The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-12-10

that the laW-be SO amended as to exclude
from the mails merchandise of all deserip-
tons, and limit this transportation to ali
the articles enumerated, and which may be
classed as mail matter proper
THE BLACK HILLS.
The discovery ofgold in the Black Hills, a
portion of the Sioux reservation, has had the
effect TO induce large emigration ofminers
| to that point. Thus far the effort to protect
the treaty rights Of the Indians Of that sec
ton has been successful, but the next year
will certainly will certainly witness large
/ increase of emigration, Negotiations for
/ the REIMBURSEMENT of the gold fields having
| failed, it will be necessary for Congress to
adopt some measures to relieve the embar
rassment growing out OF the causes named.
| The Secretary OF the Interior suggests that
the supplies appropriated for the sustenAnce
| ofthat people being no longer obligatory UNI
der the treaty of 1868, bu. simply a-gratu-
ity, be issued or with held at his discretion.
THE INDIAS TERRITORY.
The condition Of the Indian Territory, TO
which have referred in several of my for
mer annual messages, remains practically
| unchanged. The Secretary of the Interior
| has taken measures to obtain a full report
Of the condition of that Territory, and will
make it the subject of special report at
| an early day. 1t may then be necessary to
make some further recommendation in re.
gard 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 of the indus
trial activity of the country. The receipts
of the Office are IN excess of its eXpendi-
! lures, aud the office generally Is in pros
| porous and satisfactory condition.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
| The report OF the General Land Office
shows that there were :, 459, 4Ol acres less
disposed Of during this than during the
last year. More than one half of
this decrease was in lands disposed
of under the homestead and timber cul-
ture laws. The causes of this decrease
are supposed to be found in the grasshop-
per scourge and the drouth which prevail
ed 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, 1922 % than during the preceding
year. The entire surveyed area of the
public domain is CSC, 253,094 acres, of
which 25,077 ,53l acres were surveyed dur.
ing the past year, leaving l,l54;4 1862
acres still unsurveyed. The report Of the
Commissioner presents many interest sng-
gestions in regard TO the management and
disposition of the public domain. The
modification of existing laws is of such
apparent importance that 1t should ensure
the careful consideration of Congress.
GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS.
/ The number of pensioners still continues to
decrease, the highest number having been
reached during the year ending June 30,
1873. During the last year IL ,557 names
were added to the rolls and 1871 were
dropped ,therefrom, showing a net decrease
of !, APO; but while the number of pension,
sioners has decreased. the annual amount
due on the pension roll has increased ST..
| 1882. This is caused by the great in.
creased average rate of pensions, which by
the liberal legislation of Congress was in.
creased from $9.O26 in 1872 to $lO.39l in
t1s15, to each invalid pensioner, an in.
crease in the average rate of Is per cent
in the three years. During the year end.
ing June 80, 1875, there was paid on &C.
count of pensions, including the expense
of disbursement, $29,6S3, ll6. being $780,
962 less than was paid the preceding year
This reduction in amount of expenditures
was produced By the decrease in
the amount of arrearages due on al
lowed claims, and on pensions; the rate oil
which was increased by the legislation oil
the preceding session of Congress. A,
\ the close of the last fiscal year there were
on the pension roll 234, 1921 persons, oil
whom 2l0 1868 were army pensionerSyil05,
47S being inyalids and 1O4,s95 widows
and dependant relatives; 1920 were navy
pensioners, of whom 1876 were invalids
and 1884 widows and dependent relatives
81, 03S were pensioners Of the war of 1872
1875 of which were survivors and 5,l6a
were widows. 1t is estimated that $29,
$50, 900 will be required for the payment
of pensions next year, an amount 1865,
900 less than the estimate for the present
year.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS.
The geological explorations have been
prosecuted with energy during the yea
covering an area of about 10000 square
miles in the territories of Colorado, Utal
and New Mexico, developing the agricul
tural and mineral resources, and furnish
ing interesting scientific and Typographical
details of that region.
The QUAKER POLICY.
The method for the treatment of the In
dams adopted at the beginning of my frs
term has been steadily pursued aud Will
satisfactory and encouraging results.
has been productive of evident improvement
in the condition of that race, and will b
continued, with only such notifications a.
further experience may indicate to be nee
essary.
CENTENNIAL CONTRIBUTION.
The Board heretofore appointed to TAX
charge Of the articles and materials pei
, tanning to the War. the Navy, the Treasury
, the Interior, and the Postoffice Depart
! ments, and the Department of Agriculture
; the Smithsonian Institution, and the Com
mission of Food, which are to be contribu
ted under the legislation of last session t
{ the International Exhibition, to be held a
4 Philadelphia, during the Centennial year
, 1876. has been diligent in the discharg
of the duty which has devolved upo
| it and the proportions so far mad
, | with the means at command give assurance
: that the governmental contribution vii
. be made one of the marked characters
tics of the exhibition. The board has oh
+ served cOmmendable economy in the mat
4 ter of the erection of buildings for tn
|, government exhibit. the expense of which
! it is estimated, will not exceed $50, 00(
| This amount has been Withdrawn unde
| the law from the aupropriatfon @