.
The companies constructing the railway
from Omaha to Sacramento have been most
energetically engaged in prosecuting the
work, and it is believed that the line will be
completed before the expiration of the next
fiscal year. The six per cent. bonds issued
to these companies amounted on the fifth in.
slant TO $44 ,337 ,O0f, and additional work
had been performed to the extent of So ,200,-
900. The Secretary of the Interior in Au-
gust last, invited my attention 20 the report
of Director of the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, who had been specially Instructed
to examine the location, construction and
equipment of their road. and submitted for
the opinion of the Attorney General certain
questions in regard to the authority of the
Executive, which arose upon this report,
and those which had from time to time been
presented by the Commissioners appointed
appointed to examine this and other lines,
and have recently submitted statement of
their Investigations, of which the report of
the Secretary of the Interior furnishes spec
ial Information.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary of War con-
tains information of interest respecting the
several Buaeaus of the War Department.
and the operations of the army. The
strength of our military force on the S0th of
September last was 5000 men, and it is
computed that this number will be decreased
to $4,000. 1t is the opinion of the Secretary
of War, that within the next year consid-
erable diminution of the infantry force may
be made without detriment to the interest of
the country, and in view of the great ex-
lin o., hrnont
and the absolute necessity of retrenchment,
wherever it can be applied, it is hoped that
Congress will sanction the reduction which
his report recommends. While in 1860.
sixteen thousand fhree hundred men cost the
nation SIC ,472,000, the sum of S65, ,682, 900
as necessary for the support of the army du-
ring the fiscal year, ending june 80, 1870.
Tie estimates of war debt, for the last two
fiscal years, were for 1867, $33 ,814 ,461, and
and for 1868, S25, ,205 500. The actual
expenditures during the same periods were
respectively, $50, ,224 AIS and 1923, 246, ,648.
The estimate submitted in December last,
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1869, was
ST., ,124, ,707. The expenditures for the first
quarter, ending the 3Oth of September last,
were $27 ,219, III, and the Secretary, of the
Treasury gives $66, 100000 as the amount
which will probably be required during the
remaining three-quarters, if there should be
no reducSlon OF the army, making It's aSgre-
gate cost for the year considerably in excess
of ninety ty-three millions. The difference be-
tween the estimates and expenditures for the
three fiscal years which have been named. is
thus shown to be $175, ,545 ,343 for this sin
gle branch of public service.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
exhibits the operations of that department.
and of the Navy du1ing the year. eonsid-
erable reduction of the force has been effected.
There are forty-two vessels carrying four
hundred and eleven guns in the six squad
rons which are established in different parts
of the world. Three of these vessels are re-
turning to the United States and four are