The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-12-11

that there were 2,459,Sul acres less disposed
OF during this than during last year. More
than onehalf Of this decrease WAS in land
disposed of under the homestead and timber.
culture laws. The causes of this decrease
are supposed to be found in the grasshOpper
scourge, and the drouths which prevailed SO
extensively in some Of the frontier states ana
territories during that time, AS to discourage
and deter entries by actual settlers. The cash
receipts were less by S5,6t322) than during
the preceding year. The entire surveyed area
of the public domain is 6S0,253,O 94 acres, OF
which 2G,O77,53l acres were surveyed during
the past year, leaving ,154, All ,762 acres still
unsurveyed. The report OF the commissions
er presents many interesting suggestions in
regard to the management and disposition OF
the public domain, and the modification OF
existing laws, the apparent importance OF
which should insure for them the careful
consideration of congress.
PENSIONS.
The number of pensioners still continues
to decrease, the highest number having been
reached during the year ending June 30, 1872
During the last year II ,557 names were add.
ed TO the rolls, and 1887 were dropped there
from, showing net increase OF 1920; but
while the number of pensioners has decreas
ed. the annual amount due on the pension
roll has increased $4,473,313. This is caus-
ed the greatly increased average rate of pen
sons which, by the liberal legislation OF con
gress has increased from $90,26 in 1872 to
| $lO301 in 1915, to each invalid pensioner-
an increase IN the average rate OF 10 per cent
in the three years. During the year ending
June 80, 1875, there was paid on account OF
pensions, Including the expenses Of disburse
ment $29, 6S3, l16, being $9lO632 less than
was paid the preceding year. This reduc
ton in the amount Of expenditures was pro
! duced by the decrease III the amount OF ar
rearages due on allowed claims and on pen
sions, the rate of which was increased by the
! legislation of the preceding session of con
! gress A. the close of the last fiscal veal
there were on the pension-rolls ga ,S21 per
sons, of whom 210393 were army pensioners
1O5 49S being invalids and 104,SS5 widows
and dependent relatives; S,42J navy pension
ers, of whom 1886 were invalids and 1854
WIDOWS and dependent relatives; 81 OBS were
pensioners of the war of 1912, 1875 OF whom
were survivors and 5,1G3 of whom, widows
1t is estimated that 500 535, 900 will be requir
ed for the payment of pensions for the nex
fiscal year, an amount of $935,0JO less than
the estimate tor the present year.
GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS.
The geographical explorations have been
prosecuted with energy during the yesr, GOV
Orlng an area of about 10000 square miles in
the territories of Colorado, Utah, and New
Mexico, developing the agricultural and
mineral resources, and furnishing interest
ing scientific and Typographical details Of
that region.
! THE TREATMENT OF INDIANS.
The method for the treatment of the In
dlans, adopted at the beginning of my first
term, has been steadily pursued and with sat
isfactory and encouraging results. 1t has
, been production Of evident improvement in
the condition Of that race, and will be con
tinued with only such notifications as fur
Their experience may indicate to be necessary
THE CENTENNIAL.
The board heretofore appointed to take
charge of the articles and materials pertain
ing TO the war, the navy, the treasury, thu
interior, and the postotfice departments, ant
the department OF agriculture, the Smlthson
ian Institute, aud the commission of foo(
fishes, to be contributed, under the legisla
ton of last session, to the International Elk
hibition to be held at Philadelphia, during
l the centennial year, 1876, has been dlligen
in the discharge of the duties which have de
volved upon 1t, anu the preparations SO fal
made with the means at command give assur
ance that the Cover nment contributions viii
be made one of the marked characters
tics of the exhibition. The board has OBJ
serve5 commendable economy in the matter
of the erection of buildings for the govern
ment exhibit, the expense Of which, it is esti
mated, will not exceed, say, $S0,090 This
amount has been withdrawn under the law
from the appropriations of five of the rrinci
pal departments, which leaves some of those
departments without su@cient means to rem
dor fhpir rpcnpCfiun nracfipo1 avhibifo
pee and satisfactory. The exhibition being
an international one, and the government be
ing voluntary contributor, it is my opinion
that the contribution should be of charac
l ter In quality and extent to sustain the dignl
ty and credit of so distinguished a contrbu
tor. The advantages to the country of 6
, creditabe display III an international point
, of view, are of the first importance, while ar
Indifferent or uncredlable participation by
the government would be humiliating to the
patriotic feeling OF our people themselves.
commend the estimates of the board for the
necessary additional appropriations &c
| the favorable consideration of congress
The powers Of Europe, almost without ex
ception, many of the South American States
and even the more distant Eastern powers
have manifested their friendly sentiment:
toward the United States, and the interest OF
the world in our progress, by taking steps to
:. join Us IN celebrating the centennial
of the nation, and strongly recommend that
more national importance be given to thi,
exhibition by such legislation and bv such
appropriation as will insure its success. IL
value in bringing to our shores innumerablC
useful works of art and skill, the com
mlngllng of the citizens OF the foreign COuB
tries and our own, and the interchange oil
| ideas and manufactures will far exceed any
pecuniary outlay we may make.
REPORTS.
! transmit herewith the report OF the Com
I missioner of Agriculture, together with the
reports OF the Commissioners of the Board OF
Audit and the Board OF Health of the Dis
trict of Columbia, to all of which invite
| your attention.
/ THE BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE
has accomplished much III disseminating
useful knowledge 20 the agriculturallSt, and
also in introducing new and useful proGuc
tiols adapted to our soil aud climate, and is
worthy Of the continued encouragement OF