Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-12-10

Duf6auB u0uoF tue COutTOll Oh the
Interior Department. They are all
in excellent condition. Work,
which in some of them for years
has been in arrears, has been
brought down to recent dates, and
all the current business has been
promptly dispatched.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The policy which was adopted at
the beginning of this administration
with regard TO the management OF
Indians has been AS successful as its
most ardent friends anticipated.
Within so sho. u time it bas reduc-
ed the expense Of their manage
ment, decreased their forays upon
the white settlements. tended to
give the largest opportunity 10 the
extension Of the great railroads
through the public domain, and 10
pushing settlements into more re-
mote districts of country, aud atthe
same time improving the condition
of Indians. The policy will be
maintained without any change, ex-
cepting such as further experience
may show to be necessary TO rem
der it more efficient.
The subject of converting the so
called Indian Territory south of
Kansas into a homo for Indians,
and erecting thereon a territorial
form of government, is one of
great Importance as a complement
of the existing Indian policy. The
question of removal to the territory
has within the past year been pre-
sented to many of the tribes resi-
dent upon other and less desirable
portions of the public domain, and
has generally been received by
them with favor. As a preliminary
step TO the organization of such a
territory it will BIO necessary to con-
fine the Indians now resident there
to farms of proper size, which should
be secured TO them in fee-the resi-
due to be held for the settlement of
other friendly Indians. Efforts
will be made in the immediate fut-
ure, to induce tho removal Of as
many peaceable disposed Indians to
the Indian Territory, as can be set
tied properly without disturbing
the harmony of those already there.
There is no other location now
available where a people who are
endeavoring TO acquire a knowledge
of pastoral and agricultural pur-
suits can be so well accommodated
as upon the unoccupied lands in the
Indian Territory. A territorial
Government should, however, pro-
toct the Indians from the inroads
of the whites, for term of years,
until they become sufficiently adj
vanced in the arts of civilization to
guard their own rights from the
disposal oflands by them from the
same period.
TUE PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year there
were disposed of out Of the public
lands ii ,864,975 acres--a quantity
greater by 1909 27O acres than was
disposed of the previous year, of
this amount 1870 800 acres were
sold for cash, 3S9, 400 acres were
located with military warrants
4, 465 633 acres taken for home-
steads; 500 6l3 acres located with
college scrip; 3,554,887 acres grant
ed to railroads; 465 .347 acres grant
ed to wagon roads 7l4,25 acres
given to State as swamp lands .
$50 AGO acres located by Indian
scrip. The cash receipts from al.
sources in the land office amount to
SO 218, 100 During the same Pc
riod % DIG, COS acres leaving of the
public lands still unsarveyed.
The reports from the subordin-
ates ofthe land Office contain inter-
esting information in regard to
their respective districts. They
uniformly mention the fruitfuiness
of the soil during the past season,
and the increased yield Of all kinds
Of produce is evidence In those
States and territories where mining
is the principal business, agricultur-
al products have exceeded the local
demand, and liberal shipments have
been made to distant ports.
PATENTS.
During the year ending Septem-
Der 30, 1872, there were issued from
the Patent Office IL GIG patents, 233
extensions, and $50 certificates and
registers of trade marks. During
the same time 10 587 applications
for patents, including reissues and
designs, have been received, and
100 caveats filed. Since 1886, 200,-
600 applications for patents have
been filed, and about 1874 900 pat
ents issued. The officers being con.
tinued under the same laws ana gen.
eral organizations as when only from
100 to 500 applications were made
per annum, the commissioner shows
that the office has outgrown the or
ignal plans. and that a new organi-
cation has become necessary. This
subject was presented to Congress
in a special communication 10 Feb
ruary last, with my approval and
the approval of the Secretary of the
Interior; and the suggestions con-
tanned in said communication were
embraced in the bill that was report
ed to the House by the Committee
on Patents at the last session. The
subject of the reorganization of the
Patent Office, as contemplated by
the bill referred to, is Of such i'm
portance to the industrial interests
of the country, that | commend it
to the attention of Congress. The
Commissioner also treats the subject
of the separation of Patent Office
from the department of the interior.
This subject is also embraced in the
bill heretofore referred TO. The
commissioner complains Of the want
of room for the model galleries, and
for the working force and necessary
files Of the office. Ii is impossible
to transact the business of the of