Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-12-09

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THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster General, mere
With transmitted, gives full history OF the
OF the department for the year JUST
past. It will be observed that the denclency 10
he supplied from the General Treasury in
creased over the amount required for the pre-
,eding year. In country SO vasI III area as sto
United States with large portions sparse'y SET
lied, it must be expected that Inls lmporttaIn an
service will be more or less burden upon t1e
Treasury for many years 10 enbich INTERESTS
the whole people more than that OF cheap
and rapid transmission OF the mails to every IN
habited part OF our TERRITORY Next 10 Inc ire ne
people, and it may well receive the supporG. o Oh
the general government. The subsidy 81 $ioo,,
per gyehm no mails New
and Rio de Janeiro having ceased on the 30tn
day of September last we arc wttnout aiIecI
mail facilities with the South American States.
This is greatly to be regretted, and do not hes-
itate to recommend the authorization OF re-
newal of that contract, and also that the service
may be increased from monthly to semi month-
ly trips The commercial advantages to De
gained by direct line OF american 81 Gan
Steamers to the South American states
vice BY act of Congress approved March so,
1875, almost all matter, whether properly mai
matter or not may be sent any distance Lhrotug ,
the mails in packages not exceeding TOUR
pounds in weight for the sum OF sixteen Genus
per pound. So far as the TRANSMISSION OF real
mail matter goes this would seem entire,s pIo1
As to exclude from the mails merchandise OF al
descriptions and limit this transportation 10 ar
ticles enumerated and which may be ciassea IL
mail matter properly.
TaH BLACK HILLS DISCOVERIES
The discovery of gold in the Black Hills
rortion of the Sioux reservation, has
had the effect to induce large emigration
of miners to that point. Thus far the effort &c
orotect the treaty rights Of the Indians III tha'
section has been successful. but the next year
willscertainly witness a large increase OF smcf
emigration. The negotiations Tor the reuii.
ouishment of the gold fields having. failed. II
will be necessary for Congress TO adopt some
measure to relieve The embarrassment GROWING
out of the causes named. The secretary OF the
Interior suggests that the Supplies now appro'
priated for the sustenance of the people pelne
no longer obligatory under the treaty OF 1868
The condition of the Indian Territory, to
which have referred in several OF my former
annual messages, remains practically uncnang-
ed The Secretary OF the Interior has taken
measures to obtain full report OF the condlt on
of that Territory, and will make 1t The suolect
of a special report st an early day. 1t may then
he necessary to make some further reeominen
dation in regard to legislation for the govern
ment OF that Territory.
CoRELATIvE BRANCHES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
The steady growth and increase OF the bust
ness of the Patent Office indicate in some meas
ure the progress of the industrial activity o.
the country. The receipts of the office are il
excess of the expenditures and the office gen
orally is in prosperous and satisfactory condi
ton. oe,. 49,,
that there were ,45s6n acres less disposed OF
dnring this than during the last year. MOre
than one half OF this decrease was in lands dis
nosed Of under the homestead aud timber cul
ture laws. The cause of this decrease IS sup
posed to be found in the grasshopper scourge
and the droughts which prevailed SO extensively
in some of the frontier states and Iefrltofles
during that time, as to discourage and deter en-
less by $s9O,3s2.23, than during the preceding
year. The entire surveyed area OF the publlS
domain is 6Sl,255,094 acres, OF which 26,077,53
acres were surveyed curing LIE pass ye The re
port of the commissioners presents many inter
esting suggestions in regard to the manage
ment and disposition OF me Pa aa tbe annaren
Importance of which should insure for them the
careful consideration OF Congress
The number OF pensioners still continues t(
decrease. the highest number having been
reached during the year ending June IN, 1913 !,
During the last year 1l,557 names were added t.
showing a net decrease of APO. But while the
number of pensioners has decreased, the an
nuaI amount due on the pension rolls has IN
creased &43733 TINS Is caused py 'ng glea ~
the liberal legislation OF Congress, mas increased
from in 1872 TO SOB 81 in 1875, to each 1nva
nRnGJOnpT.
fifteen per cent. in the three years. During tht
YEAR ending June 30th l675 there was paid OF
account OF pensions, including the expenses
disbursement $29, 6o3 ll6, being p9,leo.oS rss.
te ean TaS III Raa the sear s
produced by the decrease in the amount o
arrearages due on allowed claims and on pen
sions, the rate OF which was increased by the
legislation of the preceding session OF Con
At the close OF me os ass hs e ysar
whom 1O3e3 were army pensioners. lo5,476 be
ing invaIids and 1O4885 widows and dependent
relatives 8, 4a0 were navy pensioners, OF wno9
ent relatives; 1,G38 were pensioners OF the wal
Of 1Sl2-'l5, 875 OF whom were survivors and Isl
will be required for the payment OF pensions fol
the next fiscal year, an amount 1896, 00O less thar
the estimate for the present year.
The geological explorations have been prose
cuted With energy during the year, covering al
area of about 40, 900 square miles in the ter ito
ries of Colorado and Utah and New Mexico, de-
yeloping the agricultural and min raj resources
and furnishing interesting scientific and topo-
graphical details OF that region.
The method for the treatment OF the Indians
adopted at the beglnn ng OF my nrst Term, mas
encouraging results. 1t has been productive o.
evident I'm provement in the condition OF that
ifcations as further experience may indicate tt
be necessary.
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
The Board heretofore appointed to take charge
of the articles and materials pertaining to the
War; the Navy. the Treasury, the Interior, and
the Postoffice Departments, and the Depart
ment Of Agriculture, the Smithsonian Institute
and the Commission of Food Fishes, to be con
tributed under the legislation Of last session te
the international exhibition to be held at Phila
delphia during the Centennial year, 1876, has
been diligent in the discharge OF the duties
which have devo we'd upon it, and the prepare
tionS So far made with it command the assur
ance that the governmental contributions will
be one OF the marked characteristics of the ex-
hibition. The Board has observed commenda-
BILE economy in the matter OF the erection
of building for the governmental ex-
hibit. the expense OF which it is es-
timated will not exceed, say $4,000. This
amount has been withdrawn under the law
from the appropriations OF five OF the principal
departments which leaves some of those de-
partments without sufficient means to render
their respective practical exhibits complete and
satisfactory. The exhibition being an inter
national one and the government being vol
untary contributor, 1t is my opinion that its
contributions should be of a character, in quail
ity and extent, to sustain the dignity and credit
of SO distinguished contributor: The advan-
tages to the country OF a creditabIe display are
in an international point OF view OF the first inn
portance, while an Indifferent or increditable
participation by the government would be hu-
initiating to the patriotic feelings OF our peo-
pie themselves. commend the estimates OF
the Board for the necessary additional ap-
preparations to the favorable consideration Of
Congress. The powers OF Europe, almost with
out exception, many OF the South American
states, and even the more distant Eastern pow
ers, have manifested their friendly sentiments
toward the United States, and the interest OF the
world IN our progress by taking steps to join
with us in celebrating the Centennial OF the ma
ton, and strongly recommend that a more ma
tional importance be given to this exhibition by
such legislation, and by such appropria' ions as
will insure its success. Its value in bringing TO
our shores innumerable useful works OF art
and skill, the commiDgiing OF citizens OF for
eign countries and our own, and the inter-
change of ideas and manufactures will lar eX-
coed any pecuniary outlay we may make.
transmit herewith the report OF the Com
missioner of Agriculture, together with the re-
ports of the ommissioners-the board OF audit
and the board. OF health of the District OF &C.
lumbia, to all of which invite your attention:
The Bureau of Agriculture has accomplished