The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-09
Miscellaneous.
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.

federal naturalization
Miscellaneous.
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
The agricultural interest of the country de-
mands just recognition and liberal encourage
ment. 1t sustains with certainty and unfailing
strength our Nations prosperity by the products
of it's steady toll and bears its full share of the
burden of taxation without complaint. Our
agricuturists have but slight personal represen-
tation in the councils of the Nation. and are gen.
orally content with the humber duties of citi-
zenship and willing to trust to the bounty of ma
ture for reward of their labor. But the mag
nitude and value of this industry is appreciated
when the statement is made that of our total
annual exports more than three
fourths are the products of agriculture,
and of our total population nearly one-half are
exclusively engaged in that occupation. The
Department of Agriculture was created for the
purpose of acquiring and diffusing among the
people useful information respecting the subjects
it has in charge, and aiding in the cause of in
teliigent and progressive farming by the collec
ton of Statistics by testing the value and use
fulness of new seeds and plants, and distributing
such as found desirable among ag-
rculturists. This and other powers and
duties with which this department. is
invested, are of the utmost importance.
and if wisely exercised must be of great benefit
to the country. The aim of our benefcent gov
eminent Is the Improvement of the people i'll
every station, and the amelioration of their con-
dition. Surely agriculturists should not be
neglected. The instrumentaity established in
aid of the farmers Of the land should not only
be well equipped for the accomplishment of it's
purposes, but those for whose benefit it has been
adopted should be encouraged to avail them
selves fully of its advantages. The prohi bition
of the importation into several countries of
certain of our animals and their products based
upon the suspicion that health is endangered
in their and consumption, suggests the impor
lance of such precautions for the protection of
stock of all kinds against diseases. as will
disarm suspicion of danger and cause the re-
moval of such an in furious prohibition. If the
laws now in operation are insufficient to accom-
plish this protection, / recommend their amend
ment to meet the necessities of the situation,
and commend to the consideration of Congress
the suggestions contained in the report of the
Commissioner of Agriculture, calculated to in
crease the value and efficiency Of this depart
ment
PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report Of the Commits
soner of Pensions that there were on the 1st
day of July, 1885, 345, 125 persons borne upon
the pension rolls. who were classified as follows:
Army invalids, 24i. 456; widows, minor children
and dependent relatives of deceased soldiers,
78 s4l navy nvalds, 9. 745; navy widows, MINOR
children and dependents, 1926; survivors of the
war Of 1872, 295. and widows of those who
served in that war, 1922. About one in
ten of all those who enlisted in the late
reported as receiving pensions. eXclu.
sive of the dependents of deceased soldiers.
On the LIST of July, 1875, the number of pen
sioners was 234, S2l, and the increase within the
ten years next thereafter was 10000. While
there is no expenditure Of the public funds
which the people more cheerfully approve than
that made in recognition of the services of our
soldiers, living and dead, the sentiment under
lying the subject should not be vitiated by the
introduction of any fraudulent practices. There
FORE it is fully as important that the rolls should
be cleansed OF all those who, by fraud. have So
cured place thereon as that meritorious claims
should be speedily examined and adjusted. The
reforms in the methods of doing the business of
this bureau which have lately been inaugurated
promise better results in both these directions.
PATENT OFFICE.
The operations of the Patent Office demon
strate the activity of the inventive genius of the
country For the year ending June 80, 1885,
the applications for patents. including reissues
and for the registration of trademarks and
labels, numbered 35,6Ss. During the same
period there were %, 928 patents granted and re-
issued, and l, 429 trade marks and labels regis
tered. The number Of patents issued in the
year 1885 was IA 3S7. The receipts during the last
total expenditures, not including contingent
expenses, 1884 1913 III. There were g. 1888 appca-
tons for patents pending on the first day of
July, 1884, and 5, 1856 on the same date in the
year 1885. There has been considerable i'm
provement made in the prompt determination of
applications, and consequent relief to expectant
inventors. A number of suggestions and recon-
mendations contained in the report of the
Commissioner of Patents, which are we'll entitled
to the consideration of Congress.
COAST AND GEoDETIc SURVEY
The work of the coast and geodetic survey was,
during the last fiscal year, carried on within
the boundaries and off the coast of thirty-two
States, two Territories and the District of Co
lumbia. In July last certain irregularities were
found to exist in the management of this bureau,
which led to prompt investigation of it's meth
DDS. The abuses which were brought to light
by this examination, and the reckless disregard
of duty and the interests of the government de-
velOped on the part of some of those connected
with the service, made change of superintend-
ency and a few of its other officers necessary.
Since the bureau has been in new hands an in
PRODUCTION of economies and application of bust
ness methods have produced an important saving
to the government, and q promise of more useful
results. This service has never been regulated
by anything but the most indefinite legal enact
ments and the most unsatisfactory rules. 1t
was, many years ago, sanctioned, apparently for
a purpose regarded az temporary, and related to
a survey of our coast. Having gained place in
the appropriations made by Congress, it has
gradually taken to itself powers and objects not
contemplated in its creation, and extended it's
operations until it sadly needs legislative atten-
ton. So far as a further survey of
our coast is concerned. there seems
to be propriety in transferring that
work to the Navy Department. The other du-
ties now In charge of this establishment, if they
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