Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-12-15
public uses The entries under the home

"a n the full extent Of the means applicable
- the purpose. The quantity OF land in mar
set viii amply supply the present demand.
gba claim OF the settlers under the homestead
ar pre-emption laws is not limited, however,
~ lands subject to sale by private entry. Any
-nsnnropriated surveyed public land may. to .
Emitad amount, be acquired under the former
laws. If the party entitled to enter under them
vii comply with the requirements they pre-
! sn-ibe in regard to the residence and cultivs-
and right of purchase is even broad
and extends to hands which
-s-e rnsr,rveved at the time of his settlement
HIS right was formerly confined within much
narrow limits, and at one period of our his
tory was conferred only by special statutes that
we're enacted from time to tame to legahze
What was regarded as an unauthorized intru-
non upon the national domain. The opinion
that the public lands should be garsled chiefly
az a source of revenue is no longer maintained.
The rand settlement and successful culuva-
Ton of them is now justly considered of more
importance to our well being than the fund
wbicb the sale of them would produce. The
remarkable growth and prosperity of new
states and territories, attest the wisdom OF the
LEGISLATION which invites the tiller of the soil
IN secure q permanent home on easy terms.
Each of all the pioneers who incurs the dan
gers and privations of frontier life, and thus
aids in laying the foundation of new common
q
tied to its special favor and protection. The
laws secure that object, and largely promote
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 beneficent policy OF setting apart
certain sections of public lands for educational
urposes in new states should be continued,
when ample provision shall have been made
for the objects. / submit, az 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 pre-emption 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
forinternal Improvement purposes under the
act of September, 1841, and the acts sup.
Elementary thereto, there had been conveyed
up to the close of the last fiscal year, by patent
or other equivalent evidence of title to states
or corporations, 27,S3G, 1857 13-100 acres for
railways, canals and wagon roads. 1t is esti-
mated that an additional quantity of 74,135,-
523 acres is stDl due under grants for like
uses The policy of thus aiding the states in
building works of internal improvement was
Inaugurated 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 II 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
sidies in connection with railroads COM
pleted or III 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,
indemnified the Treasury for the granted
lands. The construction OF some OF these
thoroughfares has undoubtedly given vigor
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-
crininate and profuse lberality. The United
States should not loan their credit in aid of
any enterprise undertaken by States or corpo-
rations, nor grant lands in any INSTANCE, unless
the projected work is of acknowledged nation
al Importance. l 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
esty 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 l9,41l
applications for patents, 1874 caveats, and 100
applications for the extension OF patents;
1881 patents, including reissues and designs,
we're issued, ITO extended, and ,Oo9 allowed,
but not issued by reason of nonpayment OF
final fees. The receipts of the office during
the fiscal year were S13, $50, 429 in excess of its
expenditures.
THE CENSUS.
The work of the Census Bureau has been en-
ergetically 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 will be completed with all the dis
patch consistent with perfect accuracy In ar
ranging and classifying the returns. We shall
thus at no distant day be furnished with an
authentic record of our condition and resources.
1t will, l doubt not, attest the growing pros
perity of the country, although during the de-
cade which has just closed it was 80 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, $50, SILL, and 1853 bounty land war
rants were issued. At it's close, 1856 names
we're 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 judiclously used, and the results OF II
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-
lean institutions, and our happiness and
grandeur as nation. In the interest OF one
bureau has been established in the interior
department, the Bureau of Education, and IN
the interests of the other separate depart
ment, that of Agriculture ! believe great
general good is to flow from the operations OF
both these bureaus, If properly fostered.
cannot commend to your careful consideration