The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-12-05

attention to the reports OF the Secretary of the
Interior and Commissioner Of Patents on this
subject
The business of the General Land Office
exhibits material increase in all its branches
during the last fiscal year. During that time
there were disposed of out OF the public lands.
Ia, 039, COG acres, being an amount greater by
l,l65,63l acres than was disposed of during
the preceding year. OF the amount diaposed
OF, l,626, 266 acres were sold for cash 2l4, $40
acres were located with military land warrants
5,t53,6l2 acres were taken for homesteads
o5j, 4i6 acres were located with agricultural
college scrip; 6,S03, 536 acres were certified by
| railroads. 765,756. acres were granted to
wagon roads 23S, 548 acres were approved to
states as swamp lands; 13S,6S1 acres were
| certlned Tor agricultural colleges. common
schools, universities and seminaries 100, us
acres were approved to States for internal i'm
| proyements. and IL, 222 acres were located with
Indian scrip. The cash receipts during the
| same time were 80, 40S, $780, being
| $40, 1000 in excess Of the receipts for
the previous year. During the year 3O.4sS.-
1872 acres OF public land were surveyed in
| increase OF the amount surveyed the previous
year of 1,037, 1913 acres, and, added to the area
! previously surveyed aggregates GIG, ssh S95
| acres which have been surveyed leaving
1.2lS, 4i3 300 acres Of the public lands still un-
surveyed. The increased and steadily in
| creasing facilities for reaching our unoccupied
public domain and for the transportation of
| surplus products, enlarges the available field
| for desirable homestead locations thus stimu-
lating settlement and extending year by year.
in gradually increasing ratio, the area of
| occupation and cultivation.
There was paid during the last fiscal year
| for pensions, including the expenses of dis
| bursement, $40, 1876, 239.62 being an amount
| less by 1884, 050.9S than was expended for the
same purpose the preceding year. Although
| this statement of expenditures would indicate
material reduction in the amount. compared
with the preceding year, IL is believed that the
! changes in the pension laws made 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 pension rolls
90, SOi invalid military pensioners and 1120 S3
widows, orphans and dependent widows of de-
| ceased soldiers, making total of that class
of 2ll, 500: 1926 survivors of the war of
| 1912, aud 5,053 widows Of soldiers of that war
pensioned under the act Of Congress of Feb
ruary II, 1871. making total of that class of
%, $40; 1,430 invalid navy pensioners, and
| l., 40 widows and orphans and dependent rela-
| tives of deceased officers sailors and marines
of the navy pensioners, of 5000; total of PEN
sianers Of all classes, 23S, All, showing net
increase during the last fiscal year OF 6,2l9
! The names Of l,G45 pensioners were added to
| the rolls, and 10, 223 names were dropped
therefrom for various causes. The system
| adopted for the detection Of frauds against
! the Government in the matter of pensions has
| seen productive OF satisfactory results but
! legislation is needed to provide if possible.
against the perpetrating of such frauds III
| future.
The ninth census has been completed, the
report thereof published and distributed and
! the working force of the Bureau disbanded.
| The Secretary of the Interior renews his rec
Ommendation for a census to be taken in 1875,
to which subject the attention of Congress is
| invited. The original suggestion in that be-
half has met with the general approval of the
country, and even if it be not deemed adyisa-
II
quennial census. census taken i'll 1875, the
! report of which could be completed and pub
lished before the Tooth anniversary of our ma
tonal indepennence, would be especially in
teresting and valuable as showing the pro-
gross of the country during the first century
Of our national existence. 1t is believed, how
ever that a regular census every five years
would be of substantial benefit to the coun-
try, inaemuch as our growth hitherto has been
30 rapid that the results of the de-
cennial census are necessarily unrelia-
bic as basis of estimates for the later years
of the decennial period
In three successive messages to Congress,
have called attention to the subject of civil
service reform. Action has been taken so far
as to authorize the appointment of board to
devise rules governing the methods Of making
appointments and promotions but there
never has been any action on these
rules or any rules pending. or even
entitled to observance. Where per-
sons desire the appointment of friend or
the removal of an Official who may be disa-
greeable. to have any change effected, they
must have the acquescence of Congress as
well as Of the Executive. / recommend, there
fore, the subject to your attention, and sug-
gest that a special committee of Congress
might confer with the Civil Board during the
present session. for the purpose of devising
such rules az shall be maintained, and which
will secure the services of honest and capable
Officials and which will also protect them in
degree of independence while III office. Prop
er rules will protect Congress- as well as the
Executive, from much needless precaution,
and will prove of great value TO the public at
large.
| would recommend for your favorable con-
sideration the passage Of an act for the adj
mittance of Colorado as a Statento the Union.
1t possesses all the elements OF prosperous
State. agricultural and mineral and believe,
has population to Justify admission. In that
connection, [ would also recommend the en-
enlargement of a canal for the purpose of
irrigating from the eastern slope of the Rocky
mountains to the Missouri river. As a rule l
. am opposed to the donation of the public
lands for internal improvements owned and
controlled by private corporations, but in
this instance | would make an exception.
Between the Missouri river and the Rocky
mountains there is an area belt OF public land
from 300 to 500 miles in width perfectly val
, ueless for the occupation of man. for want of
sufficient rain to secure the growth OF any pro-
ducts. An irrigatng canal would make pro-
ductive n belt as wide as the supply of water
could be made to spread over across
the entire country. and would secure Gordon
of settlements connecting the present popula-
ton of the mountain and mining regions with
that of the older States. All the land re-
claimed would be clear gain. If alternate Sec
tons were reclaimed by the Government. L
, would suggest that the retained sections be
! thrown open to entry under the Homestead
law. and sold to actual settlers for very low
prices.
renew my previous recommendation to
. Congress for u general amnesty. The num-
Der engaged in the late rebellion who are Ia
boring under disadvantages is very small but
, enough TO keep up a constant irritation. No
possible danger can ensue to the Government
by restoring them to eligibility to hold office.
suggest for your consideration the enact
ment Of law to better secure the civil rights
which freedom should secure, but has not eff
! fectually secured, to the enfranchised slave.
! (SipnedO L. s. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December l. 1878.
Growth OF the Changers.
The Secretary of the National Grange
: reports the following monthly increase
!.