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

continued. When ample provision shall
have been made for these objscts, ] submit,
g question worthy Of serious considera.
ton, WHISTLER tho residue Of orr national
domain should not DO wholly disposed
Of under the provisions Of the homestead
and prescription laws. In addition to the
swamp and overflowed lands granted to
the states in whieh they are situated the
lands taken under the agricultural college
acts and for internal improvement purpo.
ses under the action Of September, lSll, :
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.
porations of 27,S36, 267 l8.l00 acres, for
railways, canal and wagon roads. It il es.
timated that An additional quantity Of
q, 1876, 023 acres il still due under grants
for like uses. @s 3 . ::&3F
The policy 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 10
connect the waters of the Wabash with
those of Lake Erie, and the waters Of I'LL.
nois with those of Lake Michigan. 1t
was followed BY notifications, in the
grant to Illinois Of alternate sections Of
public lands within tho limits Of the Iii.
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 ore rated
al 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 a vigorous i'm.
petus to the development Of our resources
and the settlement Of the: more distant
portions Of the country. Itmay, however,
we'll be insisted that much Of our leeisla.
tion in this regard has been characterized
by indiscriminate and profuse libsrality.
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:
am strongly inclined to the opinion that it
10 inexped,ent and unnecessary to bestow
subsidies ofeither description, but should
Congress determine other wise, earnestly
recommend that the rights of settlers and
of tho public be- more effectually secured
and protected by appropriate legislation.
--. PATENrlorE1oE.
During the year ending September 80,
1870, there were filed in the Patent Once
l0,4ll applications for patents. 3,s74
caveats and 100 applications for the ex.
tension of patents. 1862 patents, inclu.
dag reissues and designs, were issued, ITO
extended and 1859 allowed, but not is.
sued, by reason Of non.payment Of final
fees: The receipts ofthe Office during the
fiscal year were 1850, 42s In excess Of
it, expenditures. :.
- > CENSUS: IA
The work Of the census bureau has
been energetically prosecuted. . The pre-.
liminary report containing: much informa.
ton of special value aud interest will be
ready for delivery during the present
session. The remaining volumes will be
completed with the dispstch consistent
with perfect accuracy in arranging and
classify ing tho returns We shall thus 1t
no distant sa4a6sbe furnished with an
authentic 4ot6 our condition and
resources. sIs8 doubt attest the
growing prospsslty of t1e country although
during the decade which has just closed
it was 20 severely tried by the great war
tWased to maintain its integrity and to
aeoufe and perpetuate our free institutions.
81 PENSIONS. n IS 49, So.
During the last fiscal year the sums paid
ID pensioners, including the cost Of dis
bursement, was $27, $50, 81 ILL, and 1888
bounty land warrants were issued. At its
close los, 686 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 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 tho results Of it have been Of unques.
tionable benefit to the service. go
ssf<; EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE. ~.
; The subject Of education and agriculture
arc of great interest to the success of our
republican institu tions and our happiness
and grandeur ae . nation. IN the interests
OF ono . 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
10 flow from the operations Of both
these bureaus if properly fos.
tered. Ias cannot commend - to
your careful consideration too highly the
reports of the Commissioners Of Education
and Agriculture, nor urge too strongly
such liberal legislation Is to secure. their
efficiency. X.
:" poIlcY or THE ADMINISTRATION.
In conclusion would sum up the policy
Of the Administration to be & thorough On.