Litchfield enquirer., 1870-12-15
WHOLE NC o37e


 tofficers ineligible for civil positionso ? olndIani agencies being civil offices, I de- tef1nlned to give all the agencies to such [1 rellgous denominations as had heretofore E established missionaries among the Indians ana perhaps tC some other denominations who would undertake the work on the same serms, >e. as missionary work. Ihe socletles selected are allowed to name thelr own agents, subject to thc o,onrovol } of the Executive, and are expected io o+ch over them, and aid them as missionaries and chrlstlanize and civilize the Indian. and to train him in the arts of peace The government watches over the official acts of these agents, and requires 9of them as strict an accountability as if they were appointed in any other manner. PUBLIC LANDS.
 During the last fiscal year 8O9, ,541, 300 acres of public land were disposed of Of this quantity 369, 991, ,0O5 acres were taken up under tho Hunae-stead law and 2I5. .OOO.- 900 acres were sold for cash. The remain. der was located with military warrant, col lege or Indian scrip, or applied in satisfac- tIon of grants to railroads or for other pub- lie uses. The entries under the Homestead law during the last year covered g61, ,545 acres more than those during the proceed ing year. ~1E'
 Surveys have been vigorously prosecuted to the full extent of the means applicable to the purpose. -su .-t.-..,..... .-I
 The quantity of land in market will amply supply the present demand. The claim of the settler under the homestead or pre- emption laws is not. however, limited to land subject to sale at private entry. Any unappropriated surveyed public land may, to limited extent. be acquired under the former laws, If the parties entitled to nfop loT qulrements they prescribe in regard to the residence and cultivation.
 In addition to the swamp and oyerAoved lands granted to states in which they are situated, the lands taken under the Agri- cultural College acts and for internal inn ,provement purposes under the act of Sep tember, 1841, and the acts supplimentary thereto, there had been conveyed to the close of the last fiscal year by patent or oth- CT equivalent evidence of title to states and corporations 2.783, ,065 763 and HOO acres for railways, canals and wagon roads.
 1t IS estimated that there are an addition al quantity of 174, 735. .523 acres is still due under grants for like uses
 The policy of thus aiding the states in building works of internal improvement w"a -inanqurated more than fnrty- years since Hi 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 tue waters of H. linois with those of Lake Michigan.
 1t was followed with some notifications in the grant to Illinois of alternate sections of public land within certain limits of the Illinois Central Railway. Fourteen states and sundry corporation have received sim iLa's s,1 hsi1oa in seea4nantinn with railways completed or in process nf construction.
 As the several sections are rated at the double minimum the sale of them at the enhanced price has thus in many instances lndemnified the Treasury for the granted land. The construction of some of these thoroughfares has undoubtedly given wig orous impetus to the development of our re. sources and the settlement of the more dis tant portions of the country.
 It may however, be we'll insisted that much of our legislation in this regard has ii been characterised by indiscrimlnate and profnse liberalty. 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 acknowledge ed material importance.
 am strongly inclined in the opinion , that 1t IS inexpedient and unnecessary to bestow subsidies of either description; but should Congress determine otherwise I
 
 settlers and of the public be more effect uatly secured and protected by appropri- ate le gislation. '. ........... .-,. = s . l. THE CENSUS. : The work of the census bureau has been enerjeticaly prosecuted. The preliminary report containing much of spt cial value and interest, will be ready for delivery dur ing the present session.---'rha ramaining volumes will be completed with all the des- patch consistent with perfect accuracy in arranging and classifying the returns We shall thus at no distant day be furnished with an authentic record of onr condition and resources. will, I doubt not attest the growing prosperity of tue country, al- though during the decade which has just closed, it was so severely tried by the great war waged to maintain it's integrity and to !, secure and perpetuate our free institutions. +."t '' PENSIONS.
 During the last fiscal year the sum paid to pensioners, including the cost of dis bursement, was $27, 780. .811 II, and 1, ,75O bounty land warrants were issued. At it's : close, 198, ,686 names were on the pension rolls. .ia sttfai< .i l,' The labors of the Pension Office have been directed to tho severe scrutiny of the evidence submitted in favor of law claims and to the discovery of fictitious claims : which have been heretofore allowed. The appropriation for the employment of special agents for the investigation of frauds
 have been judiciously used, and the results a obtained have been of unqut stionable ben . eft to the sefvice. ,v l EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE The subjects of education and agriculture are of great interest to the success of our , republican institutions, and our happiness and grandeur as nation. In the interest
 of one bnreau has been established in the Interior Department-the Bureau of Edu- g cation; and in inc interest of the other a D separate department-that of Agriculture. | I believe great general good is to flow from :, the operatious of these buI eaus, if properly n fostered. l,.r cannot commend to your consideration s too highly tEe reports of the Commission s CTS of Education and of AgricultuIe; nor U urge too strongly such liberal legislation as y to secure their ficiency. e Iutconc!usion, II would sum up the pol ,'-'1 icy of the Administration to be thorough . enforcement of every law, faithful cOllec- tion of the tax provided for economy Ill the