The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-12-10

serious consideration. whether the residue of our
national domain should not b wholly disposed
Of under the psovisions OF the homestead and
prescription lava
In edition 70 the swamp and ovsrilowsd lands
granted to the states in which they are sitsatsd,
the lands taken under the Agricultural COLLEGE
scts and for internal improvement purposes IN.
der the act OF September 1871, and the acts sup
elemental thereto. there had been conveyed, up
TO the close of the Last fiscal year, By patent or
other equivalent evidence Of title, to ststes and
corporations 1876 257 1900 acres, for rail ways
canals and vsgon.rosds; and il is estimated that
An additional quantity Of ia, 735, 523 acres il
still due under grants for like uses.
The policy of thus aiding the states in build.
ing works OF internal improvement was insugu.
Rated more than forty years since in the grants
to Indiana and Illinois to aid those states in
opening canals to connect tho waters of the Wa
bash with those of Lake Erie and the waters of
Illinois with those Of Lake Michigan. It was
followed, with some notifications, in the grant
to Illinois of alternate sections of public land
within certain limits, to aid in the construction
OF the Illinois Central Railway. Fourteen states
aud sundry corporations have received similar
subsidies in connection with railways completed
or IN process OF construction. As the reserved
sections are rated at double the minimum, the
many instances indie unified the Treasury for the
granted lands The construction OF some of these
thoroughfares has undoubtedly given vigorous
impetus to the development of our resources and
the settlement Of the more distant portions of
the country. 1t may, however, be we'll insisted
that much Of our legislation in this regard has
been characterized by indiscriminate aud profuse
liberality The United States should not loan
their credit in aid of any enterprise undertaken
by states or corporations, nor grant lands in any
instance, unless the projected work is of acknow.
lodged national Importance. l am strongly in.
clined to the opinion that it is inexpedent and
unnecessary to bestow subsidies Of either de.
scripfion; but should sress determine other.
wise, earnestly recommend that the rights of
settlers and Of the public be more efectually sc.
cured and protected by appropriate legislation.
During the year ending Sept. 80, 1870, there
were filed in the Patent Office 10 All applications
for patents 1914 caveats and 100 applications for
the extension OF patents; 1862 patents, including
Reissues and designs, were issued, 10 tende ;
and lOo9 allowed, bat not issued by reason of the
uon-payment of the final fees. The receipts of
the office during the fiscal year were Sl36, 3O4 80
in excess Of its expenditures.
The work OF the Census Bureau has been en-.
ergeticaiy prosecuted. The preliminary report
Containing much inform alton Of special value
aud interest will be ready for delivery during
the present session. The remaining volumes
will be completed with all the dispatch consis.
tent with perfec: accuracy in arranging and
classifying the returns. We shall thus at no
distant day be furnished with an authentic re-
cord Of our condition and resources 1t will, l
douot not attest the growing prosperity of the
country; although during the decade which has
just closed it was so severely tried by the great
war waged 70 maintain its integrity and to So.
cure aud psrpetuate our free institutions
During the last fiscal year the sum paid to
pensioners, including the cost of disbursement,
was S2L $50 Sill; and ! ,75s bounty land war.
rants were issued At its close, 1856 names
were on the pension rolls.
The labors of the Pension Office have been di.
reoted to the severe scrutiny of the evidence sub
mittec IN favor OF new claims, and to the dis.
covery of fictitious claims which have hereto.
fore been allowed The appropriation for the EN-.
ploymeut of special agents for the investigation
OF frauds has been judiciously used, and the re-.
suits OF 1t have been of unq fashionable benefit
to the service.
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 Interests of one bureau has
been established in the Interior Department.
the Bureau Of Education; and in the interests
OF TIE other, separate department-that Of Ag-
tiN0'.uie oeAieNe Sredt general good Is to
flow from the operations of both these bureaus ii
properly iostered.
l cannot commend to your careful considera.
ton too highly the reports of the Commission.
ers OF Education and Of Agriculture, nor urge
too strongly such liberal legislation as to secure
their efficiency.
In conclusion, would sum up the policy OF
the Administration to be thorough enforce
ment Of every law: a faithful collection of every
tax provided for, and economy in the disburse.
xent OF the same; prompt payment of the
debt of the nation a reduction of the taxes as
rapidly as the requirements of the country will
admit, reduction of taxation and tariff to be 40
arranged as to afford the greatest relief to the
greatest number; honest and fair dealing to all
other people, to the end that war with all it's
blighting consequences may be avoided, but with.
out surrendering any right or obligation due to
US; reform in the treatment of the Indians
and in the whole civil service of the country
and finally in securing q pure untrsmneled
ballot, where every man entitled to cast vote
may do so just once at each election, without
fear OF molestation or prescription on account of
his political faith, nativity, or color.
.-.... U. s. GRANT.
Executive Mansion. Dec 5, 1870.