Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-12-16

olten not even hit mSn for public places. Inc ele
yation and publication of the civil service of the
government Will be hailed with approval by the
whole people of the United States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS. ttL t..tH
Reform in the management of Indian affairs has
received the special attention of the Administration
rom Its inauguration to the present day. The ex
pertinent OF making it missionary work was tried
with a few agencies given to the denomination OF
Friends, and has been found to work most advan.
tageousiy. All agencies and superintendencies not
SO disposed of were given to officers of the army.
The act OF Congress regulating the army renders
army officers ineligible to civil positions. Indian
agencies being civil Offices determined to give all
the agencies to snch religious denominations as
had heretofore established missionaries among the
Indians, and perhaps to some other denominations
who would undertake the work on the same terms,
4. e., as missionary work.
The societies selected are allowed to name their
own agents, subject to the approval of the Execu-
tive, and are expected to watch over them and aid
The Indian, and to train him in the arts of peace.
The Government watches over the official acts OF
these agents, and requires of them as strict an ac
countabity as if they were appointed in any other
manner. | entertain the confident hope that the
policy now pursued will, in a few years, bring all
the Indians upon reservations, where they will live
in houses have sCheolhouses and churches, will be
pursuing peaceful and selfsustaining avocations,
and where they may be visited by the law-abding,
white man with the same impunity that he now
special attention to the report of the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs for full information on ths sub
ject.
PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal wear S095413 acres of pub
lie land were disposed Of OF this quantity 369S 910
acres were taken under the homestead law and 159
515 acres sold for cash. The remainder was located
with military warrants, college or Indian scrip, or
applied in satisfaction of grants to railroads. for
other public uses. The entries under the home
stead law during the last year covered 961545 acres
more than those during the preceding year. Sur
veys have been vigorously prosecuted to the full
extent of the means applicable to the purpose. The
quantity of land in market will amply supply the
present demand. The claim of the settlers under
the homestead or the pre-emption laws is not how
ever, limited to lands subject to sale at private
entry. Any unapp-opriated surveyed pnbllc land
may to limited amount be acquired under the for
mer laws if the party entitled to enter under them
will comply with the requirements they prescribe
In regard to residence and cultivation.
The actual settlers preference to right OF purchase
is even broader, and extends to lands which were
unsurveyed at the time of his settlement. His
right was formerly confined within much narrower
limits; and, at one period Of our history was con
ferred only by special statutes; 5;, They We're we're
then regarded as an unauthorized intrusion upon
the national domain. The opinion that the pub
lie lands should be regarded chiefly as source OF
revenue is no longer maintained. The rapid set
tlement and successful cultivation of them is
now Justly considered of more importance
to our well-being than is the fund which the
sale of them would produce. The remarkable
growth and prosperity of our new States and
Territories attest the wisdom of the Legislation
which invites the ter of the soil to secure per
manent home on terms within the reach OF all. Inc
pioneer who incurs the dangers and prvations of a
frontier life and thus aids in laying the foundation
of the new commonwealth, renders signal serv-
ice to this country and Is entitled to its special IA
vor and protection. The laws secure that object
and largely promote the general welfare They
should therefore, be cherished as permanent fea-
ture of our land system. Good faith requires us to
give full effect to existing grants. :.
The time -hOnored and benehcient pollcy OF set
ting apart certain sections of public land for edu-
cationa purposes in the new States should be con-
tinued.
