New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-19
WASHINGTON.
THE DEPARTMENT REPORTS


BURN AND MISREPRESENTATION
WASHINGTON. Wednesday, Nov. Is, 1868.
The repOrt Of the Hon. JAS. ). Wilson, Commits
uoner OF she General Land Office, will equal IN inter
sst the report Of 1861 In addition to the usual Off
sial topics IL viii embrace variety OF valuable IN
formation al arranged under; 80 general heads, en-
Araciny the soil climate territorial conhguraton'
Industrial and commercial facilities, social progress
and nrasept stains of the different States and Terri
tories Ohio. Indiana, and Illinois, IN which the
Government title to the soil has been practically eA
tingushcd bv private appropriation under the land
laws arc GROUPED together in single article, show
inc ~ fine result of our benefcent land policy, their
growth into % powerful and intelligent civilization
Each of the other public land States and Territories
is made the subject of separate chapter showing
the character aud development of its resources the
progress Of settlement and culture, the amount of
public land remaining undisposed Of. the areas of
surveyed and unsurveyed lands respectively with
such other topics rs judged of interest and value
in bringing each portion of the public domain into
public notice and thus facilitating its prompt dis
pOsal by settlement and sale. The presumption and
homestead policy is discussed from historical
standpoint The general and special grants for IN
ternal improvements are rehearsed and the proceed
ings of the executive authority in their execution
detailed, showing the operation of this policy in
building up aud developing the industrial and COM
mercia interests of the great West The land grants
of the General Government in aid of education form
the theme of an article illustrating the importance of
popular intelligence in free community. The DIFF
ferent grants of Congress in aid of public schools of
seminaries and of colleges especially of agricultural
colleges analysed, and statistics showing the ex-
tension aud development of educational establish
ments of the country from the commencement of our
national existence are given. The following are
some of the items from the report:
BY the OF 1863 1t shown that in that year our
whole number sf educational establishments was l5oo
with 1872 teachers giving instruction TO $50 pupils
Their annual income being 3399o4s2 In the absence OF
movements in some Of our young Western cities cited
illustrations Of educational progress during the current
decade. The grand totals OF these grants amounting TO
nearly 8oOOO0O greater than the united area
OF New-HamP,hre Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con
nectlcut, New-York, NewJerSey, ana DELAWARE bounty
land grants military reservations, state and Territorial
boundaries receive appropriate notice. Inc geological
Nebraska under special statute Is review ed IN
detail and the continuation Of the geological survey OF
by Congress under the superintendent Of
capable geOOgist, is noticed with several important
zoo miles of Omaha is very fertile, and that beyond
that point 1t is available for grazing Inc presence OF
ent localities Iron ores especially OF magnetic chaac-
ter abound. Extensive forests OF pine timber were ire
Quently with giving ground for an extensive lumber
ing enterprise The peculiar character OF the parks OF
urges the Importance Of geological explorations Of the
public domain and suggests that public building DC
mediation Of scientific memorials representing each state
practical processes known 10 modern science Is lhe SUD
ect Of an interesting paper called for by the wants OF
different portions OF the country Inc aIsehOTatOn OF
barren lands by irrigation, growing and other
cesses, problem whose Importance is daily becoming
that practical measures may be speedily adopted
70 render these widespread acres capable
extended scale. The mining legislation OF Congress
thoroughly considered attention having been called TO
Of the mining districts growing out
OF conflicting constructions OF the law The report closes
with review of the OF public lands at different pc
mods OF our history now amounting to nearly $4,000
limits Of the republic are given, chorographic fea-
aud geographical relations and the changes the
the sceper the worlds commerce. An extensive cor
respondence with STATE 1nCp; anu e n ST
eating statistics from all parts OF the Union An inter
esting article on culture adds special practical
value 10 the report report further shows that there
has been disposed Of cash. for homesteads and under
pubic domain of which large share IS for actual settle
nent The total cash receipts exceed 1920 de s Janus
20 the productive resources OF the country OI hese
states The grants for Pacific Railroads, military wagon
roads other railroads approximate ls6OOOO acres
stated jn round numbers at l,SOO0O0 Total disposed
Of zoo OOOOOO Leaving undspOsed Of 14OOOOC0 acres
ed at t7 500 OOOOOO and their domestic trade at nearly
100000 year The report also contains taDies
AIMING the rst second halves Of the fiscal year the
area OF ine es have thus far been disposed Of
&C. The Geological history Of the valley Of the NILS
sour River and Wyoming Territory, ana the theory ana
results Of the railroad policy are fully shown WIN the
unifyiDg effects upon our nationality and CONSIDERATIONS
are presented In regard 10 the candidacy Vi the ePuD0
for full share Of the Asiatic trade
Breyet Major Gen. StOneman of the First Military
District has submitted his report TO the Generaln-
Chief Cen Stoneman says that Gen. Schoheld's sys-
tenn and policy have been adopted by himself with
.nch modification in detail as circumstances arising
from time to time seemed TO demand. The Four
teenth Article Of the Constitution was thought by
some to vacate every Office the State filled by per
sons who came within its provisions. Gen. Stone
mans predecessor had made $50 appointments to
vacancies caused by death resignation, or removal;
and IN doing so very nearly exhausted the available
material at his disposal. But one vacancy on the
bench has occurred during Gen. StOnemans admins
tration of affairs, aud to ill this it was deemed
necessary 70 resort 10 the officers OF the
ARMY to find a person fit for this I'M
portant and responsible position. This instance
is cited to show the evident mpOssbiiy OF carrying
on the government of Virginia on the assumption
that the thousands of officers in the district enbrac
ing state officers judges sherifs, COMMISSIONERS
commonwealth attorneys, magistrates, and Others
not 10 speak of the large number of town or NUM-
cipa officers, such as mayors cOuncllmen, aldermen
constabes oyerseers of the poor and others, should
suddenly cease the performance OF their 1unctlons
with no possibility of filling their places under the
provisions Of the reconstruction laws. In some III
stances il has been found absolutely impossible 10
find any person dpon whom an appointment could be
conferred and the difficulty has been overcome by
deyolying the performance Of the duties upon per
sons who were not opposed 10 reconstIucuoh hoI as
loyal 10 the Government of the United States Cen
Stoneman recommends tho repeal OF the hlhtn sec
tion Of the act of Congress OF July ~ lo'' JIG
SAYS: ..,t., 8,