The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-12-09

y
from that made to meet the possible cnl-
Urgency OF two years ago; 1t has been
done quietly, without proclamation or
display, and though it has nee
csssrily Strengthened the department In
its ordinary expenditures, and as far as
the iron-clads are concerned has aided
nothing to the cruising force Of the navy,
yet the result is not the less satisfactory.
because 1t Is to be found IN a great in
crease Of real rather than apparent force.
The expenses incurred In the manten-
ance Of an effective naval force in all Its
branches are necessarily large, but such
force Is essential to our position, relations
aud character, aud affects seriously the
weight Of our principles and policy
throughout the whole sphere OF naval
responsibility. The estimates for the
regular support Of this branch OF the
service for the next year amount little
less in the aggregate to those made for
the current year, but some additional APP
preparations are asked for objects not in-
clnded in the ordinary maintenance oil
the navy, but believed to be OF pressing
Importance at this time.
OK WAR FOOTING.
It would. in my opinion, be wise at
once to afford sufficient means for the
immediate completion OF the five double
turrctcd monitors now undergoing re-
pairs, which must otherwise advance
slowly and only as money can be spared
from the current expenses. supple
mented by these, our navy, armed with
the destructive weapons Of modern war
fare, manned by our seainen, aud IN
charge of our Instructed officers. will
present force powerful for the home
purposes Of a responsible though peace
lul nation.
THE PosTNfAsIER-GESERAL's HIroRT.
The report Of the postmaster-gcneral
herewith transmitted gives full history
OF the workings of the department for
the year Just past. Ii will be observed
that the deficiency to be supplied from
the general treasury has increased over
the amount required tor the preceding
year. In a country 80 vast in area a
the United States, with large portions
sparscly settled. ii mast be eX-
pected that this important service will
he more or less a burden upon the treas
ury for many years 10 come. but there |
is no branch Of the public service which |
interests the whole people more than the |
cheap aud rapid transmission of the |
mail.. The commercial advantages TO |
he gained by n direct line Of American
steamer. 10 the South American states
will far weigh the expenses Of ser
vice by act OF Congress, approved March
81, 1875.
coon THING ABUSED.
Almost all matter, whether properly
mail matter or not. may be sent any dis
tancc through the mails In packages not
exceeding four pounds in weight for the
sum of 10 cents per pound. so far a. the
transmission Of real mail matter goes this
would seem entirely proper. but ] sug-
gcst the law be 40 amended a to ex-
clude from the mails merchandise OF all
descriptions and limit this transporta-
ton to all articles enumerated and which
may DO classcd as mail matter proper.
THE BLACK HILLS.
The Il -coyery of gold in the Black Hills. |
a portion Of the Souix reservation. Ia, had
the eject 10 induce n large emigration Of
miners TO that point. Thu. TAR, the effort
10 no Get the treaty rights Of the Indians
Of that section have been successful. but
the next Y. ar will certainly witness a large |
Increase Of such emPr 'ion. The neCoti-
atiOus for the reiBqushment Of the gold
field. having failed. u VIII be necessary for
Z ngrcss to ADOPT some measures srelieye
the ohlblrrassm' 1T growing out Of the
causes \. med The secretary Of the Inte-
rior -uggc ted that the supplies now appio.
priat.d tor the sustcnnnce of that people. |
being no longer oh iga,ory under the treaty
OF lsdS but simply Rratuity, be issued or
"ithheld at his discretion.
TiIE INDIAN TERRITORY.
The condi ion OF the Indian Territory 20
which have referred in several Of my
former annual messages r. mains practically
unchanged. The secretary oil the Interior
has taken measures TO obtain a Iull report
OF The condition of that territory, and will
make it the subject OF Il special report at an
early day. IL may then be necessary TO
make some further recomm trdaiions in
regard 70 leei'la,iOn for the government OF
that terri DRY.
The PATENT OFFICE.
The .tesdy growth and Increase Of the
business of the Patent Office indicates in
some measure the progress OF the industr al
ac;tyity OF the country. The receipts of
the Office are in excess Of it, expenditure,
and the Office generally il in a prosperous
and satisfactory condition.
THEL LAND OFFICE.
The report OF the General Land office
shows there were 2,itg.a0l acres less dis
posed Of during this than last year. More
than one.half of this decrease was In lands
disposed of under the homestead and tim
Der ctl'urc laws. The causes OF this de-
crease are supposed 10 be found in the
gra-,hopper scDurge and the dIouths whith
prevailed so extensively in some Of the |
frontier states and to discourage and deter
entries by actual settlers. The cash re.
ceipts were less by SGJO.3al % tn an during |
tho preceding year. the entire surveyed
area of the public domain is Gs), rs ,09i
acres. OF which .G0T.,a3l acres were sur
yeyed during the past year, leaving l,ljh-
4,l.,G2 acres still uhsuryeycd. The report
OF the commissioner presents many Inter-
esting suggestions in regard to the manage
mcnt and disp position OF the public domain
and the mod iication OF existing laws. the
apparent importance of which should sc-
cure for them the careful consideration OF
4 al '.ln nlItnhaf nf pau,ipp.rI SIN |
continues to decrease. the highest number
having been reached during the year end
ing June 30, 1873.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
During the last yesr II ,aj1 names were |
al led TO the rolls and 1871 We're dropped
tbercfrom, showing "a net decrease Of ,420. |
Bu', while the number OF pensioners has
decreased, the annual amount due on the |
pension rolls has increased Sa,413,3i3. This
l. caused by the increased average rate OF
pensions viii h by the liberal legislation OF
Congress increased from S9.026 in 1872 to
Sl0,3Dl in 1918, to each individual pension
er an increass in the average of fifteen per
cent, In the three years during the year
ending June 30, 1873, there was paid on ac-
count Of pensions, including the expenses
OF disbursement, $40 1881 l6, being s9,lO.-
~ less than was paid the preceding year.
This reduction in amount Of expenditures
was produced by the decrease in the
amount or arrrarages due on allowed claims
and on pensions, the rate Of which was in
creased by the legislation OF the preceding |
session OF Congr' So. At the close Of the