Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-12-09


fetal results. 1t will be continued, with only
such notifications time and experience may
demonstrate as necessary. With the encroach-
ment of civilization upon the Indian reservations
and hunting-grounds. Disturbances have
taken place between the Indians and whites
during the past year, and probably will continue
to do so until each race appreciates that the 9TH
er has rights which must be respected. The
policv has been to collect the Indians as rapidly
as possible on reservations, and, as far as prac-
ticable, within what is known as the Indian ter
ritory, and to teach them the arts of civilization
| and self-support. Where found off their reser-
vat1ons, and endangering the peace and safety of
the whites, they have been punished, aud will
continue to be for like offences. The Indian
| territory south of Kansas and west Of Arkansas
| sufficient in area and agricultural resources to
| support all the Indians east of the Rocky Noun
| tains. In time doubt all of them, except
| few who may select to make their homes among
white people, will be collected there AS pre-
| paratory step for this consummation l am now
| satisfied that territorial form of government
should be given them, which will secure the
treaty rights of the original settlers and protect
| their hemesteads from alienation for period
of twenty years.
| The operations of the patent office are growing
| to such magnitude and the accumulation of
material is becoming so great that the necessity
for more room is becoming more obvious day by
| day
respectfully invite your attention to the re-
ports of the Secretary of the Interior and Com
| missioner of Patents on this subject. The bust
ness Of the General Land Office exhibits mate
rial increase in all its branches during the last
fiscal year. During that time there was dispos
ed of out Of the public lands 13,O30,606 acres,
being an amount greater by l, 165, 63l acres than
was disposed of during the preceding year. Of
| the amount disposed of, 1926, 266 acres were sold
for cash. 214, $40 acres located with militia
ry land warrants, 1888, 612 acres were taken for
homesteads, 600, 446.a were located with ag-
ricutural college scrip, 6,093,536 acres were
certified by railroads, rs, 576 acres were granted
to wagon roads, 23o, 540'acres were approved to
States as swamp lands, 130, 681 acres were certi-
fed for agricultural colleges, common schools
universities and seminaries, 190,775 were
approved to the States for internal improvements
and II, 222 acres were located with Indian scrip.
The cash receipts during the same time were So
408 5l5, so, being $50, $50 in excess of the
receipts of the previous year. During the year
80, 486, 1872 acres of the public land were survey
ed, increase over the amount surveyed the
previous year of ,037, 1913 acres, and added to
the area previously surveyed, aggregates &c.
554 1876 acres which have been surveyed, leaving
1918 443, sos acres of the public land still un-
surveyed. The increased and steadily increas
ing facilities for reaching our unoceupied pub
lie domain and for the transportation of surplus
BILE homestead location thus stimulating settle
ment and extending year by year in gradually
increasing ratio the area of occupation and Gull
ivation
The expressed desire of the representatives of
a large colony of the citizens of Russia to emf
CRATE to this country, as is understood with the
consent of their government, if certain conces-
sions can be made to enable them settle in a
compact colony is of great interest, as going to
show the light in which institutions are re-
garded by an intelligent industrious and wealthy
people DESTROYS Of enjoying civil and religious
liberty, and the acquisition of so large an immi-
grafton Of citizens OF superior class would,
without doubt be Of substantial benefit to this
country. Invite attention to the suggestion of
the Secretary of the Interior in this behalf
There paid during the last fiscal year for
pensions, including the expense Of disbursement
$29, 1876, 289, so, being amount less by 1884
050, 90 than was expended for the same purpose
the preceding year. Although this statement
! of expenditures would indicate material
f reduction in amount compared with the proceed
ing year, it is believed, that the changes in the
pension laws at the last session Of Congress will
S absorb that amount the current year. At the
close of the last fiscal year there were on the
pension rolls SO, 804 invalid military pensioners
s and 10, 0Ss widows, orphans and dependent rel
atives of deceased soldiers, making q total OF
that class of 81 1872: - 266 survivors of the wal
of 1872 and 5,043 widows of soldiers OF
that war pensiened under the act Of Congress
of February 18th, 1871, making q total of that
class of %, 319; $50 invalid navy pensioners
and ITO widows sorphans and dependent rea-
tives of deceased officers, sailors and marines OF
! the navy, making total of navy pensioners OF
$780, and a grand total of pensioners of all
classes of 23S, All. showing net increase during
the fiscal year of G. 1872. During the last year
= the names Of Is, 405 pensioners 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 been productive Of
satisfactory results, but legislation is needed to
, provide if possible against the preparation of
such frauds in future.
The evidently increasing interest in the cause
of education is most encouraging feature in the
general progress and prosperity Of the
! country, and the Bureau of Education
} is earnest in its efforts to give proper d.
rection to the appliances and the increased
facilities which are being offered to aid the edu
Gators of the country in til cir great work. The
ninth census has been completed, and the report
thereof published and distributed, and the work
ing force of the bureau dsbanded.
! | The Secretary Of the Interior renews his re-
: concentrations for a census to be taken in 1875
to which subject the attention of Congress is in
E vited. The original suggestion in that behalf
has met with the general approval of the coun
! try, and even if it be not deemed advisable a.
, present to provide for regular quiquenniaI cen
sus, census taken in 1915, the report of which
could be completed and published before the one
! hundreth anniversary of our national indepen
dence, would be especially interesting and valua
bic showing the progress of the country du
ring the first century Of national existence
! 1t is believed, however, that regular census
every five years would be of substantial benef
to the country, inasmuch our growth hitherto
has been so rapid that the results of the decen
NAL census necessarily unreliable as a basil
of estimates for the latter years of the decennia
period.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Y Under the very efficient management of tn,
Governor and the Board of Public Works of tni
District the city of Washington is rapidly as.
= Stunning the appearance of capital of which the
nation may well be proud. From being mos
unslghtly place three years ago, disagreeable tc
pass through in summer in consequence of the
dust arising from unpaved streets, and almos
impossible in winter from the mud, it is now one
of the most slightly cities in the country and car
e boast of being the best paved, The work ha
been done Systematically, the plans grades, loca:
ton Of sewers, water and gas mains being de
termined upon before the work was commenced
thus securing permanency when completed
question whether so much has ever been accom-.
e plished before in any American city for the same
expenditures. The government having large
reservations i'll the city, ard the nation at large
: having an interest in their capital, recommend
a liberal policy towards the District of Columbia
and that the government should bear its ius
share of the expense of these improvements