When ample provision shall have been made for
these objects, submit, as 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.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
In addition to the swamp and overhowed lands
granted to the States in which they are situated
the lands taken under the Agricultural College
acts and for internal improvement purposes, under
the act of September, 1S41 and the acts supple
mental thereto, there had been conveyed, up tc
the close of the last fiscal year, by patent or Other
equivalent evidence of title to States and corpora
tions 81 S9 257 13tO0 acres, for railways, canals
and wagon-roads; and it is estimated that an ad
dtional quantity of ia ,523 acres Is stlll dut
under grants for like uses.
works of internal improvement was inauguTatet
than forty years since in the grants TO lnd1ana
and Illinois to aid those States In opening canas
Lake Erie and the waters of Illinois with those
Lake Michigan. Itwas followed, with some mod1h
cations, in the grant to Illinois or alternate sec
tions of public land within certain limits, TO ald
the construction of the Illinois Central Railway
Fourteen States and sundry corporations have
received similar subsidies in connection with rail
ways completed or in process of construction. AZ
the reserved sections are rated at double the mini
num- the sale of them at the enhanced price mas
thus in many instances indemnitied the Treasury
for the granted lands. The construction OF some O.
e. +nAl
orous impetus to the development of our resources
and the settlement of the more distant portions
the country. 1t may, however, be well insisted
that much of our legislation in this regard mas
been characterized by indiscriminate and pro
fuse liberality The United States should not loaI
their credit in aid of any enterprise undertaken pJ
States or corporations. nor grant lands IN any III
stance. unless the projected work Is OF acKnoWl
edged national importance. | am strongly IN
clined to the opinion that it is inexpedent ana G
necessary to bestow subsidies OF either descriP,
ton; but should Congress determine otnerWise,
earnestly recommend that the rights OF seICers
and of the public be more effectually secured and
protected by appropriate legislation
THE PATENT OFFICE.
During the year ending September 3O, loW,
there were filed in the Patent Office 19,4l1 appiica
tions for patents, 1874 caveats, and l6y appllca
ons for the extension OF patents; lSoSS
tended; and ,0S9 allowed, but not issued, Dy rea
son of the nonpayment Of the final fees me oc re
cepts of the Office during the fiscal year were $780,
0U4.EJ III 0ACesb VI lIo CApChsuouhSS'
THE CENSUS.
The work Of the Census Bureau has been enefget
ically prosecuted. The preliminary report con
tanning much information OF special value anc
interest will be ready for delivery during the
present session. The remaining volumes Will De
completed with all the dispatch consistent VIII
perfect accuracy in arranging and CLASSIFYING tht
returns. We shall thus at no distant day BE-
furnished with an authentic record of our condi
ton and resources. 1t will, doubt not, at az
test the growing prosperity Of the country; al /
though during the decade Wcn mas 5s' 1aged
maintain its integrity and to secure and perpetuatt
our free institutions
PENSIONS.
During the last fiscal year the sum pa1d 10 pen
sioners including the cost of disbursement, wa
S27 7sO Si1 II and 759 bounty land warrants Were
issued At its close, 19S,6S6 names were on tn
pension rolls. ;,
The labors of the Pension Office have been di
rected to the severe scrutiny of the evidence sub
mitted in favor of new claims, and TO the alscov
cry of fictitious claims which have been neretolor
allowed. The appropriation for the employme9
of special agents for the investigation OF frano
has been judciously used, and the results OF
have been of unquestionable benefit to the service
EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE
The subjects of education and agriculture are 0
great interest to the success of our republican In
stitutions, and our happiness ana grandeur as
nation. In the interests of one bureau mas beel
established in the Interior rDepartment-tne Burea
of Education and in the interests OF the other
separate department-that of Agriculture De
Iieve great general good is to flow from the opera
tions of both these bureaus, If properly fostered
I cannot commend to your careful considerable
too highly the reports of the Commissioners {
Education and of Agriculture nor urge too strongl
snch liberal legislation as to secure their ell
cheney. qn
SUMMING UP.
In conclusion, would sum up the policy OF th
Administration to be thorough enforcement {
every law; faithful collection of every tax prc
vided for, and economy in the disbursement Of th
same; a prompt payment of the debt of the nation
reduction of taxes as rapidly as the requirement
of the country will admit reduction OF taxatlo
the greatest relieft to the greatest number; honei
and fair dealing with all other people, to the en-
that war with all its blighting consequences ma