The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-12-24

proval of the Executive and are expected to
watch over them and aid them missionaries,
to Christianize and civilize the Indian, and to
train him in the acts of peace. The Govern
ment watches over the official acts of these
agents, and requires of them as strict an ac-
countability as if they were appointed in any
other manner. | entertain the confident hope
that the policy now pursued Will, in a few
wears bring all Indians upon reservations,
where they viii live in houses, have school
houses and churches, viii be pursuing peaceful
and self-sustaining avocatlons, and where they
NAV be visited by the law-abiding white man
with the same impunity that he now visits the
civilized white settlements | call your special
attention to the report of the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs for full information on this sub
ject.
PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year S,095, 413 acres Of
public lands were disposed of. OF this guam
tity, 3,698, go acles were taken under the
homestead law, and 2,259,5l0 acres sold for
cash. The remainder was located with militia
~ warrants, college or Indian scrip, applied
in satisfaction of grants TO railroads or other
public uses. The entries under the home
stead law during the past year covered 99l, 545
acres more than those during the preceding
year. Surveys have been vigorously prosecut-
ed to the full extent of the means applicable
to the purpose. The quantity of land IN mar
ket viii amply supply the present demand
The claim of the settlers under the homestead
or presumption laws is not limited, however,
unappropriated surveyed public land may, to
limited amount, be acquired under the former
laws, if the party entitled to enter under them
will comply with the requirements they pre-
scribe in regard to the residence and cultlva-
ton. The actual settlers preference,
and right of purchase is even broad
er, and extends to lands which
were unsurveyed at the time of his settlement
His right was formerly confined within much
narrower limits and at one period of our his
| tory ppr,fa " bv ST
were enacted from time to time to legalize
what regarded an unauthorized ntru-
sion upon the national domain. The opinion
that the public lands should be regarded chiefly
as a source of revenue is no longer maintained.
The rapid settlement and successful cultiva-
ton of them Is now justly considered of moro
importance to our well being than the fund
which the sale of them would produce. Tho
-emarkable growth and prosperity of new
states and territories attest the wisdom OF the
legislation which invites the tiller of the soil
to secure permanent home on easy terms.
Each of all the pioneers who lncurs the dan
gers and privations of frontier life, and thus
aids in laying the foundation of new common
wealths. renders a signal service and Is entl-
tied to its special favor and protection. The
laws secure that object, and largely promot
the general welfare. They should therefore
be cherished as prominent feature OF our
land system. Good faith requires us to give
full effect to the existing grants. The time
honored and benefcent policy of setting apart
certain sections of public lands for educational
! purposes in new states should Se continued,
when ample provision shall have been made
! for the objects. L submit as question
/ worthy of serious consideration, whether the
residue of our national domain should not be
| wholly disposed of under the provisions of the
! homestead and presumption laws. In addition
! to the swamp and overlooked lands granted to
| the states in which they are situated, the ands
| taken under the Agricultural College acts and
| for internal improvement purposes under the
! act of September, 1871, and the acts sup.
! Elementary thereto, there had been conveyed
I up to the close of the last fiscal year, by patent
or other equivalent evidence of title to states
or corporations, II 636, 257 13-l00 acres for
| railways, canals and wagon roads. 1t IL estl-
mated that an additional quantity of "A, 1885,
| 523 acres IS still due under grants for ike
uses The policy of thus aiding the states In
| building works of internal improvement was
! naugurated more than forty years since in
| the grants to Indiana and Illinois, to AID those
| states in opening canals to connect the waters
| of the Wabash with those of Lake Erie and
! the waters of Illinois with those of Lake
! Michigan. 1t was followed by modification in
| the grant to Illinois of alternate sections of
public lands within the limits of the Illinois
| Central Railway. Fourteen states and sundry
| corporations have received similar sub
| sides in connection with railroads com
| pleted or in process of construction
| AS reserved sections are rated at the
| double minimum, the sale of them at the
| enhanced price has thus, in many instances,
| Unidentified the Treasury for the granted
| lands. The construction of some of these
| thOroughfares has undoubtedly given yigor-
| GUS impetus to the development of our resour-
| ces and the settlement of the more distant
] portions of the country. 1t may, however,
| well be insisted that much of our legislation in
| this regard has been characterized by indis-
| criminate and profuse lberality. The United
States should not loan their credit in aid Of
| any enterprise undertaken by States or corpo-
| ratlOns, grant lands in any instance, unless
! the projected work is of acknowledged nation
| al Importance. / am strongly inclined to the
| opinion that it is inexpedient and unnecessary
| to bestow subsidies of either description, but,
| should Congress determine otherwise, l earn
| estly recommend that the rights of settlers and
the public be more effectually secured and
protected by appropriate legislation.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
| During the year ending September 80, 1870,
| there were filed in the Patent Office 1911
| applications for patents, ,374 caveats, and 100
| applications for the extension of patents
| 1861 patents, including reissues and designs,
were issued, 40 extended, and LOSE allowed,
| but not issued by reason of nonpayment of
final fees The receipts of the Office during
the fiscal year were 513 $50 429 in excess of its
| expenditures
! THE CENSUS.
! The work of the Census Bureau has been en-
| ergetic&ly prosecuted. The preliminary re-
port containing much information of special
| value and interest will be ready for delivery
| during the present session. The remaining
| volumes viii be completed with all the dis
| patch consistent with perfect accuracy III
ranging and classifying the returns. We shall
! thus at no distant day be furnished with
| authentic record of our condition and resources
| 1t WILL doubt not, attest the growing pros
perity of the country although during the de-
cade which has just closed it was so severely
! tried by the great war waged to maintain its in
| tegrity and to secure and perpetuate our free
| institutions.
| PENSIONS
During the last fiscal year. the sum paid to
| pensioners, including the cost of disbursement,
was S27, 7S0 81. II, and |, 758 bounty land
rants were issued At its close, 1875, $50 names
were on the pension rolls. The labOrs of the
| Pension Office have been directed to the severe
| scrutiny of the evidence submitted in favor of
! new claims, and to the discovery of fictitious
claims which have been heretofore allowed
| The appropriation for the employment of spe-
| cial agents for the investigation of frauds has
! been Judlciously used, and the results of it
| have been of UNREASONABLE benefit to the
| service.
EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE.
The subjects of education and agriculture are
| of great interest to the success of our Repub-
| lican institutions, and our happiness and
| grandeur a nation. In the interest of one
a bureau has been established m the interior
| Department, the Bureau of Education and in
| the interests of the other a separate depart
ment, that of Agriculture. / believe great
general good is to flow from the operations of