Evening star., 1869-12-06
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS.
IPORr OF THE SECRETARY Oh
THE INTERIOR.


The report OF Secretary Cox shows that during
The last year public lands we're disposed of to
the amount OF ,6f6, ,Ijl.@ acres. The cash
receipts from all sources amounted to I,412,-
SeS-Is; sum greater by e, so i 1i0.3S than was
received the previous year.
Dariug he year ending 50th September, 1859,
1850 Applications for patents, iHciudlng re-
issues and designs, $3.50 caveats, and i53 appl-
s2tORs for the extension OF patents. were filed.
1852 patents, including reissues and designs,
we're issued. 10 extended, and so allowed, but
not issued by reason of the non-paynlent Of the
Lual lee. On the 1st DAY OF October. 1863, the
sbexpeEded balance of the appropriation was
Sils, ,2is.ls- The appropriations subsequently
made amounted to ~.t2,DiS, making an aggre-
gate of Sss9, ,5bs.IS. The expenditures since thai
date have been S4.2 .i62.62, leaving on hand an
available balance u S4I6 sOi5s During said
year the fees received were s2I3 92i.02 IN excess
OF the expenditures. The appropria riation asked
for, Tor the next iscal year, Is ;<jsJi.4a).
The Secretary Tenews the recommendation oE
hls predecessor for the repeal OF all laws VIII ch
Authorized an appeal from the decision of the
Commissioner OF Patents ou applications Tor
hetterS patent and i'm interference cases.
At the date of the last annual report the name
Of but one revolutionary soldier, Daniel +.
bskeman, enained ON the pension rolls. He
has since died. During the year there were
adGed to the number Of pensioners, of ali classes,
$50; there were dropped, from various causes,
4es6-lcaving on the rolls june 81, 1s,S', 1S1 J,Sj.
The total amount paid ioT pensions OF all classes,
including expenses of disbursement, was S2S.-
&2,ec4.OS, sum greater by >i.4iI ,J'2O9 than
u al laiu IUt previous year. 1ltTe were I,tsgt
eoUnty-land warrants issued. for 2t)Oi1 acres.
1t - estimated that, exclusive OF the amount
ShaTgeabe 10 the navy Pension fund, SD, 600 900
viii be required Tor the pension service during
the next fiscal year.
The Secretary recommends that no further
delay be made in supplying the requisite appro-
PrIatlons 10 carry out the act to enable the civ
lEzed Indians TO form a general organization
with tie elements OF a Territorial government.
The Secretary fayors the policy of concentrating
The tribes as fast as possible. The time cannot
be faT distant when two OF three principal Ter
IitOFits will embrace all the tribes east OF the
Rocky Mountains. The same policy of concen-
Hatng the tribes will apply To the country est
Of the Rocky Mountains, and will be equally
necessary when and wherever the feuds ex-
istihg among them can be so far settled that
they can live together III peaceful neighb0rhoOd.
Upon such permanent reservations farms should
Be allotted in seyeralty soon as any disposition
10 agriculture il awakened, and every induce
Of a fixed character.
The late peace commission negotiated treaties
with all the principal tribes east OF the Rocky
Mountains. The treaties were daily ratified
and - became the solemn contract between the
nlted States and those tribes. 1t is deeply to
De regretted that specific appropriations were
not made 10 carry out strictly the terms of the
treaties, for, although the general appropriation
OF two millions had been used as far as possible
IN the fulhllnlent of the Obligations incurred,
TIE Commissioner Of Indian Affairs has been
met at every step by distrust OF the good faith OF
the government. and all promises regarding the
future have been doubIingly received and an
be more binding than that made under the au-
thority of Congress by 80 Distinguished person
ages a. the ambassadors of the Cnited State?
Everything attending the peace commission was
3i nature TO excite the imag nations of the In
ulans. and To impress them with the belief that
hcw, more than ever before, We were thor
oughly IN earnest in our negotiations. The dis
appointment is proportionally great and the
Comparative quiet which has been maintained
throughout the year could only have been Sc
cured by greatly increased care and untiriup
effort ON the part OF the officers of tie indian
Bureau and Of the army officers, who have co.
operated with the greatest zeal in Carrying out
. peaceful policy.
