River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-10
TIE NArLnN,s GLoRY


The nation has made prncey 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
great nation does not bCgrudge its gencr-
osity, but it aohors pecuiatiou and fraud,
and the favOrte regard of our people for the
great corporations TO which these grants
were made can only be revived
by restoration OF conf lence To
be secured by their constant UNI
equiyocal and early-manitested integrity
faithful application of this uudiminish ed
proceeds Of the grants to the construction
and perfecting of their roads an honest dis
charge of their obligations, aud entire justice
TO all the people in the enjoyment Of their
rights the highways of travel, is all the
public asks, and il viii Oe content with no
less. To secure these things should be the
common purpose of the officers OF the govern
mcnt as we'll as of the corporations. With
their accomplishment prosperity would be
permanently secured to the roads,
ana 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 Jnly, 1855, 345,l25 persons borne
upon the pension rolls. They were classified
az follows; Army invads, 2i,456; widows,
minor children and dependent relatives of de-
ceased soldiers, S,S4l navy invalids, 2,T45;
navy widows minor children and dependents
1925; survivors OF the war OF 1872 291, ana
widows of those who served in that war,
I7,2I2, about one man in ten OF all those
who enlisted III the late war or re
ported as receiving pensions exclusive
OF the dependents of deceased soldiers. On
the first OF July, 1870 the number of pension
ers was @34, SCI, and the increase within the
ten years next thereafter was ll0.304. While
there is no expenditure Of the public funds
which the people more cheertully approve
than that made in recognition OF the services
OF our soldiers living and dead, the sentiment
underlying the subject should not be violated
hy the introduction of any fraudulent prac-
tices, Therefore it is fully as important that
the rolls should be cleaused of all those who by
fraud have secured place thereon, a that
merituriOus claims SHOULD he speedily exam
ined and adjusted The reforms in the meth
DDS of doing the business Of this bureau
which have lately been inauguratcd prom
isc better results in both these directions.
The operations uf tine patent Office demon-
strate the activity of the inventive genius Of
the country for the year ended June 30, lsSj.
The applications for patents. including re
issues and for the registration of trade marhs
and labels, numbered j,S,S. During the
same Teriod there were -, 42s patents granted
and re .i>sued, and 1929 trade marks and la
bells registered The number of patents
issued in the year 1855 Was IA ,3S1. The re-
ceipts during the last fiscal year were Sl,014,-
ga, 50. ana the total expenditures, not iuclud-
ing contingent expenses $934. II.
There were ,7ss applications for patents
pending on the lst day of July, 1854, aud
5,7s6 on the same date in the sar 1885.
There has been considerable imp Femeut
made on the prompt determination of appli-
cations, and IA consequent relief TO e&pectant
inventors. 4 number Of suggestions ana
recommendations are contained in the report
of the commissioner OF patents which are
well entitled 70 the consideration of congress.