Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-12-06
a YEARS WORK.

terlor and Navy Departments ms Shown
by the Reports of Secretaries Noble and
Tracy.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The report of
the Secretary of tho Interior for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1890, has
been made public. The Secretary
speaks of the accession of new States,
and says that great additions from the
Indian reservations have been made
to the public domain soon to be opened
to settlement The various Indian COM
missions have made agreements, now
awaiting Congressional action, with
different tribes for many millions Of
acres. OF the public lands, the Secre-
tary says the vacant lands of the United
States, exclusive OF those in Alaska, at
present are $50, 21G, ,S61 acres, of which
2s2, 7T2, 430 are already surveyed.
The policy Of the department has
been continued in giving liberal in
terpretation to the land laws in favor
OF the settlers and by advancing as far
as can reasonably be done the early de-
cisons upon all entries made, contest
cd or uncontested. The following facts
exhibit the success achieved in accom-
plishing these purposes:
Over 100000 acres OF agricultural land were
transfer ed to actual settlers during the past
year. The lands patented to States for edu-
cation. internal improvements and public build
ings have exceeded 800 per cent over the pre-
vious year, amounting in 1890 to 539, $40 acres
against II $50 acres in 1890 The rail.
oi3 in 1889. Besides there were patents to In.
dians for lands in scveralty and misc cellnneous
claims for l09,05S acres On June 30 $50 there
were 20S,oa final entries of all kind- nAnding,
as against 276,7ol on June so, 1882 o r-sreaSe
during the last year OF 6S6s7 entries. 1ne .otal
receipts from public lands during this year
were S7,ii0,SI0
Secretary Noble indorses and urges
the passage of the bill now pending be.
fore Congress to establish United
States land court for the settlement OF
private land claims in certain States
and Territories.
In reviewing the past years work OF
the department in regard tc Indians
tho Secretary says it is seen that there
has been steady progress made in en-
gaging them in peaceful ways and
industrial pursuits. A stronger de-
sire is manifested among many
for the education of their chill
dren, for the individual owner
ship of land, and generally for the com-
forts of civilization. But it needs to be
said that a much larger area of land
than is necessary is held for Indian oc-
cupancy. The surplus held in reserva-
tions appears to be unreasonably large,
and should be restored to the public do
main. The Secretary reports satisfac-
tory progress in the work of allotting
lands in severalty to the Indians.
poccino ON to Infant nHico off n;
the report recommends that more room
and a larger working force be supplied.
Pensions are next considered. The
work done in this connection,
the Secretary declares, has reached
wonderful proportions, and the
expenditures have sent into the
channels Of trade and commerce more
than $780, 00o, 600 in the last year. The
pensions will be largely augmented by
the act approved June 81, 1890, grant
ing pensions to soldiers and sailors in
capacitated for manual labor and pro-
wiling for pensions to widows, minor
children and dependent parents. The
estimate for army and navy pensions
for 1892 is about Sl3S, 900, 600.
Secretary Noble notes praiseworthy
stage of advancement of the present
census. "This census" the Secretary
says, will, it is believed be found to
be reliable. To say that there are no
errors in it would be to claim for it
more than can be expected of any such
work. But those who find the most
fault with it are those who from the be-
ginning have endeavored to defeat it
The great body of the people are con-
tent with it, .....-
The geological survey, the bureau OF
railroads, the bureau of education and
various educational institutions are
covered briefly. The report closes with
comments upon Yellowstone and other
National parks and statistics in con-
nection with the Nicaraguan canal.
THE NAVY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The report of
the Secretary of the Navy says that
nine new vessels have been completed
and put in commission during the year.
Fourteen other vessels are now we'll ad-
vanced in construction. Contracts have
been let for the sea-going line of battle
ships to be completed within three
years, whose equals for war purposes do
not at present exist.
The Secretary recommends the crea-
tion of four more Rear Admirals and
proposes that the number of Lieutenant
Commanders be increased from seventy
four to 124 and the number of Lieu
tenants be diminished in like proper.
ton, and that the number of Lieu
tenants of the junior grade and
Of ensigns be more nearly
equalized. He says ono of tho
most vital defects in our present naval
system is the want of an organized
militia, so trained that in case of neces-
sity it will be prepared to supply the
demands of the naval service and that
The naval militia of the country now
in existence should be put ON
The same footing as the land militia
The Secretary calls attention to the
iefenseless condition Of the Atlantic
'oast and the damage which hostile
ieet could inflict, and says nothing
short of force of battle-ships, numer-