The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-06

title, to States and corporations 2i8,:
325,7l3 acres ior railways, canals and
wagon roads. It Is estimated that an ad.
ditional quantity of ia ,735, ,593 acresis still
due under the grants for like uses. The
policy of thus aiding the States in build
lug works Of internal Improvement was
in4ugurated moro than forty, years since
in the grants to Indiana and Illinois. Those
States are opening canals to connect the
waters Of tho Wabash with those Of Lake
Erie, and the waters OF the Illinois with
those OF Lake Michigan. 1t was followed
with some modification in tue grant OF
Illinois Of alternate sections Of public
lands within certain limits Of tho Illinois
Central Railway. Fourteen States and
sundry corporations have received similar
subsidies in connection with rail
ways completed, or In process of
construction. AS the reserv cd
sections arc rated at the double mini
mum, the sale Of them at the enhanced
price has thus in many instances indem.
nified the Treasury for the granted lands.
The construction Of some Of these thor.
oughfares has undoubtedly given vigor-
Gus impetus TO the development OF our
resources and the settlement Of the more
distant portions of the country. Itmay,
however, be true, as insisted, that much
Of our legislation In this regard has been
characterized by indiscriminate and pro.
fuse liberality. The United States should
not loan their credit in aid OF any enter
prise undertaken by States or corporations
unless the projected works are OF acknowl-
edged national Importance. am strong
ly Inclined to the opinion that 1t Is mex
pedient and unnecessary to bestow subsl-
dies of either description, but should
Congress determine otherwise, l earnest
" recommend that the rights Of settlers
and of the public be more cftectually Sc
cured by appropriate legislation.
During the year ending September 90,
1870, there were filed In the Patent Office
l9,411 applications for patents, 1874
caveats, and 100 applications for the ex-
tension Of patents. 1892 patents, in
Guiding reissues and designs, were issued,
ITO extended, and 1880 allowed but not
issued by reason OF the non.payment OF
tho final fees. The receipts OF the office
during the fiscal year were $lS6, ,S04.26 In
excess of It's expenditures. al.l pg. u,.
The work Of the Census Bureau has
been energetically prosecuted. The pre-
liminary report, containing much inforA
nation Especial value ndinterest will be
ready for delivery tho present session.
The remaining volumes will be completed
with all the dispatch consistent with per.
feet accuracy in arranging and classifying
the returns. We shall thus, at no distant
day, be furnished with an authentic rec
ord Of our condition and resources, and
1t will, doubt not, attest the growing
prosperity Of the country, although
during the dread contest which has just
closed 1t was SO severely tried by the great
war waged to maintain It's integrity and
to secure and perpetuate our free institu-
tions. D1ring the last fiscal year the sum
paid to pensioners, including the cost Of dis
bursements, was $27, 7,780,S1l II, and l.
759 bounty land warrants were issued.
At its close 109,090 names were on the
pension rolls The labors Of the Pension
Office have been directed to avoid
fraud. There has been severe
scrutiny Of the evidence submitted
in fay or OF new claims, and to the discoV.
cry of fictitious claims which have been
heretofore allowed. The appropriation
Tor the employment Of special agents for
the investigation OF frauds has been judi
ciously used and the results obtained haye
been Of unqucstionable benefit to the ser.
vice Thesubject OF education andagriCul-
ture are of great interest 10 the success Of
our republican institutions, happiness and
grandeur rs nation. In the interest Of
one, q bureau has been established in the
Interior Department, tho Bureau
Education, and in the interests Of the
other, a separate department, that Of Ag-i
riculture. believe great general good Is
TO follow from the operations OF both
these ureausifproperly fostered. l can.
not commend TO your careful cOnsidera-
tion too highly the reports of the Com
missioners Of Education and Of Agricul-
ture, nor urge too strongly such liberal
legislation rs will secure their efficiency. In
conclusion, l would sum up the policy Of
the administration 10 be thorough en-
forCement Of every law; faithful COllec.
Of the tax provided for; economy in the
disbursements Of the same; prompt
payment Of every debt Of the nation; re-
duction of taxes as rapidly as the require
ments oftho country will admit; reduc-
ton Of taxation and tariff to be so arrang.
ed as to afford tho greatest relief to the
greatest number; honest and fair deal
ings with all other people, TO tho end that
war, with all its blighting consequences,
may be averted; but without surrender
ing any right or obligation duo US; a
reform in the treatment OF tho Indians,
and in the whole civil service OF
the country; and firm in securing a purc,
untrammelled ballot at which every
man entitled to cast vote may do so Just
once Rt each election without fear Of mo.
lestation or prescription on account of his
political faith, nativity or color -...
[Signedl I us. GRANT,
Erecuhue Mansion, Dec. 6th, 1870.