Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-07
PREsIDENT's MESSAGE.
IContinued from First Pa1e.l


The estimates for the regular support OF this
branch of the service tor the ext year amount
to a Little less in the ags:egate than those made
preparations are asked for objee>s not included
In tue ordinary maintenance OF the navy, but
believed to be of pressing Importance at this
time. IL would, in my opinion, be wise at once
TO asord sufficient means for the immediate
completion ofthe five double -turretted moni-
wise advance slowly and only as money can be
spared from current expenses Supplemented
with these our navy, armed With the dest ruc-
tive wear ons OF modern warfare, manned by
our seamen and In charge of our Instructed off,
GERS, will present a force powerful fer the home
purposes OF responiible though peaceful
nation.
The report Of the Postmaster General here
with transmitted gives full history OF the
workings OF the department for the wear lust
past. 1t will be observed that the deficiency to
be supplied from the general Treasury in
creased over tue amount required for the pre-
ceding year In county SO vast in srrear as
The Unitsd States, with large proportions
SparSely settled, il must be expected that this
important service Will be more or less burden
upon the Treasury for many years to come.
But there is no branch of the public service
which interests the whole people moe than
that of cheap ard rapid transmit SION of the
mails TO every Inhabited part of oar territory.
Next to the free school, the poStOfice is trs
great educator Of the people, and it may well
receive the support Of the general government.
The subsidy of $4,000 per annUm, given
10 vessels of the United States for carrying
the mails between New York and Rio de ia
fCmber last, we are without direct mail IA
cilities with the South American st ltes.
This is greatly TO be regretted, and DO not
hesitate TO recommend the authorization of
renewal of that contract, and also that the
service may be incTea Sed from monthly II
semi-mOnthly trips. Ihe commercial ad-
vantages TO be gained by a direct line of
American steamers to the South AmeTiC N
States williar outweigh the expense of the
service.
BY Act Of Congress, approved March 3rd,
l5i5, almost all matter, whether properly mail
matter OF not may be sent any distance through
pounds in weight, for the sum OF sixteen Gems
per pound. SO far as the transmission of re Il
mail matter goes this would seem entirely pro-
Per, but i suggest that the law be co aun GUIDED
as TO exclude from the mails merchandise OF all
descriptions, and limit this tranSp0rtat on ID
articles enumerated and which may bs clssSed
As mail matter proper.
The discovery OF gold In the Black Hills. a
portion OF the Sioux reservation, has had
The ELECT 10 induce large emigration OF
miners 20 that point. Thus far the ehoct 10
protect the treaty rights of the Indians to
that section have been Successful, but. the
next year will certainly witness q large in
crease OF SJch emigration. The NEGOTIATIONS
for the REIMBURSEMENT OF the gold fields hay-
ing failed. II will be necessary for Congress-
10 aCopt some measure TO relieve the EN-
barTass growing out Of the causes
named. The Secretary of the Interior suggeSI q
that the supplies now appropriated for the
sustenance OF that people being no longer oh
EgatOry under the treaty of 1858, but Simply
gratuity, may be issued or withheld .at mis-
The condition Of the Indian Terrstory, to
which have referred in several of nv former
annual messages, remains practically I'M
charged. The Secretary of the Interior has
taken measures to obtsiD a full report of the
condition OF that territory and will make IL the
subject of special report at an early day. 1t
may then be necessary TO make some further
Recommendations in regard 20 legislation for the
government OF that territory.
urss Of the Fatent oce neic.te s 'h n sSme
measure the progTe-s OF the industrial activity
Of the country. The receipts OF the ONCE are
IN exctSs Of its expenditure, AID The o1ice gen
orally Is IN prosperous and satisfactory cCnGi-
ton.
The report OF the General Land Offce shows
that there were 2,459, 60l acres less disposed ii
during this than during the last year, mere
than one half Of this decrease was in lands
disposed of under the homestead and timber
culture laws. The cause of this decrease is
supposed to be found in the grasshopper
ScOufge and the drOutfls which prevailed so
extensively in some of the frontier states and
territories during that time as 10 discourage
and deter entries by actual settlers. The
cash receipts were less by S69O,322.23 than
during the preceding year.
The entire surveyed area OF the public do
main Is teO-253 ,o9i acres, of which 2i,O77 .53i
acres were surveyed during the past year,
leaving 1,i5i,i1l,1G2 acres still unsT, yeyed
The report of the Commissioner presents
many interesting suggestions in regard TO
the management and dispO .ition OF the pub
lie domain and the modification of existing
laws. the apparent Importance of which
should insure for them the careful conside-
The number OF pensioners still Continues
To decrease, the highest number having cen
reached during the year ending June 80, 1872
During the last year II ,55T names were aided
TO the rolls, and i g77 were dropped there
from, showing net decrease OF 1,4aD. But
while the number of pensioners has de-
creased. the annual amount due on the pen
sion rolls has increased SH,IS3.l3. This is
caused by the greatly increased average rate
OF PENSIONS, watch, by the lioe. al legislation
OF Congress, has increased from 5000 in
1872 TO Si039l in ISIS to each invalid men,
sioner, an increase in the average rate or Is
Per cent. in the three years. During the year
on account OF pensions, including the
expenses Of If disbursement, se9,63,il6,
The preceding year. This REDUCTION in an,onI,t
OF expenditures was produced Dy the decrease
IN the amount OF arrearsges due on allowed
claims, and on pensions the rate OF which Was
increased by the legislation OF the precediny
session OF Congress. At the close of the lasf
fiscal year there we're or the pension roles 23I,-
sioneTs, 1854 being inyalids. and l0I SS5 gid-
ows and dependant relatives; g 10 were navy
pensioners, OF whom 1,C15 were invalids and
1,ssi widows and dependent relatives. 21,03S
were pensioners CT the war OF lsI2 Is SIS OF
whom were survivors, and 5,143 were widows
IL Is estimated tia. SO So 900 will be reqair-
ed Tor the payment OF pensions Tor The next ia
cal year, an amount Se6j 600 less than the est
mate for the present year.
The geological explorations have been
prosecuted win energy during the year
covering an area OF about 40 70 square miles
IN the TerTitOrie OF Colorado, Utah aud
New Mexico, developing the agricultural
and mineral resource. and furnishing IN
teresting scientific and Typographical details
of that region.
The method for the treatment OF the
IEdiars, adopted at the beginning OF nv
hrst term, has been steadily pursued aui
with satisfaction and eucOurag iBg results.
II has been productive OF evident improve
ment IN the condition OF that race. and VIII
De continued with only such notifications as
further experience may indicate 10 be neces-
Sary.
The board heretofore appointed 20 the charge
OF Vie articles and materials furnished - the
war, the Navy, the Treasury, the Interior and
tue Post once Departments and the Depart
ment OF 4 Ericulture, the miihsouian Ipstitu-
nOn and the commission ef food fishes 20 be
contributed, under the legislation OF last ses-
sion, 10 the International Exhibition to be held
AZ Philadelphia during the centennial year
ISIS. has been diligent in the discharge
OF the cuties which have devoIyed upon H.
ard the Ireps<a<o. % ia made will with the
means a. command, give Assurance
that the governmental Contribution will