The plan of putting the Nebraska and Kansas
indians under the control of members OF the
Society of Friends has worked well. as has the
appointment OF commission OF philanthropic
citizens 10 serve in supervisory duty, and Who
were authorized To inspect all the accounts and
records Of the bureau, to he present at the pIsr-
rhases OF ln.Ean goods and advise rs 10 the con-
Inst OF the same, and 10 visit and inspect the
tribes IN their reservations and examine The, bIlsi
Bess Of ali the agencies.
Al the last session OF Congress the org iniZa-
lion OF the Department Of Education was 50 re-
aneed a. essentially 20 change us character.
The Commissioner has devoted his time and
atte ntIon-lSt. To giving such advice. infOrna-
zion, and assistance "a Inay be specifically called
foI by State officers Of education, local trus-
tees or instructors OF common schools, through
cat the country. "a. To preparing and trans
nitting circulars and memoirs which contain
such matter a. he regards best adapted to i'm
prove anil perfect the common school education
schools. conventions &C., fol tire purpose OF in
9srchanging views with professional teachers,
and acquiring VI impSIting knowledge respect
ing the progress OF education and its methods.
The encouragement of education among the
freedmen OF the southern States. which has here
fofore formed very important part of the labor
Of the Freetmen's Bureau, Is necessarily very
closely allied 10 the general scope OF the duties
deyOlying upon the Commissioner OF EducatiOn;
and the Secretary suggests the propriety of unit
ing the whole III this office, with some suitable
powers and provisions for fostering education
and increasing intelligence among the recently
enfranchised people.
Congress should decide speedily upon the man
ner Of taking the census.
In regard TO the Pacific railroad Union Pa
9ific and Central Pacific, the Secretary says:
:" IL il not surprising, i'm view of the unprecc-
slented rapidity with which il was constructed.
that deficiencies most Of which are incident to-
al new roads, should have existed. Each sue
eessiye report of the special commissioners, who
we're from time to time appointed, shows that
These deficiencies have been gradually and In a
very great degree supplied. The aggregate ma
tcrial and eqUi Iment ON hand exceed BY StSt 80
the amount necessary to make the whole line
conform in every respect To the demands of the
taw and the just expectations OF the country.
nder the circumstances, i had the honor to
recommend the acceptance OF the last sections.
No patents have bean issued TO the first COM
pany, and the subsidy OF 81 $40 100 OH account
of the fifty two and one third miles OF road which
were last constructed, has been withheld The
other company have received patents covering
cGIyCd that the Government has ample means
Ia secure from the companies the faithful per
fSrm3nce OF thciF respective engagements
Tie various ImpEUyS ments in the Capitol eX-
tension during the past wear are noted.
The buildings not NECESSARY for the work in
progress have, vith the exec iitiUn of the fire
engine house. been removed from the unin-
closed grosE.>ls adjoining tine Capitol. Early
measures should be taken to determine the eX-
tent OF these grounds, u embClii>h them, and
20 lay Out and improve thc surrounding streets.
III the eastern front Cf the central PORTION OF the
Capitol is Eut 20 he extended, the space in front
OF IT should be paved. amt the >:,ieN alks Eag
Ted.
The pOrticO and railing of the north front of
fLIs department have been completed. and the
contiguous sidewalk suitably tagged. e. street.
from 9Th to 9Th street, has not been paved. The
owners OF the greater portion Of the property ON
she north side OF II express preference for "A
wooden pavement, and the Secretary deems il
better suited than any other 10 "a thoroucl,f;.re
bordering upon pubic Offices. Seven Thousand
dollars, in addition 10 the funds ON hand
t$i,..5.6o,l viii be required TO meet 20 much OF
She expense of this Improvement as will be
Ghargeable ON the nitcu States.
Ihe improvements OF the eastern portion OF
the tty Hal, authorized by Congress, 10Th
Ooiy, lcce, Nave been completed. An appropri-
anon OF Sl"te = necessary for general Jepairs
and the purchase of hOt-air furnaces for tne
courtroom lhtfe = al UneNpcndcd balance
OF S3c05s.
The appropriations asked FOR make an arcre-
gate OF Sll2 eco, viz Capitol Nt,n.ion = Yn0
a.aDitOl refairs TOO Home o...-