The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-12-14
Total. 6,524.
q ouantitv less by 545,944 90 acres than tina

a quantity less by 545,94493 acres than that
disposed of the preceding year.
The cash receipts were $1,747,215.S5; a
sum less by $32, 4OO.52 than that received the
previous year.
surveyed, making, with the quantity
previously surveyed. 7O2,O59,6 1l.H acres,
and leaving yet to be surveyed 49,, $685..
244.53 acres.
The quantity of land taken up under the
homestead and timber-culture acts is 661,-
966. 6S acres greater than that reported last
year. As these entries are generally by
actual settlers, the increase is at once graft
flying and encouraging.
The Commissioner, in his report, ably dis
cusses various questions relating to subjects
placed by law under his control. / would
especially commend to the consideration OF
Congress his views, which were those OF his
imme diate predecessor, as to the disposal OF
lands west of the one hundredth meridian
of longitude; of pine and other timber; as
to the consolidation of the pre-. emption and
homestead laws; the correction OF errors In
the Revised Statutes; the publication of
maps; the furnishing of his Office with a
law library; as to the land Offices at Chilli
cothe, Ohio, Indianapolis, Ind, and Spring.
field, ILL.,; the Usage ceded lands, and the
clerical force in his office.
during the year by a greater number than
during any year since 1873, when the
maximum was reached; the number OF
pensioners on the 30th of June, 1875, being
1884 more than at the close OF the last
fiscal year. The number of invalid pen
siouers on the 30th of June, 1876, was
greater by 1919 than at the close of the
same month in the preceding year, while
the roll of widows, dependent relatives
4 I'D mid nf w hr
served in the war of 1912, contained 5,60i
names less than it did on the 30th of June
1875. In consequence OF the large
number of minors pensions that will expire
and from other causes, it is anticipated thai
during the present year still greater dim
mutton will occur in this class of pensions
while on the other hand, it is reasonable to
expect that the number of invalid claims al
lowed will exceed the number OF claims dis
posed of during any year since 1871: This
presumption arises from the fact that the
number of invalid claims fled during the last
fiscal year far exceeds that of any year since
1866.
The whole number of names borne upon
the pension roll on the 30th of June, 1876
was 232, 1877. OF this number 1908 were
pensioned as invalids, and 102, 911 as widows
and dependent relatives; 1913 were pen
sioners of the war of 1912, 14,206 of whom
were survivors, and 1887 widows. There
remained on the roll widows Of those who
served in the war of the revolution, who were
married prior to January 1, 1900, and ia who
married subsequent to that date.
During the last fiscal year the following
amounts were paid for pensions: To army
invalids, 81, 1854, 031 .68; to army widows
etc, $14, 456, 1856 rs; to navy invalids, 1882,
1886; to navy widows, ETC., 1913, 682.15; to
survivors of the war of 1912, $l,0s9, 0S71s
to widows of those who served in said war
$445,772 %, making total amount of $685.
351, $1,000, which includes cost Of disburse-
ment, and is 81, 1881, SIC "a less than was ex
pended for the same purpose during the pre-.
ceding year.
/ am persuaded that the laws relating to
the publication and distribution of public
documents should be carefully revised and
simpliftd.
In my judgment, provision should be
made for supplying gratuitously all the i'm.
portant public libraries of the country with
copies OF every valuable publication issued
by the Government, while individuals should
be required to pay cost price for the same,
exception being made of persons in official
position, who should be provided with such
documents as are essential to the proper dis.
charge of the duties Of their Office.
The custody and distribution of such
document, should be confined to q single
agency, so that there might be one source
from which the publications of the Govern.
ment, or accurate information concerning
them, could readily be obtained.
lam, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, u. CHANDLER,
Secretary of the Interior.
THE PRESIDENT.