The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08

tied past of our territory. Next to the
tree school, the postofioe Is the great
educator OF the people, and it may well
receive the support of the general gov
ernment. The subsidy of $l50,000 per
anpun given to vessels of the United
States for carving mails between New
York and Rio de Janiero having ceased
on the 30th day OF September last. we are
without direct mail facilities with the
South American states. This is greatly
to be regretted, and not hesitate to rec
ommend the renewal of that contract.
and also that the service may be increa ed
from monthly to semi monthly trips. | he
advantages to be made by direct line of
American steamers TO the South Ameri-
o4a states will far outweigh the expenses
of the services.
By act OF Congress approved March 3,
1875, almost all matter Whether properly
NATL matter or not may DO sent any dis
lance throughout mails 10 packages
not exc ,eding four pounds weight for the
SUN of Is cents per pound. SO far a.
the transmission of real mail matter goes
this would seem entirely proper but |
suggest that the law be so amended as to
exclude from the mails merchandise of all
descriptions aud limit this transportation
to all articles enumerable and which may
be ciassed as mail matter proper.
THE BLACK HILLS.
The discovery Of gold 10 the Black
Hills, portion OF the Sioux res rvation,
has had the effect to induce large emi-
grafton of miners to that point. Thus
lar the effort to protect the treaty rights
of the Indians of that section has been
successful, hut next year will certainly
witness a large increase Of such emigrs
tio1. The negotiations for the relinquish-
meuts of the gold fields having failed 1t
will be necessary for Congress to adopt
some measures to relieve the embarrass.
meut growing out of the causes named.
| The Secretary of the Interior suggests
| that the supplies now appropriated for
the suStenauce of that people being no
10 longer obligatory under the treaty OF
1868, but simp J gratuity may be issued
or withheld at his discretion.
The condition Of the Indian Territory
to which have referred in several of nv
former annual messages remains practica-
bly, unchanged. The Secretary of the In
terror has taken measures 10 obtain full
report of the condition of that territory
and will make it the subject of a speca
report a an early day. Ii may then be ne
ce-sary to make some further recommend
atoms in regard to legislation for the gov
ernneut of that territory.
The steady growth aBd increase OF the
bu ,iness of the Patent Ofi,e indicates 10
some measure the progress OF the indus
| 80, 4 - h. Tha
ceIpts of the Office are in excess of It's ex
peaditures aud the Office generally is 10 q
prosperous and satisfactory condition.
THE LAND OFFICE.
The report of the General Land Office
shows that there were 2,459 Col acres
less disposed OF during this than dur
ing the last yea. More than one
half of this increase was In land:
disposed of under the homestead and tim
Der culture laws. The cause Of this de-
crease is supposed to be the grasshoppel
scourge and the drouths which prevailed sc
extensively in some OF the frontier states
and territories, during that time, SO as te
discourage and deter entries by actual set
tiers. The cash receipts were less by $6o,'
o32 223 than during the preceding year
The entire surveyed area of the public do.
main is $50 q oo4 acres, of which 1901,
ri acres were surveyed during the pas
year. leaving I,I5447o,762 acres still UNI
SURVEYED. The report of the Commission
err presents many interesting suggestions il
regard to the management and disposition
of the public domain and the modification
of the existing laws, the apparent import
ance of which should insure for them thu
careful consideration Of Congress.
PENSIONS.
The number of pensioners still continue
to decrease, the highest number having bee
reached during the year ending June &c
1872. During last year 1857 names wer
added to the rolls, and II o77 were droppe
therefrom, showing net decrease of 1 ,42t
But while tine number of pensioners ha
! decreased the annual amount left on til
pension rolls increased $4,473,3I3. This
caused by the greatly increased averag
rate of pensions which by the liberal legi
lation OF Congress has increased frol
$oc.25 in 1872, to $Io3.9r in 1875 to eac
1 invalid pensioner, an increase in the ave-
: age rate OF 100 per cent in the three year
D During the year ending June 80, 1875, thel
Z was paid on account OF pensions, includin
e the expense of disbursements, $2o,6S3,II
D being $9Io,O32 less than is now pad. III
: preceding year this reduction in amount
| expenditures was produced by the decrea
in the amount of averages due on above
r claims and on pensions, the rate Of whic
;. was increased by the legislation of the prt
ceding session of Congress. At the clio
=. OF the last fiscal year there were on Il
: pension rolls 234 82I persons, of who
2Io373 were army pensioners, o5,478 b
i ing invalids and Io4,SS5 widows and d
{ pendent relatives 1920 We're navy pc
/ sioners, of whom 1896 were invalids al
y 1854 widows and dependent relatives 81
o3S were pensioners of the war of 1872, Il
D us of whom were survivors and SIT
" were widows. 1t is estimated that Sc
e $4,000 will be required for the payment
e pensions for the next fiscal year, an amou
= 500 900 less than the estimate for Il
h present year.
T. THE WEST.
e The geological explorations have be-
a prosecuted with energy during the ye
a covering an area of about 1000 squa
miles, in the territories OF Colorado, Ut:
and New Mexico, developing the agricr
A, tural and ,nineral resources, and furnishil
y interesting scientific and Typographical d
y tails of that region.
le The method adopted for the treatme
at of the Indians, adopted at the beginning
Grrf Aac