The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-08

such immigration. Negotiations for q
REIMBURSEMENT of the gold fields having
/ failed, il will be necessary for Congress
TO adopt some measures to relieve the
embarrassment growing out OF the
causes named.
The Secretary of the Interior suS-
gests that the supplies now appropriated
for the sustenance OF that people, being
no longer obligatory under the treaty OF
1868, but simply gratuity, may be
issued or withheld, ut his discretion.
The condition of the Indian Territory,
to which | have referred in several of
my former annual messages, remains
practically unchanged. The Secretary
of the Interior has taken measures to
obtain full report Of the condition of
that Territory, and will make IN
the subject of special report at an early
day. 1t may then be necessary to make
some further recommendation in regard
to legislation for the government OF that
territory.
business at he Patent Office.
The steady growth and increase of
business at the Patent Office indicates in
some measure the progress ofthe industrial
activity of the country. The receipts Of
the office are in excess of its expenditures,
and the office generally is IN prosperous
and satisfactory condition.
The report of the
General Land Office
shows that there were l.459,GOl acres less
during this than last year. More than
one.half of this decrease was in lands
disposed of under the homestead and
timber culture laws. Tho decrease OF
these lands is supposed to be found in
the grasshoppers scourge, and the drouths
which prevailed 80 extensively in some
of the Western States and territories
during that time, As to discourage and
deter entries by actual settlers. The cash
receipts were less hy $500, 1872 81 than
during the preceding year. The entire
surveyed area Of
The Public Domain
is csc, 253,09l acres of which 26,OIIJ3l
acres were surveyed during the past year,
leaving l,lj4, All acres still unsurvcyed.
The report of the Commissioners pre-
scnts many interesting suggestions in re-
gard to the management and the
disposition Of the public domain and
the modification of existing laws the
apparent importance of which should IN
sure for them the careful consideration Of
Congress.
The Number of Pensioners
still continues to decrease; the highest
number have been reached during the
year ending June 30, 1915. During the
last year II ,557 names were added to the
rolls and, 1877 were dropped
therefrOm showing net
decrease of l ,429; but while the number
of pensioners has decreased the annual
amount due on the pension rolls has in
creased $44, S33.l3. This is caused by the
greatly increased average amount of the
pensions, which by the liberal legislation
of Congress, has increased from $JO26
dollars in 1872 to $l0'36l in 1870 to each
invalid pensioncr an increase in the
average rate OF Is per cent. in the three
years. During the year ending June 30,
1875, there was paid on account OF pen
sions, including the expense of disburse.
ment, s59,GS3, llG, being $9lO,-
632 less than was paid the
preceding year. The reduction in the
amount OF expenditures was produced by
the decrease in the amount of arrearages
overdue on allowed claims, and on
pensions, the rate of which was increased
by the legislation Of the preceding act
of Congress.
At the close of the last fiscal year
there were on the pension rolls 234,S3l
persons, of whom 2l0,3G3 were army
pensioners, lO5,47S being invahds, and
iO4S85 widows and dependent relatives
1920 were navy pensioners, of whom
1886 were invalids and 1854 widows
and dependent relatives; 2l,O3S were
pensioners of the war of 1872, 1879 Of
whom were survivors and 5,l63 were
widows. 1t is estimated that $29, 535, 600
will be required for the payment Of pen
sionS for the next fiscal year, an amount
OF 5000 less than the estimate for the
present year.
The Geological Explorations.
have been prosecuted with energy dur.
ing year, covering an area of about 40
600 square miles IN the Territory OF Col
GRADY. Utah and New Mexico, develop
ing the agricultural and mineral resour-
ces, and furnishing interesting scientific
and Typographical details of that region.
The method adopted for the treatment
of the Indians at the beginning
of my first term hes been steadily pursu-
ed and with satisfactory and encouraging
results. 1t has been productive of evil
dent improvement IN the condition OF
that race, and will be continued with
only such modification as from further
experience may be desired.
The Centennial Exhibition.
The Board heretofore appointed to
take charge of the articles and materials
relating the War, the Navy, the Treas
urv, the Interior and the Postotiice De-
partments, and the Department Of Agrl-
culture, to be put in the Smithsonian In
stitutc and the commission OF food fishes
to be included under, the legislation OF
last session, to the international EXhlbi-
ton to be held at Philadelphia during the
Centennial year 1876, has been dil mt
in the discharge of the duties devolvcd
upon it. and the propositions
so far made with means ut COM
mand to give assurance that the
governmental contribution be made one
of the masked characteristics of the cN-