Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-12-06

such tribes, and the money expended Tor the
tribe without covering 1t into the tressuIy.
| The secretary approves OF the recommen-
dation of the Indian commissioner that a
fund be placed at the disposal OF the d-par'-
ment to pay the fees of homestead entries oy
Indians.
| PUBLIC LANDS.
The report OF the commissioner of the gen
eral land Office shows that the disp sal OF
pubiis lands under all acts of Congress aggre-
gates IS, ,4SO, O52- 50 acres. Of which amount
339, 359l acres were Indian lands, and !, SSS, :
335.7l acres railroad sections under various
acts of Congress The total cash receipts IN
connection with the disposal of the public
Lands amounted 10 $ll, 713, ,SS3.70 of which
amount S625, 404.27 was on account of the
sale of Indian lands The increase in re-
| ceiptS for the year 1888 over that of
that OF 1881, Sd, 305, ,079.3 "a; pre-emption and
| private entries, 4. .465 665. 40 acres; timber
culture entries. 3,1l0 $50. . acres; the num-
Der of homestead entries Sc, 565, embracing
| Sl7l914.36 acres. Not included in the lands
disposed of, and in addition thereto, were
1883 pre-emption filings 1899 soldiers de-
claratory statements, and 1929 miscelllne-
| Gus filings, these three items embracing in
the age. egate s, 900, 900 acres.
| The increase in the number of claims re-
| corded in 1888 was IS, 543 over that of the
year 1882, and $500 over that of the
| year 1881; the number of entries approved
l for patenting under various Laws SO, S47; au
| increase of 26 239 over that of the year 1882
A considerable amount Of timber land
was sold at public sale; but no land valuable
| for agricultural purposes has been offered at
| public sale.
The repeal of the pre-empion and timber
| culture laws is recommended; also the
/ . - !, oaI 1ar,-
require period of not less than six months
| after settlement claim has been placed on
| record before final proof shall be admitted,
irrespective OF alleged time of residence
prior to the time of entry.
Legislation in regard to lapsed railway land
grants, and the taxation of railway lands, is
urgently needed and recommended.
PENSIONS.
The report of the commission of pensions
shows that at the close OF the last fiscal year
there were 303,65S pensioners, classified as
follows:
ARMY widows minor children and de-
pendent rlaltives.... 1874
Navy widows, minor children, and de-
pendent relatives...... .... 1907
Survivors of the war OF lsl2............... 1881
Widows OF those who served in the war OF
1oiZ....... Il, SO
There were added to the pension roll dur
ing the year the names of 80, 1872 new pen
siOners, and 1876 whose names had been pre-
viously dropped from the pension roll were
restored, making the total number added to
the role during the year 3S 95S, being an
excess over the number added the previous
year of 1855. During the year %, 997 PEN
siOners were dropped from the rolls for
SaTious causes, leaving a net increase over
thu rells of 1851. The number of persons
dDpped from this rolls included the names
of those who have been carried on the rolls
saN0er death until final settlement and pay
ment OF the amount due such pensioners
The average annual value Of each pension at
the close of the year is $l061S, and the ag-
gregate value of all pensions is So, 245, 1872 49,
AN increase over the value for the previous
year of s., 904, ,090.81. The total amount paid
out for pensions during the year was $6o,-
'O64 ,OO9 .. The excess on the annual value
of pensions is mainly for arrears of pensions
covering the period prior to the allowance of
the claim. The total number of claims filed
for disabilities incurred while in the service
amounts to 1885, 72l, of which 245, ,2lO have
been allowed; and by widows on account of
deaths chargeable to the service 312,O29, of
which 2O6 i16 have been allowed. The total
number of claims filed since 1861 is $50, 1877,
of which number $40, 93S have been allowed
During the same period there has been paid
for pensions with cost of disbursement the
sum of 1921, ,073, $3.50
Excavation for the new pension building
was made during the winter and spring, and
the cellar and foundation walls were built
whenever the weather allowed the construc-
tion of masonry. At this date the cellars
are completed the walls are raised to the
level of the second floor, and the arches COW
ering the first story are begun.
PATENT OFFICE.
The work of the patent office is largely in
arrears, growing out of the insufficient force
and ranidlV inprpa mo- hr1ci in
The commissioner recommends an increase
In the salaries of examiners and assistant ex-
aminerS- 1t has been found very difficult to
keep many of the best examiners and assist
ant examiners at the salary paid.
BUREAU OF EDUCATION.
The commissioner of education reports a
very large increase of work in all the di-
visions OF his Office.
The museum illustrating the conditions
and appliances of education has been some
what enlarged and much more studied by
the public Already it is affecting fayorablv |
the methods and illustrations used in MANY
schools. A small but important collection
of articles lent to the Louisville Exposition
has attracted much attention and yery
favorable comment.
The library of the office now numbering
1920 volumes and $1,000 pamphlets, is in
creasing in usefulness and value much faster |
than in size as the card catalogue approaches
completion.
RAILROAD BUREAU.
Officers Of the bureau of the commissioner
OF railroads have examined the property and
accounts OF the several railroads coming
within its jurisdiction. The properties are
well maintained, and whilst the traffic is
steadily increasing in volume, the rates
charged are gradually decreasing.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
The act making appropriations for the fiscal
year 1Ss2-S3 provides for geological map of
the United States. 1t is proposed to publish
this map in atlas Sheets each being COM
posed of one degree of longitude by one of
latitude in area, bounded by parallels and
meridians. In making this map the director
will avail himself of the surveys heretofore
made, either by state or national authority.
For the convenience of administration, the
area of the United States has been divided
into seven districts.
During the past year the work of the survey
has been vigorously prosecuted in the west
ern states and territories, especially in the
regions producing the precious metals An
examination has also been made of the valua-
bic coal-fields and especially of the valua-
bic fields of anthracite and bitumlnous Goals
of Colorado. 1t is believed that great good
will result from careful examination and
accurate report on the mineral productions
of the yet but partially explored regions of
the Rocky mountain country.
ALASKA.
The necessity for a government for Alaska
is becoming very apparent. The laws of the
United States and the Territory of Washing
ton should be, as far as applicable extended
over it, and this for the present would avoid
the necessity of q legislature. There should
be a governor, secretary, judges marshal,
and district attorney. The total expense If
such a government could not exceed $40, 900
per annum.
YELLOWSTONE PARK.
Within the past year leases have been
made in pursuance of the authority conferred
by law upon the secretary Of the interior, of
sites within the Yellowstone park for the
erection of hotels and necessary buildings
for the accommodation of visitors: one large
hotel, at Mammoth Hot Springs, was opened
to the public in August, and camps have
been maintained during the summer at other
points of interest. As result Of this pro-