The New York Herald Newspaper, December 8, 1869, Page 13

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. of the J. D. Cox. Report vecretary, 4 DAPANTMRNT OF THE [NTRRIOR, WasHiNaroN, Nov. 15, 1969, Bin—io presenting & #iacement of the publio busl- fneas of this deparimeos for the last fiscal year, I shall follow the usual custor of making an exhibit of the aMBirs of the several bureaus, and adding such recommendasious as the good of the service seems to Sequire ebould be carried lato effect. Talso submit tue reporia of the several benevolent end correctional 1ustiiutions which are under the gupervision of this department, and are wholly or partly dependent upoa governmental support, to- gether with such iuiormation concerning various public works committed to its charge as the records @ud fies furnish. r PUBLIO LANDS. During the last facut year public lands were dia- posed of as follows:— Acres, 2,899, 014 A quantity greater py 1,010,409 acres than was dis- posed of the previous year. ‘The number of acres catered under the Homestead daw was greater by 405,141 than that of the prece- ding year. ‘The surveys in fifteen surveying distritts embraced 20,822,296 acres. ‘The cash recetpta from all sources amounted to $4,472,886, asum greater by $2,840,140 toan was re- weived the previous year. The total expenses of the General Lend Office and the seveuty-iiree district offices amounted to $453,816. $ Congress appropriated $10,000 for the continuance of the geological survey of the Territories of tho United States by Professor Hayden. He was instructed by tne department to direct his sttention especial!y to the geological, mineraio- gloal and agricultural resources of the Territories of Colorado and New Mexico, ascertain the age, order of succession, relative position, dip and comparative Shickness of the diferent strata and geological formations, and examine with care all the beds, veins and other deposits of ores, coals, clays, maris, peat and other imiueral substances, a8 well as the Zosail remains of the diverent formations, He entered on bis labors in the feild the last of June at Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, His route ‘was through Denver, tne silver and gold mining segion of Georgetown and Central City, the Middle Park, Colorado City and Fort Union to Santa Fé, re- turning throagh the San Luis Valley and South Park to Denver. Tne exploration, though brief and rapid, was eminently successiul, and the collections in Geology, mineralogy, botauy and “Zoology were ex- Sensive. His prelunmiaury report beara date October 16. It 1s accompanied by two other reports made to Dim by his assistanis— one on mines and mining, the mother on agriculture. ‘bese papers are a valuable contribution to our Know. edge of the sabjects which they embrace; ana werit careful perusal, PALENT OFFICE. Daring the year euuing suth September, 1869, 19,360 applications tur patents, including reissues Qud designs, 3,606 caveais, and 154 applications tor ‘he exvension of paicuis, were flied; 13,762 patents, including reissues anu ucsigns, Were issued, 126 ex- tended, and 809 aliowed, vut not issued by reason of the nou-payment of tue dus: fee. Un the 1st day of Uctover, 1968, the unexpended Dalance of the appropriauion was $117,249. ‘Ino ap- Propriations suvuseuu utiy made amounted to pa, ad making av aggie-ate of $889,207. The ex- wares since thai uate Lave been $472,462, leav- ee band an avai ab 6 valance of $416,804, uring said year tue ievs received were $213,926 in @xcees of the expenditu.es. ‘Tiis exhibit furnishes & gratifying Conirast Lo Liat of the preceding year, ‘Wuen the expenditures exceeded the receipts $171. The appropriauon assed for ior the next fiscal year 18 $004,420. ‘gbe office Dow publishes a weekly list of claims, which is furnisheu to subscribers at five dollara per annum, itis peeved tat vy the ensuing year we receipts wiil cover the euure cost of tne work, This Vast, pubdshed simuit.neousiv with the issue of tae patents, serves all tue Lurpuses of the anagual report, ‘Which 18 not issued uuti two years later. in order Shat the puolic und ine Csaunuing corps may bave Bocess'to the drawinus of Lue office I recommend an @ppropriation for printimy copics, The expense 80 occasioned can ve reunbursed, if the Com- Mussioner be autuorzied wo mace sale of them gna apply so muck o8 the proceeds thereof rey ve necessary. i he could seil copies of the patent and of tue drawings at cheap rates to those ‘who desire them, aud piace copies 1m the State capi- tals and great coummercia: centres, more compiete $nformationa of the action of the bureau than is Dow furnished by the re,ort woulu be promptly dissemi- Dated, and an annua expeuditure of $00,000 of the public money avoiweu. My immediate predecessor, in cach of his annual Teports, urged the repeat of a4 iaws which author- ued an appeal irom the decision of the Commis- sioner of ratenis ou applicativus for letters patgnt and in interfereuce cases. ‘due reasons he presented are, in my opiniou, Gear and Unanswerabie. I6 is, Indeed, believed tuat it was the inten- tion of Congress to abolish such an appeal by the act of 1831. No mention ww made ol i¢ in the provision for appeals or in the new scheduie of fevs luereby estaonshed. 