The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-12-10
Raitroad Grants.

The nation has made princely grants and
subsidies to system OF railroads projected
as great national highways to connect the
Pacific states with the East 1t has been
charged that these donations from the people
have been diverted to private gain and cor
rupt uses, aud thus public Indignation has
been aroused and suspicion engendered. Our
osity. but it abhors population and fraud,
and the favorite regard Of our people for the
great corporations to which these grants
were made can only be revived
by restoration of confidence to
be secured by their constant I'm
equivocal aud early-manifested integrity
A faithful application Of this undiminish ed
proceeds of the grants to the construction
and perfecting OF their roads an honest dis
charge Of their obligations, and entire justice
to oil the people in the enjoyment of their
rights on tho highways Of travel, Is all the
public asks, and it will be content with no
less. To secure these things should be the
common purpose of the officers Of the govern
ment as we'll as Of the corporations. With
their accomplishment prosperity would be
permanently secured to the roads.
and national pride would take
the place Of national complaint.
1t appears from the report of the commits
sioner of pensions that there were on the
first day of July, 1885, 345, 125 persons borne
upon the pension rolls They were classified
as follows: Army invalids, "a, 456; widows,
minor children and dependent relatives of de-
ceased soldiers, 1854; navy invaiids. :,745:
navy widows, minor children and dependents,
1926; survivors Of the war of 1872 295, and
widows Of those who served in that war,
1872, about one man in ten of all those
who enlisted in the late war or re-
ported as receiving pensions exclusive
OF the dependents of deceased soldiers. On
the first Of July, 1875, the number Of pension
ora nd hot tho
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
underlying the subject should not be violated
by the Introduction of any fraudulent prac-
tees. Therefore 1t Is fully as important that
the rolls should be cleaused of all those who by
fraud have secured place thereon, as that
meritOrious claims should be speedily exam
ined and adjusted. The reforms in the meth
DDS of doing the business OF this bureau
which have lately been inaugurated prom
Use better results In both these directions.
The operations Of tho patent Office demon
strate the activity Of the inventive genius Of
the country for the year ended June SO. 1855.
The applications for patents, including re-
issues and for the registration of trade marks
and labels, numbered 65,685. During the
same period there were q, 92s patents granted
and re.issued, and l.429 trade marks and H.
bells registered. The number Of patents
issued in the year 1885 was 1887. The re-
ceipts during the last fiscal year we're $l.O74,
974,35. and the total expenditures, not includ-
ing contingent expenses, 1894. LIZA, IL.
There were 9,7Ss applications for patents
pending on the LIST day of July, 1854, and
5,7SG on the same date in the year 1885,
There has been considerable improvement
made on the prompt determination Of appli-
cations, and a consequent relief to expectant
inventors. A number of suggestions and
recommendations are contained in the report
of the commissioner Of patents which are
well entitled to the consideration Of congress.