The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-12-20

You will be advised of the operations OF the
Denart1nent of Justice by the report OF the
Attorney General, and invite your atten-
tion to the amendment of existing laws
SUGGESTED by him with view of reducing
the expenses of that department.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The nolicy inaugurated towards the In
dams at the beginning of the last admins
tration has been steadily pushed, and
believe with beneficial results. 1t will be
continued with such notifications as ex-
perience may demonstrate TO be necessary.
With the encroachment of civilization up
on the Indian reservation and hunting
grounds, disturbances have taken place be-
tween the Indians and whites during the
past year and probably will continue to do
so until each race appreciates that the other
has rights which must be respected. The
policy has been to collect the Indians as
rapidly as possible on reservations, and
as fac as practicable within what is known
as the Indian Territory, and to teach them
the arts OF civilization and sel-support.
When found off their reservation and en-
dangering the peace and safety OF the
whites they have been punished.
The Indian Territory south of Kansas
and east of Arkansas is sufficient in area
and agricultural resources to support all
the Indians OF the Rocky Mountains. In
time, no doubt, all of them, except few,
who may select to make their homes
among white people, will be collected
there. AS preparatory step for this con-
summation am now satisfied that terri
torisl form of government should be given
thenh, which will secure the treaty rights
of the original settlers and protect their
homesteads from alienation for period of
twenty years. The operations of the pat
ent office are growing to such magnitude
and the accumulation of material is becom-
ing SO great that the necessity for more
room is becoming obvious day by day. /
respectfully invite your attention to the re-
port of the Secretary of the Interior and
Commissioner of Patents on this subject.
The business of the general land-office ex-
hibited material increase in all its branch
es during the last fiscal year. During that
time there were disposed out of the public
lands Ii, $685. COG acres, being an amount
greater by l16, 563 acres than was disposed
of the preceding year.
OF the amount disposed OF, 1926, 266
acres were sold for cash; 214, $40 acres were
located with military land warrants; $780,
6l2 acres were taken for homesteads; 65,-
SAG acres were located with agricultural
college scrip; 6,0S3, 536 acres were certified
by railroads; 1885, acres were granted to
wagon roads; 23S, 54S acres were approved
| to States as swamp lands; 13S,681 acres
| were certified for agricultural colleges,
| common schools, universities and seinina-
riess 190,775 acres were apportioned, it
states, for internal improvements, and A.
| 222 aeres were located with Indian scrip.
The cash receipts during the same time
We're 3,40S, 1880, being $3.50, 1850 in
excess of the receipts for the previous year.
| During the year 80 1888, l22 acres of public
! land were surveyed, an increase of the
amount surveyed the previous year of
! 1,037. 1913 acres, and added to the area pre-
vionsly surveyed, aggregates GIG, 554, S95
| acres which have been surveyed, leaving
| 1,2IS, As, 800 acres of the public land still
unsylryeyed.
| The increased and steadily increasing
facilities for reaching our unoccupied pub
/ lie domain and for the transportation OF
! surplus products enlarges the available
| field for desirable homestead locations,
| thus stimulating settlement and extending
veaf by year in a gradually increasing ratio
| the ratio of occupation and of cultivation.
The expressed desire of the Representatives
of q large colony of the citizens of Russia
to emigrate to this country, as is under
stood, with the consent of their Govern
mept, if certain concessions can be made to
| them TO settle i'll a compact colony, is of
great interest, arguing to show the light
in which our institutions are regarded by
an industrious, intelligent and wealthy
people, DESTROYS of enjoying civil and re-
| ligious liberty, and the acquisition of so
large an immigration of citizens of a supe-
rior class would, without doubt, be of much
substantial benefit to the country.
l invite attention to the suggestion of
| the Secretary of the Interior in this behalf.
There was paid during the last fiscal year
| for spensions, including the expenditure of
disbursement, $29, 1S5, 2S9. %, being an
amount less by 81, 9S4 ,050.9S than was ex-
| pended for the same purpose the preced-
| ing year. Although this statement of ex-
pelditures would indicate material re-
duetion of the amount as compared with
the preceding year, it is believed that the
changes in the pension laws at the last
session of Congress will absorb that
amount the current year. AT the close of
the last fiscal year there were on the pen
sion rolls 1904 invalid military pension
ers, and ,0SS widows, orphans and de-
pendent widows of deceased soldiers, max
ing total of that class of 2l1. S92 1926
Americans of the war of 1872, and 1858
widows of soldiers of that war pensioned
unsler the act of Congress of February
| 18th, 1871; making total of that class of
| 13.319.
One thousand four hundred and thirty
navy pensioners, and 1,770 widows and
orphans and dependent relatives of de-
ceased officers, sailors and marines of the
navy pensioners of 8, 230, and a grand total
OF pensioners of all classes of 23S, All,
showing net increase during the last
fiscal year of 6,2lS; the names of 1,645
pensioners were added to the rolls, and
l0,223 names were dropped therefrom
| for various causes. The system adopted
for! the detection of frauds against the gov
eminent in the matter of pensions has
| been productive of satisfactory results, but
| Legislation is necessary to provide, if pos
sibae. against the perpetrating of such
! frauds in future.
The evidently increasing interest in the
cal.se of education is most encouraging
feature in the general progress of the cou1l-
try, and the Bureau of Education is in
earnest in its efforts to give proper direc-
ton to the new applicants and the in
creased facilities to the country. The