1t has, how- ever, been beld tuat prior ucié which authorized Buch @n appeal are sti) 10 force, and tat the right ‘thereto suil exisis. 11 tuelr purpose Was to secure ‘uniformity in tie administration of the: patent Jaws it has signaliy faicd. ‘’ue appellants may select either of the four incusbers of the Supreme Court of the istrict to hear aud determine the case; and from bis decision no appeal ties to the court in bank, ‘The Commissioner, 10 & puper aduressed to me, rep- FeseNis Uhal, 28 w UaLurai CUUkEquencE of the appeal ‘Bud of tne Lee Clalived iur acting upon tt, the judges have, without autnuricy Irom Cougress, assumed to extend taeir jurisdiction to lia purely ministerial duties, and to ineriere with bis duscharge of them, Decisions have dee ade on the proper date of let- ters patent, (be allowance of amendments, the issue wf donble patents w un inventor and bis assignee, and on other questious of @ like cuaracter, 1 ractical Working 1 uid asserted supervisory con. over the duings ol tue Commissioner has been, upon the whole, tujurious. Consiscency of decisions And of adiinisirauon vas not been attained, Con- troversies and litigat.on us to the extent of relative jurisdiction have ursea, and tue usefulness of the Office, in it# aitempiy lo protect the public againat imposition, has been essenualy impaired. PENSIONS. At the date of the just auunal report the name of but one Revolutionary sodier, Daniel F, Baxeman, gsemained on the peusion rolis, He has since died. Of the pensioned widows of svidiers in the Revo- tuitonary war tiere survive :—One of those married rior to 1783, fitiy-lour of those married between 783 and 1794, thirty-eight Of thowe narried between 1794 and 1900, and 796 of those married since 1800— 687 in all, and only one less than the preceding year. ‘There are on the roiis tac names Of 1,208 widows fand childron of soldiers wno served in the wars sub- Sequent to the Revoiution and prior to that of 1861— @ decrease of five since the jast annual report. The umber of invalid pensioners who served in said Wars Is 2,360. During the past year thore were examined and Bllowed 7,120 new app icauions for Invalid pensions of sokiiens, At AD Aguregate annual rate of $404,144, end 2,008 applicauons for increaged pension of invalid soldiers, af an annual aggregate rato of $161,708, During tne same period 16,695 original pensions to wido orphans and dependent reiatives of soldiers were gilowed, at an aggregate annual rate of 1,677,231; and 11,998 appiications by the same class for increased pay were also admitted, at a total an- Dual rate of $754,649. Un the sith Juno, 1869, there Were on the 1oll# $1,579 invalid military pensigners, ‘Whose yearly pensions amounted Lo $7,862,804, and 103,646 widows, orpians aud dependent relatives of soldiers, whose yearly pensions amounted to $13,667,679, making the totai aggregate of army peu- #ioners 145,125, al avotal andual rave Of $20,950,483, The whole amount pald during the jast fiscal year to Anvalid miiitary pensioners was $9,383,714; to widows, orphans and dependent reiatives, paws 153—a grand totai of $27,902,568, whict in- indes tue expenses of tue dishursing agencies, During the same year there were admitted 172 ew appitcations for invalid navy pensions, at an Annual rate of $16,239; Hity-seven applications for fncreased pensions of ike same class, at an annua; @xzerezato of $2,606; 202 original applications of ‘Widows, orpuans and dependent relatives of those Whodicd in tae navy, at an aggregate rate of 827,510 per annum, and 101 pensions of the same Clase Were increased, at @ total yearly wate of $4,728, On tho. soth of June, 1860, Wie roils of the Lage bore tue names of 1,240 invalids, widows, ‘orphnes Ba asp dent relat and dependent relative e@garegate apnual raise oft $:04,376—a total amount of & 01d. During che year there were added to the number wf pensioners, of all clasyes, 106; there were dropped, from various causes, 4,870—leaving on the roils 30, 1860, 187,003. ‘The total amount paid for peasiona, of all classes, includ) Of disbursement, was $18,424, 5 a vcs grecter by $4,411,902 than that paid the previous year. There wero 1,060 bounty land Warrants lasued for wre oat ted is estima that, exclusive of the 4 We navy vension fuud, 530,000,000 NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1869.