Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-23
REFoRT OF SECRETARY Of THE INTERIOR.

b&s WI VI SSSnk NM W INK w IntUN.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MATrERs.
Suggestions and Recommendations
The annual report OF the Secretary OF the In
terror, prepared by Secretary Cox previous 10
his retirement. gives history OF the operations
Of the Department for the past year, and con-
tains a number Of suggestions. Much Of the
report relates TO affairs in the District OF Co
lumbia.
PuBLIc LANDS.
During the last hseal year s,oa5,4l3 acres Of
public lands were disposed of, as follows Cash
sales, 2,l59 5i5.sl; located with military war
rants, 5l2 $50; taken for hcmesteads, SOS O5.
located with college scrp, 1872, S452i; grants 90
3e62sOi; approved 70 states as swamps,
4el 1881; Indian scrip locations, 16 s 80. This
Is 49,.6lOo more acres than disposed OF the
previous year. Tho quantity of land taken
under the homestead act was greater by 9si 5t5
acres than that OF the preceding year. The area
of PUBLIC lands undsposed OF Is ,3s ,s32, 2OI 81
acres, of which so. us AS acres are unsur-
yeyed. The grants for educational purposes
since the foundation OF the government amount
to acres; for military services, 80 ,463,
eel acres.
During the year ending September 30, 1870.
1862 patents, including reissues aud designs
we d0u lVl eAte0ued. On the LIST day
Of October. 1869, the uBexpended balance OF
appropriations was SIG SO4.5s. The approprI-
alton asked for the Rext fiscal year is sJ75,5a1.
INDIAN AFFAIRs.
During the past year the department has
habitualiy pursued that policy in Indian affairs
which was inaugurated by your direction. The
results have proven most conclusively its wis
dom, and shown that, even under circumstances
of more than ordinary Irritation, a peaceful
policy appeals with great power even TO the
widest savage. The Friends, 20 whom the
Inf stnrr.
denotes were originally assigned, have most
faithfully and industriously continued their
henefcent work, with q success even greater
than could have been reasonably expected.
IL impracticable TO continue military officers in
charge Of Indian agencies, under your directions
the field has been subdlyided, and the various
missionary associations OF the country invited to
occupy the same relations TO them rs those
which the Friends have to the agencies under
their control. The estimated expenses Of the
Indian service for the ensuing fiscal wear, in
GLIDING appropriations that may be necessary
20 meet the interest on non-paying stodk held
in trust will be $500 600, against an sppropri-
a reduction OF 81 10000.
PENSIONS.
During the year there were added TO the num-
Der Of pensioners, Of all classes, "a 7G6; leaving
on the rolls June 30. 1870. 19s, ESQ. The amount
paid for pensions OF all classes during the year
intending the expenses Of disbursement, was
sN $50, SIl.s1, being $50 ,0.2G less than was
paid for the same purposes during the pre-
vious year. The actual amount saved by the
disallowance OF unjust claims cannot be accu-
s ns, esma se L.. 6nt rom other reform: re-
amount required to pay pensions allowed prior
10 the current year, and the amount required
for the next viii be $40 900 900 less tn an that ap-
priated for the present fiscal year.
OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
The report Of the Commissioner exhibits the
valuable results he has accomplished, notwith-
standing the very limited clerical aid az hts
command. 1t IL obvious that this Bureau as at
present constituted bears no Just relation 60 the
vital interests with which, 70 some extent, il is
expressed on this ubiect in my last report, and
to invite for them early and favorable consid-
Grafton.
cENsUs-CoMPETITIvE EXAMINATIONS.
The preliminary report of the ninth census is
now printing, and win appear during the earlier
days OF the next session OF Congress It is ne
ganization Of the Bureau has afforded an OPP
portunity of applying the principle of competi-
tive examinations. Those who desired clerical
mopisis were sent before cemmission and rss Ta-
CURED to answer in writing series OF written
questions. To the correct answer of each can
didate definite value was fixed in a scale OF
credit marks, 70 the maximum number of one
thousand, and no person was appointed TO q
hTst-class clerkship who did not receive four
hundred. The commission were wholly iguo-
rant OF the individuals upon whose quaiifca-
tons they were passing. The examination was
made purely impersonal, and the utmost Impair
uality was secured. The attainments and ca
pacity Of the several incumbents approach more
nearly TO q common standard OF excellence than
could for long time be attained in any of the
oid bureaus. 6Sl persons were examined; of
these 33s were successful.
THE CAPITOL
may be said TO be completed, though its grounds
should be largely extended 10 correspond with it.
majestic PROPORTIONS. Arrangements have been
made 10 warm the r0tunda and improve the
ventilation OF the Senate chamber. Ii may be
deemed inexpedient to enlarge the area Of the
Capitol grounds by the purchase OF adjacent
private property, but no one can seriously oues-
ton the propriety of suitably improving those
which now belong TO the United States I sub
init an aggregate estimate OF $50 900, embracing
snnary items for repairing the Capitol and con-
unuing the improvement of the surrounding
grounds This sum is &c, 900 less than that voted
for such purposes during the present fiscal year.
TIE PAVING OF @ STREET,
IN front OF this Department, has been unayoid-
ably deferred. The funds on hand will not
cover the cost of completing IL. The deficiency
was caused BY transferring to the Treasury the
uneNpended balance of last years appropria-
ton, which was available when 1 submitted the
last estimate. An appropriation of 81 800 will
be required TO replace il, aud to meet the ex-
pense OF certain indispensable repairs upon the
Interior Department building.
THE WORK on TIE CRY RAIL
has been completed without exhaustiDs the APP
proPriatons made for the purpose.
The report gives statements in reference to
the Government Asy lum for the Insane already
published in THE STAR, andssys OF the
COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOE THE DEAF AND
DUMB:
There were 50 pupils IN the Columbia Institu-
ton for the Deaf aud Dumb, at the date OF It's
annual report. Hall Of them were in the col
legiate department. and represented twenty-one
States and this District; 100 nave received in
struction since LIST July, 1859, of whom ~ were
males. Or these, 5 completed the course OF
study and received their first degree at the COM
mencement in July last. The board submit the
estimates for the fiscal year ending june so,
1872. footing up 500. 2iO.S7. The board have
purchased So acres Of Kendall Green property
for So, 900, payable in four years, and the est
mate ts22, o75) which they submit for the
extension OF grounds is to meet the FIRST install
ment. They renew the offer to vest in the Uni
ted States the ttleto all the property Of the inst-
tuition,
There are lsS prisoners in the custody Of the
warden of the District Jail. During the year
preceding this date, ,26i persons were commit
ted, OF whom l62 we're female. I alluded in my
last report, to the subject Of new District jail
The present one is . reproach to the age and to
the country in which we live. IL Ii not Mt Tor
the confinement Of prisoners, whether their safe
detention or their health and moral improve
ment be consulted. Difficulties exist In carry
ineff into EJECT existing legislation, and deem il