The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-15
THE CONDITION OF THE INDIAN TERRI

THE CONDITION OF THE INDIAN TERRI
TORY,
to which | have referred in several OF
my former messages remains practi-
cally unchanged the Secretary OF
the Interior has taken measures TO
obtain a full report of the condition
of that Territory, and viii make 1t the
subject of special report at an early
day. 1t may then be necessary to
to make some further recommends
ton in regard to legislation for the
government of the Territory.
TIE PATENT OFFICE.
The steady growth and increase OF
the business of the Patent Office IN
dicates in some measure the progress
of the industrial activity of the coun-
trv. The receipts of the Office are Ia
excess Of its expenditures, and the
office generally is in a prosperous
and satisfactory condition.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The report of the General Land
Office shows that there were = ,4o9,oOl
acres less disposed of during this
thaa last year. More thar one-haif
OF this decrease was in lands dis
posed Of under the Homestead and
Timbsr Culture laws. The causes OF
this decrease are supposed to be
found in the grasshopper scourge
aud the droughts which prevailed
so extensively in some OF The Jour
teen States and territories during that
time as 10 discourage and aeter en-
tries by actual settlers. The cash re-
ceipts were less by $780, 22, % than
during the preceding year. Inc
entire surveyed area of the public do
main is $50 25a, 094 acres, OF which
26 677.53I acres were surveyed dur
ing the past year, leaving l.l54,47l,-
1852 acres u%nsurveyed. Tie report
of the Commissioner presents many
interesting suggestions in regard to
the management and disposition OF
the public domain, and the moditica-
ton of existing laws, the apparent
importance of which should insure
for them the careful consideration of
Congress.
PENSIONS
The number of pensioners still con-
ues to decrease, the highest npmber
having been reached during the year
ending June 80. 1878. During the
last year 1851 names were added
to the rolls, and 1877 were dropped
therefrom, showing a net decrease of
1920. But while the number of PEN
sioners have decreased, the annual
amount due on the pension rolls has
increased S44, 1888 10. This is caus-
ed by the greatly increased average
rate of pensions, which by the liberal
legislation of Congress, has increased
from S90,26 in 1872, to SOB 81 in
lS75-to each invalid pensioner an
increase in the average rate of fifteen
per cent, in the three years.
During the year ending June 30th,
1875, there was paid on ccoun Of
pensions, including The expenses of
disbursement, S29,5S3,ll6 being
$9I0,632 less than was paid during
the preceding year. This reduction
in the amount of expenditures was
produced by the decrease in the
amount of arrearages due on allowed
claims and on pensions, the rate of
which was increased by the legisla-
ton of the preceding session of Con-
gress.
At the close of the last fiscal year
there were on the pension rolls
234, S2l persons, of whom 2l0,363
were army pensioners, l05,4T8 be-
ng invahds. 104, SS5 widows and
dependent relatives; 1920 were navy
pensioners, Of whom 1886 were ill.,
valids and LISA widows and DEEPEN
dent relatives; 2l,03S were pension
ers OF the war Of 1872, 1873 OF
whom were survivors and 5,l63 were
widows.
Ii is estimated that $29, $685. 600
viii be required for the payment of
pensions for the next fiscal year, an
amount 1865, 600 less than the esti-
mate for the present wear.
GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS.
The geological explorations have
been prosecuted with energy during
the year, covering an area of about
so, 000 square miles in the Terrific
ries of Colorado, Utah and New
Mexico, developing the agriculture
and mineral resources, and furnish.
ing interesting scientific and topo.
graphical details Of that region.
II INDIAN PEACE POLICY.
The method for the treatment Of
the Indians, adopted at the begin
ming of my FIST term, has been
steadily pursued and with satisfacto.
~ and encouraging results. 1t has
been productive of evident improve.
ment in the condition of that race,
an0 will be continued with only such
notifications as further experience
may indicate TO be necessary.
GOVERNMENT DISPLAY AT THE CEN.
TENNIAL EXHIBITION.
The Board heretofore appointed to
take charge of the articles and ma.
%terials pertaining to the War, the
Navy, the Treasury, the Interior and
the Postofice Departments, and the
Department Of Agriculture. tile
Smithsonian Institute and the Com
mission of Food Fishes, to be con.
tributed under the Legislation of last
session TO the International Exhibi-
ton TO be held at Philadelphia dur
ing the Centennial year 1876, has
been diligent in the discharge OF the
duties which have developed upon it,
and the preparations so far made
with he means at command give
assurance that the qovernmental oon-