-QUADRUPLE SHEET. will be required forthe pension service during the next fiscal year. Investigations made during the past summer have proven the commission of very Dumeroas (rauds in procuring faise testimony, by moans of which cer- tifoates Pt pensions have been wrongfally obtaloed. Diligent efforts aro ocing made to bring tho offel ders Lo justice, but the mode of appointing and bay. ing pension agents aad medical examiners should be , with a view to tinoreasit their effloieucy as alds to the office tn protectlag gov. ernment against traudulent claims, The pension agents ars now entitled to ir centage upon the amount of moaey disbu oy tvem. In my Ser ersay this is the exact opposite of tne true rule ia such cases. The government may be benefited by paving collecting oifcers a percent. age on Sherr coul¢ctions, since thetr vigilance 1s stlim- ulated in fnat way; but to locrease the officer’a com- gation in 40@ ratio of the amount ‘disburasa, 13 to make it hig Interest to ve blind to frauds which tend to increas? the payments to be made by him, and his own consequent profit, | would recommend, therelore, that the Silatics of the several peasion agents be fixed at the amount actually paid them during the past fiscw) year, and thas the slidini scale, dependent upon disbursements, be abdoll le Under the present laws examining surgeons are apointed from the medical men resident in the various districts of the couatry. ‘They examine the Spplicants for pension in their own neighoochood, such applicants paying the fee therefor, which repaid to the applicant if the pension 18 fin gianted. Under this ruie the feelings of g00d neigu- borhood, the disposition to favor @ friend, and the desire to extend nis OWn practice by increasing hw popularity, all tempt the examiner to be lax, und there 18 conclusive eviderice tnat such laxity has greatly and improperiy increased the pension roll and the consequent burdens of taxation, therefore recommend that @ sufficient number or medical officers ve permanently atiched to the Pension Omce, to make the required examinations of invalid pensioners, as well a8 of applicants tor invalid pensions or an increase of rate, and that the tees now paid for such examinations de turned into afund for paying proper salaries to such med.cal examiners, . INDIAN AFFAIRS, The problems preseuted by our relations to the Indian tribes waich still innadit portions of the Western, States and ‘ferritortes are every year max- mg more imperative demands for a fixed general policy that suull give some reasonable probabiuty of an early and satsiactory solution. The compiction of one of the great lines of ratl- way to the Pacific coast has totally changed the con- ditions under which tae civilized population of the Pkg come iM contact with the wild tribes, Jnstei ol a slowly advancing tide of migration, maxing ite gradual inroads upon the ciroumier- ence of the great interior wilderness, tne very centre of tue «desert hag been pierced. Every station upon the ratlway has come & nucleus for a civilized setlement, and a base irom which | nes of exploration for both mineral and agricultural wealih are pushed in every direction. Daily trains are carrying thousands of our citizens and untoid values of merchandise across the Conti- nent, and must be protected from the danger of having hostile tribes on eitber side of the roule. The range of the budtalo 18 being rapidly restricted, and twe chase is becoming an uncertain rejiance to tae Indian for the sustenance of his family. Lf he 1s in want he will roo, as wnite’men do in tie like circam- Btauces, and robbery 1s but the beginntug of war, in which savage oarbarties and retaliations soon cause & cry of exteruination to be raised along tie whote frontier. It has long been the policy of the government to require of tue tribes most nearly in contact with white settlements that they should fx their abode upon definite reservations and ahandon the wander- ing life to which they bad been accustomed. ‘to encourage them in civilization large expenditures have been made 12 furnisbing them with the means of agriculture and with clothing adapted to tueir new mode of ille, A new policy is not so much neeacd as an én- larged and more enlighteued application of the gen- eral principies of tue old one. Weare now in con- tact With all the aboriginal tribes within our borders, and can no lonyer assume that we may, even iora time, leave a arge part of them out of the operation of our system, I underatand this policy to look to two objects:— First, the location of tue Indians upon fixed reservations, #o that the pioneers and settiers may be freed from the tercors of wandering hosvile trives; and, second, an earnest effort at thetr civill- zution, so that they may themselves be elevated in the scule of humanity aad our obilgation to wuem as fellew-men be discharged. in carrying out this policy a great practical