Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-16

again, is not attended with burden upon the
Treasury, and would, for the future, relieve
much distress which every old army officer
has witnessed in the past, of officers dying
suddenly, or being killed, leaving families
without even the means of reaching their
friends, if fortunate enough to have friends
to aid them.
Third. The repeal of the law abolishing
mileage and return to the old system.
Fourth. The trial with torpedoes under the
corps of engineers, and appropriation for the
same. Should war ever occur between the
United States and any maritime power, torpe'
does will be among, if not the most effective
and cheapest auxiliary for the defense of har-
bors, and also in any aggressive operation that
we can have. Hence, it is advisable to learn
by experiment, their best construction and ap.
plication, as we'll as effect.
Fifth. A permanent organization for the
signal service corps. This service has now
become necessity of peace as we'll as war
under the advancement made by the present
able management.
Sixth A renewal of the appropriation for
compiling the official records of the war, etc.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General, here
with transmitted, gives a full history Of the
workings of the department for the year just
past. 1t will be observed that the deficiency
to be supplied from the general treasury is in
creased over the amount required for the pre-
ceding year.
In a country 80 vast in area as the United
States, large portions must be sparsely settled.
1t must be expected that this important SER
vice will be more or less burden upon the
Treasury for years to come.
But there is no branch of the public service
which interests the whole people more than
that of cheap and rapid transmission of mails
to every inhabited part of our territory. Next
to the free school, the post Office is the great
educator of the people, and it may we'll receive
the support of the General Government.
The subsidy of S150,0O0 per annum, given
to vessels of the United States for carrying
mails between New York and Rio de Janeiro,
having ceased on the 30th day of September
last, we are without direct mail facilities with
the South American States. This is greatly
to he regretted, and l do not hesitate to re-
commend the authorization Of renewal of
that contract, and also that the service may
be increased from monthly to semi.monthly
trips. The commercial advantage to begain-
ed by direct line of American steamers to
the South American States, will far outweigh
the expense Of the service. By act of Con-
gress, approved March Sd, 1875, almost all
matter, whether properly mail matter or not,
may be sent any distance through the mails,
in packages not exceeding four pounds. So
far as the transmission of real mail matter
goes this would seem entirely proper; but l
suggest that the law be so amended as to ex-
cude from the mails merchandise of all de-
scriptions, and limit this transportation to ar.
ticles enumerated and which may be classed
as mail matter proper.
THE INDIANS.
The discovery of gold in the Black Hills, a
part Of the Sioux reservation, has had the ef-
feet TO induce large immigration of miners
to that point
Thus far, the effort to protect the treaty
rights of the Indians to that section, has been
successful but the next year will certainly
witness large increase of such immigration.
The negotiations for the REIMBURSEMENT of
the gold fields having failed, it will be neces-
sary for Congress to adopt some measures to
relieve the embarrassment growing out of the
cause named.
The Secretary of the Interior suggests that
the supplies now appropriated for the susie
nance of that people-being no longer obliga-
tory under the treaty of 1868, but simply q
gratuity-may be issued or withheld at his dis
cretion. The condition of the Indian Terrific
ry, to which have referred in several Of my
former messages; remains practically un-
changed. The Secretary of the Interior has
taken measures to obtain full report of the
condition of that Territory, and will make it
the subject of a supplemental report at an ear
ly day. 1t may then be necessary to make
some further recommendation in regard to
legislation for the government of that Terri
tory.
The method for the treatment of the In
dians, adopted at the beginning of my first
term, has been steadily pursued, and with
satisfactory and encouraging results. 1t has
been productive of evident improvement in
the condition of that race and will be contin-
ued with only such modification as further
experience may indicate to be necessary.
PATENT AND LAND OFFICES.
The steady growth and increase of the bust.
ness of the Patent Office indicates, in some
measure, the progress of the industrial activity
of the country. The receipts of the office are
in excess of its expenditures, and the Office is,
generally,i in prosperous and satisfactory con-
dition. The report of the general land Office
shows that there were 2,459, sol acres less dis
posed of during this than during the last year.
More than 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
scourge and the drouths which prevailed so
extensively in some of the frontier States and
Territories during that time, as to discourage
and deter entries by actual settlers. The cash
receipts were less by $500, 1928 than during
the preceding year. The entire surveyed area
of the public domain is 680,253,094 acres, of
which 26,077, ,531 acres we're surveyed during
the past year, leaving 54,471 ,762 acres still
unsurveyed. The report of the Commission.
er presents many interesting suggestions in re-
gard to the management and disposition of the
public domain and the modification of exist.
ing laws the apparent Importance Of which
should insure for them the careful considera-
tion of Congress.
PENSIONS.
The number of pensions still continue to
decrease, the highest number having been
reached during the year ending June Both,
1873. During the last year, II ,557 names
we're added to the rolls and 12,977 dropped
therefrom, showing net decrease of 1920
But while the number of pensions has decreased
the annual amount due on the pension rolls
has increased S44,473.13. This is caused by
the greatly increased average rate of pensions
which, by the liberal legislation of Congress,