The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-12-08

continued. When ample provision shall
have been made for these objects, I submit,
as question worthy Of serious considers.
ton, whether the residue of our national
domain should not be wholly disposed
OF under tho 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
lands taken under the agricultural college
acts and for internal improvement purpo.
ses under the action OF September. 1871.
and the acts supplementary thereto, there
had been conveyed up to the close of the
last fiscal year, by patent or other equiva.
lent evidence, total to States Or to cor.
poratious of 7,836,257 1900 acres, for
railways, canal and wagon roads. 1t is es.
timated that an additional quantity of
IA, 1876, 02s acres is still due, lunder grants
for like uses.
The polio. OF thus aiding the States in
building works of internal improvement,
was inaugu:ated 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 ILL.
nois with those of Lake Michigan. 1t
was followed by notifications, in the
grant to Illinois of alternate sections Of
public lands within the limits OF the Hi.
nois Central Railroad. Fourteen States
and sundry corporations have received
similar subsidies, in connection with rail.
roads completed or in progress of con.
struction. 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 thorough.
fares has undoubtedly given vigorous i'm
petus to the development of our resources
and the settlement of the more distant
portions Of the country. lsmay, however,
we'll be insisted that much of our legisla-
ton in this regard has been characterized
by indiscriminate and profuse liberality.
The United States should not loan their
credit in aid OF any enterprise undertaken
by States and corporations; nor grant lands
in any instance unless the projected work
is OF acknowledged national importance. I
am strongly inclined to the opinion that it
is inexped,ent and unnecessary to bestow
subsidies Of either description, but should
Congress determine otherwise, earnestly
recommend that tho rights of settlers and
of the public be more effectually secured
and protected by appropriate legislation.
PATENrloFuoE.
During the year ending September 80,
1870, there were filed in the Patent Office
1911 applications for patents. 3,s74
caveats and 100 applications for the OK.
tension Of patents 1862 patents, inclu.
dag reissues and designs, were issued, 10
extended and 1859 allowed, but not is.
sued, by reason Of non.psgment Of fnsi
fees. The receipts Of the Office during the
fiscal year were $ls,63o, 429 in excess Of
its expenditures.
The work Of the census bureau has
been energetically prosecuted. The pre-.
liminary report containing much informa.
ton of special value and interest will be
ready for delivery during the present
session. The remaining volumes will be
completed with the dispatch consistent
with perfect accuracy in arranging and
classifying the returns. We shall thus ut
no distant adaya- be furnished with an
authentic record of. our condition and
resources. st1t will aoEdoubt attest the
growing prosperity ofthe country although
during the decade which has Just closed
it was 80 severely tried by the great war
waged to maintain its integrity and to
secure and perpetuate our free institutions.
PENSIONS.
During the last fiscal year the sums paid
ID pensioners, including the cost Of dis.
was $27, $780, SILL, and 1853
bounty land warrants were issued. At its
close l98, $3.50 names were on tho 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 the discovery of fictitious
claims which have been heretofore al.
lowed. The appropriation for the en-
ployment of special agents for the investi.
CATION of frauds has been judiciously used,
and the results Of it have been of unques.
tionable benefit to the service.
EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE.
The subject Of education and agriculture
are Of great interest to the success of our
republican Institutions and our happiness
and grandeur a. nation. In the interests
OF one bureau has been established in
the interior department-the bureau Of
education. And in the interests of the
other separate department, that Of agri.
culture. believe great general good is
to flow from the operations Of both
these bureaus if properly fos.
tered. cannot commend to
your careful consideration too highly tho
reports of the Commissioners Of Education
and Agriculture, nor urge too strongly
such liberal legislation as to secure their
efficiency.
POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
In conclusion would sum up the policy
Of the Administration to be thorough en-.
forcement Of every law; a faithful collec.
ton of the tax provided for; economy in
the disbursement Of the same; prompt
payment Of the public debt of the nation;
. reduction of taxes a. rapidly as the re.
quirements of the country will admit; the
reduction of taxation, and the tariff to be
so arranged as to afford the greatest number
of honest and fair dealings with all our