alm- culty has arisen from the fact thut io most instances @ separate reservation was given to eacn trive. These reservations have beep surrounded and gradually mvaded by the white settlers, aud tue Indians crowded ous of their homes and forced -to negotiate fora new settlement, because their presence, their habits and their manners were distasteful to their new and more powerful neigubors. Itis believed that the only remedy for this condl- tion of things is to encourage the Indians to assem- ble upon larger -reservations, Where their numbers will be aggregated, and where the more civilize) of them will influence the otvers in striviag to progreas in the aris of peace. Congress has already passed an act to enable tue civilized indians of the indian Territory, propery 80 calied, to torm @ general’ organization, with most of ‘the ele- meats of a territorial goverament; but the requisite @ppropriations Of money have not been made to carry the plan into egect. I would earnestly recom- mend that no iurther delay be made in (his matter, The associ tribes, of which the Cherokees have taken the lead, are those best titted for @ 1uller ex- periment im self-government. They are already Iamilar with most of tue forms of executive, lozisia- tive and Judicial action in use among us, and | be- lieve them weil prepared to dispense with the tue- lage of our agents, ii they may have a delegate of their own upon the floor of the House of Representa- tives to speak for them. Bota they and we are sul- fering for the lack of such direct representation. ‘The white constituencies which are nearest 10 thein are the ones of ail the nation whose interesis are most ia opposition, and whose personal tenden- cles are Most hosuie to theirs, The representatives of such constituencies would be more than human if they were not influenced by tnls fact. Represen- tation cnosen oy the trives themselves and responsi- bie to themselves 18 the only mode of maxing the country acquainied with their condition and with our. obligations to tiem. In such a territory the tribat organization would easily merge lato the county, and the territorial legisiavure would not be very dil- ferent from. the graad counciis at present in vogue among thein. The indians north of the Platte river are not yet prepared for @ similar concentration; but the time cannot be far distant when two or three principal Indian territories may properly embrace all the trives east of the Rocky slountains, Without such @ sysiom they will inevitably go through the old pro- cess Of being first surrounded and then overwhelmed and destroyed by the white immigration. As they advance lu Intelligence they will need no urging to adopt this pian, jor they will see as plainly as we that the existence of their race depends upon it, ‘The same policy of concentrating tao tribes will apply to the country west of tue Kocky Monntains, and will be equally necessary whenever aud. wher- ever the ieuds existing amuug them can be 80 lar netiied that they can hve together in peacetul nelgh- borhood. Upon such permanent reservations faring Buould be aliotied in severalvy ag soon as way dispo- sition to agricuiture is awakened, and every induce- ment oifered to stimulare the uesire for property of a tixed charactcr, The late peace commission ni treaties wiin all the principal tribes east of che Kocky Moun- tains, and were guided 10 their action by the generat views stated avove, which indeed may be said to have pecu accepted by ali disinterested persons who have had an opportunity of examining the subject. ‘ihe treaties were duly ratified and so became the solemn compact between the United Stures and those tribea. It 1a deopiy vo be regretted that specidc appropriations were not made to carry out sirictly the terma of the treaties; for, although the general Appropriation of $2,000,000 has been used as far as possivie in the fulfliment of tue obliga- ons incurred, the Commissiouer of Indian Aifuira has been met at every step by distrust of the good faith of the government, and ail promises regarding the future have been doubdtingly received and an- swered by the inquiry—what mens could be more binding than that made under the authority of Congress by a0 distinguished persons as the ambas- sadors of tio United States? Kverything attendiag the peace commissisn Was of @ nature to excite ie imaginations of Indians and to impress them with the beuer that now, more tan ever before, we were thoroughly In earnest in our negotia- tions. ‘The disappointment 18 proportionally great, and the comparative quiet which has been maintained throughout the year could only have been secured by greatiy increased care and un- turing effort on the part of the officers of the Indian Bureag and of the army officers, who have oo ope- rated with the greatest zeal in carrying out a pouce- ful