Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-08

= ftOnI the current appropriations Of the
{ Is. few years, and from that made to
Q nee. tue possible emergency of two
: yesrs age. 1t has been definitely settled
, | without Proclamation or display, and,
. | although II has necessarily straitened
3 the department In its ordinary expsndi-
5 tUTs, and as far as the iron-clads are con-
5 cerned, has added nothing to the
} cruising force Of the navy; yet the
result is none the less satisfactory
} because it Is to be found In great in-
crease of real rather than appsrent force.
The expenses incurred in the msinte-
nance Of all effective naval force in all
It's branches are necessarily large, but
such force is essential to our positions,
relations and character, and affects
seriously the weight Of our principles
and policy throughout the whole sphere
OF naval responsibility. The estimates
for the rsgu ar support OF this branch OF
the service for the next year amount to
a little less in the aggregate than those
made for the cuIrsnt year, but some ad-
ditionRl appropriations are asked for OBJ
scts not incluCed in the ordinary MAIN
Genanee Of the navy, but believed 10 be
of pressing i'm p)rtsuce at this time. 1t
would, in my opinion, be wise at once
to afford sufficient means for the imme-
date completion OF the five double ur
retted monitors now undergoing repairs,
which must otherwise a ivaDce slowly,
and only as money can be spared from
the current expenses supplemented by
these. Our navy armed with the de-
5truetive weapons OF modern warfare,
manned by cur seRme1, and in charge
of our instructed officers, will present a
rec powerful for the home purposes Of
a responsible, though peaceful nation.
THE REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GEN.
ERAL,
herewith transmitted, gives a full his |
tory of the workings Of the department |
Tor the year Just past 1t will be ob |
served that the deficiency, to besupplied |
from the general treasury, has in |
creased over the amount required for the |
| preceding year. In a cOun ~ so vast in |
| area as the United S ates, and with large |
portions Of it so sIarsely settled, it must |
be expected that this important service |
will be more or less burden upon thu |
treasury for maOy vars to come, but |
| there Is no branch of the public service /
| which interests the whole people more |
| than that Of the cheap aud rapid tIaus-
| mission of the mails TIE commercial !
| advantages to be gained by direct line
| OF steamers to the South American
| States, will far outweigh the expense of
service. By set OF congress, approved
| March 2, 1875, almost all matter,
whether properly mail mstter or not,
may be sent any distance through the
m ais, in packages not exceeding four
| pounds in weight, for the sum Of sixteen
cents per round. so far as the trans
mission of real mail matter goes, this
would seem entirely proper, hut sug-
Res5 that the law be so amended, az 10
exclude from the mails, merchandise Of
| all descriptions, aud to limit this trans
| pOrtation to all articles enumerated, and
which may be classed as mail matter
proper.
THE BLACK HILLS.
The discovery OF gold in the Black
Hills, portion Of the Sioux reservation,
has had the effect to induce large emil
grafton of miners TO that point. Thus
far the effort to protect the treaty rights
Of the IDGisns OF that section has been |
successful; but the Dext year will GER
tainly witness a large increase of such
emigration. The negotiations for the re-
liDguishment OF the gold fields having
failed, it will be necessary for congress
to adopt some measures to relieve the
embarrassment growing out of the causes
named. The secretary Of the interior
suggests that the supplies now sppropri-
ated for the sustenance OF that people,
being no longer obligatory under the
treaty OF 1858, but simply q era ,uity,
may he issued or withheld at his disere-
ton.
INDIAN TERRITORY.
The condition Of the Indian Territory, |
to which [ have referred in several Of
my former annual messages, remains
practically unchanged. Inc secretary
of the interior bag taken measures to OBJ
81, G,,1I - 4 "a 4
Territory, and will make it the subject
Of special report at an early dsy. 1t
may then be necessary to make some
further recommendation in regard to
legislation for the government Of that
Territory.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
The steady growth and increase Of the
business of the patent office indicates in
some measure the progress and the in
dustrial sctivity Of the country. The
receipts of the office are in excess Of its
expenditures, aad the Office generally is
IN prosperous and satisfactory coDdi-
ton.
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
The report OF the general land office
shows that there were 2 ass, 401 acres less
disposed off curing this tnan during the
last year. More than One-haf of this
decrease was in lands disposed of under
the homestead and timber cutter laws.
The causes Of this decrease is supposed
to be found in the grssshopper scOurge
and the drOuths which prevailed 80 eX-
tensively in some of the frontier States
and Territories during that time, al to
discourage and deter entries by actual
sc eTs. The cash receipts were less by
$50 O32. 223 than during the preceding
year. The entire surveyed area of the
public domain is $50, 253, 094 acres, of
which 26,O77, 53l acres were surveyed
during the past year, Leaving 1154 AL
762 acres still unsurveyed. The report
of The comm ssioner .preseI Is many ia
teresting suggestions in regard to the
management and disposition of the pub
lie domain, and the modification of ex
istiDg laws, and the apparent Importance
OF which should insure for them the cafe
ful consideration Of congress.
THE NUMBER OF PENSIONERS
still continues to decrease, the highest
number having bsen reached during the
year ending June 80, 1873. During the
lss. year IL 557 names were added ID the
rolls, and 1877 were dropped there
from, showing a net decrease of 1870.
But while the number Of pensioners has
decreased, the annual amount due ON
the pensIOn-TOil5 mas increases "a 49,
Sl3. This is caused by the great in
creased average rate Of pensions, which,
by the liberal legislation of congress,
has increased from S9026 in 1872, to
$40, 39l in 1875. To each invalid PEN
sioner, an increase in the average rate OF
fifteen per cent. in three years. During
the yeSr ending June 80, 1875, there
was paid on account Of pensions, includ-
ing the expenses of disburse-
ment, $29, 6S3,962, being 1910 982
less than was paid the preceding
year. This reduction in the amount
of expenditures was produced by the
decrease il the amount of arrearages
du5 on allowed claims and on pensions,
the rate Of which was increased by the
legislation Of the preceding session of
congress. At the close Of the last fiscal
yesr there were on the pension rolls
234, 82I persons, Of whom 2l0,3 1851 were
army pensioners, los, 478 being invslids
and 104 SS5 widows and dependent Tela-
tive9; 1920 we're navy pensioners, OF
whom 1886 were invalids and 177S
widows aHd dependent relatives; q ,039
yUoTa DepGiOnnrg Of the war of 1919 L.