The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-12-12


being an amount greater BY l,l65,59l
acres than was disposed Of during the
preceding year. OF the amount diHPoaed
of, l,B26, ,22G ncrcs were sold Cor cash,
2l4, ,940 acres were located with military
land warrants, 3,703,Gl2 acres taken for
homesteads, Goa, $50 acres were located
with Agricultural college scrip, G,Os3,-
536 acres were certified by railroads, TO-
676 acres were granted 70 wagon roads,
228, ,648 acres were certified for Agricul-
tural colleges, common schools and sem
inaries, l90,776 acres were approved TO
States for internal improvements, and
IA, 1892 acres were located with Indian
script The cash receipts during the
same time wers "a, ,40s, SIS 60 being
$190,415 80 in excess Of the receipts Of
the previous year. During the yesr So
ABS, ,132 acres Of public land were survey
ed; an increase over the amount survey
ed the previous year of l,O37, 1888 acres,
and, added to the area previously sur
veyed, aggregates 616,554,s95 acres
which have been surveyed, leaving ,2ls,-
443,706 acres Of the public land still
unsurveyed. The increased and steadi-
ly Increasing facilities for reaching our
unoecupied public domain and for the
transportation of surplus products, en-
larges the available field for desirable
homestead locations, thus stimulating
settlement and extending year by year,
-in -grada~lly increasing rafio. the oecu-
patton and cultivation.
IMMIGRATION ENCOURAGED.
The expressed desire of the represcn-
tatives of large colony Of citizens Of
Russia to emigrate to this country, az il
understood with the consent Of their
government, if certain concessions can
be made to enable them to settle in 3
compact colony, is Of great interest a.
going to show the light in which our
institutions are regarded by an industri-
GUS, intelligent and wealthy people de-
sirous of enjoying civil and religious
liberty; and the acquisition Of 10 large
an immigration Of citizens Of superior
class would, without doubt, be OF sub
stantial benefit TO the country.
PENSIONS AND PENSIONERS.
There was paid during the last fiscal
year for pensions, including the expense
of disbursements, S29, ,1s6, ESQ so, being
an amount less by 1884, $50 80 than was
expended for the same purpose the pre-
ceding year. Although this statement
Of expenditures would indicate mate
rial reduction in amount compared with
the preceding year, it is believed that
the changes in the pension law at the
last session " Congress will absorb that
amount the current year. At the close
of the last fiscal year there were on the
pension rolls 99,s65 invalid military
pensioners and 112,Oss widows, orphaus
and deoendent relatives of deceased sol
diers, making a total Of that class Of
93,919; 1890 invalid navy pensioners,
and l, ,77O widows, and dependent rela-
tives Of deceased officers, sailors and ma
Y rines Of the navy. making totfl Of ma
Wy pensioners Of all classes Of 23S,411.
In three successive messages to Con-
gress 1 have called attention 70 the sub
ject Of civil service reform. Action has
been taken no far as to authorize the ap-
pointment Of a board to devise rules
governing the methods Of making ap-
pointments and promotions, but there
never has been any action making these
rules or any rules binding or even enti-
tied TO observance where persons desire
the appointment Of friend or the re-
moval Of an officer who may be disa-
greeable TO them. recommend, there
fore, the subject to your attention, and
suggest that a special committee Of Con-
gress might confer with the Service
Board during the present session for the
purpose Of devising such rules as can be
maintained, and which will secure the
services of honest and capable officials,
and which will also protect them in q
degree of Independence while in Office.
Proper rules will protect Congress as
we'll as the Executive from much need
less persecution, and viii prove Of great
value to the public at large:
/ renew my previous recommendation
to Congress for general amnesty. The
number engaged in the late rebellion yet
laboring under disabilities is very small,
but enough TO keep up constant irrita-
tion. No possible danger can accrue 70
the Government by restoring them 10
eligibility to hold Office.
I suggest for your consideration the
enactment Of law 10 better secure the
civil rights which freedom should Se-
cure, but has not eHectually secured 60
the enfranchised race.
U. s. GRANT.