Year: 1878




of this subject that. IA long as remain intrusted
with my present duties. shall TO urge II
upon the attention of Congress-


The Secretary reviews the provisions of the two
bills of local character enacted the last session of
Congress. authorizing the citizens of Colorado.
Nevada and the Territories to remove timber from
the public domain for mining and domestic pur-
poses. and 'for the sale of timber lands in Cali
fornia, Oregon and Washington Territory" and
eoncurs III the opinion of the Commissioner of the
General Land Office that these two acts more cal
culated to hasten the destruction OF the forests III the
States and Territories named than to secure Their
preservation. He therefore recommends the repeal
Of these laws leaving their objects to be provided
for by general law. as above indicated.


RAILROAD MATTERS.


The report contains large amount of statistical
matter, showing the business condition of the vari
Gus railways which have received land or money sub
sides from the government The practical utility OF
the law creating the Bureau of Railroad Ac-
counts is declared to be already proven and the pub
lished recommendations of the Auditor in regard to
legislation commended as worthy of considers
tion. The Secretary says


1t will be from appendix of the Auditors
port that about 196.424 800 acres of land have
been granted for railroad purposes, of which





ented The acts of Congress making these large
grants were passed with conditions intended in a
measure TO repay the people for such valuable dona
tions but until the of the act creating the
Bureau OF the Auditor of Railroad Accounts the gov
ernment had no certain way of ascertaining whether
these conditions were complied with, it pos
sible to know what they We're worth.


The suit of the Kansas Pacific Railway Company
ct al. the Union Pacific Railroad Company, insti
tuted January H. 1876 in the United States Circuit
Court of the District OF Nebraska commonly
known known as the pro rate case, has been deter, ter





fact that legislation bearing upon this question
is now pending i'll Congress- and that much complaint
continues to be made against the Union Pacific hall
road Company for noncompliance with the require
ments OF law in this respect, it is hoped that the
Congress- that final settlement Of these dih-
culties may be had.


The recommendation of the Commissioner of Pen
sions that medical examinations be conducted by
medical corps Of surgeons be assigned by districts
throughout the country, and assisted by competent
clerks instead Of under the present unwieldy and
reliable system. is brought to the attention Of Con-
gress for favorable consideration together with
eral other recommendations of Commissioner Bentley.


PATENT OFFICE.


The necessity of providing additional room for the
work of the Patent Office is pointed out and hearty
Endorsement is given to the Patent Commissioners 3
plea for liberal appropriations with which to purchase
books Of reference to prepare complete digests OF
United States patents. The Secretary says


As the office yields handsome revenue over and
justice to the inventors who contribute to this
that portion of the surplus should be yearly
appropriated for the improvement OF its scientific
library and for the appropriation or such diSests OF
patents will facilitate the work Of examination and
make its results more accurate and available.


THE COMING CENSUS.


Attention is invited to the advsibility of prompt
action by Congress in regard to the coming census.
the additional legislation which to be required
to secure statistical results commensurate with
the expense Of enumeration shall be put over to
the first regular session OF the Fortffth Congress it
must snffer inadequate consideration and hasty ac-
tion while the postponement Of the initial prepara-
ons late date will inevitably enhance the cost
of the census and impair the value of the returns.
Secretary Schurz also says


II the department is to remain uncertain whether
the census is be taken under the act Of 1850
der new law till the February Of the census year.
as was the in 1870, the work must suffer, both
through enhanced cost and through impaired value
The law of May %, 1850, passed in the very
infancy of statistical science In the period that has
ntervened the demands of Congress and the country
for statistical information have greatly increased.
and new schedules and new inquiries are needed
to satisfy those demands. As census OF q
great nation il very practical work. into which
theory and preconcoived notions should enter little
as possible it would that such great changes Of
condition as well the advances made meanwhile
in the Of legislation and in the art of
ment, justify and require new census law.


OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.


Among the remaining recommendations OF the re-
port is ons for the speedy enactment Of the provi
sions for the continuance of the Hot Springs Com
mission which passed both houses last session. but
failed to receive the Presidents signature because Of
q clerical error in the engrossment Of the bill.


The restoration and reconstruction of the Interior
Department Building. 1t estimated cost of s97393
in accordance with the accepted plans Of Architect
vrydagh. of Indiana. is recommended and the nope
expressed that Congress will at early day make
the needed appropriation to commence the work.
The report also contains, among other matters not
above indicated series of synopses of the special
reports furnished under special instructions Of the
department. by the Governors Of the various Terri
tories setting forth their natural and their
respective attractions for emigrants.