policy. A savage is the last Boia with whom any doubt of our exact good faith should be allowed w remain. In dealing with him it seems quite essential that he should find-both our promises and Our threats absolutely cortain, sud so learn to invest the government with something of the divine attri- butes of justice and onnipocence, In the organizauon of the Indian Bureou itself, at the beginning of your administration, it was deemed advisabie to depart from the usual mode of selecting and appointing the superintendents aud agents, The tribes in Neoraska and Kansas, aud #0me Of those most recently placed upon Freser- vations In the Indian territory, were placed under control of the memvers of the Society ot Friends; the others were given in Charge of military overs, Who were waiting orders Guder the laws for tue reduction of the army. ‘These sweeping changes were mate decause tt ‘Was velieved that the public opinion of the country demanded a ical reorganization of this branca of the service. The selection of the oMicers of the army was made partly for economical reasons, as they were on pay though not on duty, and the salaries of many civil oMicers could thus be saved, and partiy be cause It Was believed they furnished @corpa of pub- lic servants Whose integrity and faithfulness could be relied upon and in whom the pubiic were pre- pared to have confluence. ‘The Friends were appointed not because they were believed to will toward the Indians, but would of itself be understood by the country to indi. caie the policy adopt we aincore cul vation of peaceful choice of agenta wno did nok, for persoual prot, scok the sorvice, bus were soughee lor it because they were at least deemed fit Tt ite duties. The two yearly meetings of “Friends” were asked to select Men in whom they nad confiience, and who might become at once the business agents of the government and zealous mis- sionaries of civilization, ‘The persons #0 selected Were Bppomied by you by aad with tue advige and consent of the Senate, and although tt was son> what Ixte in the season when thoy were sent to their el bas been seen of their labors to make tho modo of selection Was not a mis- to these societies to say that ther at their own cost sons oificers of their own Dody t0 inspect the work oi tho agents as fur as 1b aimed af the civiilzation snd instruction of sho Indians, The moral support and encouragement thus given to the azents must be valuable. In accordance with the same genera! pian of Dring- ing moral ifuences to pear upon the conduct of Indian atfaira, tue present Congr: @ushorized you to appoint & commissioa of philanthropic citizens to serve without pay in such supervisory and vis- isorial duty as mizut be assigned to then, No dif- culty was found in secuting the services of men of the highest character and kuown beuevoleuce. By an executive order they were authorized to inspect ail the accounts and records of the bureau, to be pre- sent at the purchases of Indian goods and advise as to the couducs of the same, an to visit and inspect the tribes in their reservations and examine the busi- ness of ali the agencies. ‘he oiticera of the depart- ment were also directed to give respectiul heed to the suggestioas and reports of the comnissiou. No diecs responsibility, either pecuniary or administra- tive, was put upon the commission, because it was believed that their usefulacss would not be 10, creased tuereby. *They now consutute an ea? tirely disin.erested body of intelligent adv.sers, win fuil power to iurow qhe light of the most searcaing scrutluy upon ths conduci of our relations wita we Indians, aud to give tae public, through their re Ports, the most reliable knowledge of the condition Bnd progress of the several tribes. , It is beneved, Oiso, that their eilorts cannot fail to stimulate tue public conscience, and to give greater unity and vigor to the voluntary efforts made throughout the country in the cause of Indian civilizaion—a result Ges‘rable in itseli, and certain to make easier aud more satisfactory the duties of the oilicers of the burvan, ‘he adCanistrative efforts of the department in thiy regard have, therefore, been direcied, irst, to tue suostitution of new omlcers in the agencies, 8c- Jected by @ new rule, and ove wich 1¢ was beileved would inspire puoitc confdegce; and secoaa, to or- ganize a relinbie modo of visitation and supervision Wich would give the purifying influence oi (he moss puolic scrutiny, and the great advantage of intelll- ent and plilavtaropic advice us to tue atfairs of rides of feliow men Who have no more direct repro- sentation or more satisfactory way of making tuelr condition and wants known to the country ‘The experience of the last summer, imperfect as It has necessarily been, warranis confidence tu the system adopted. Tbe report of the Comuiissioner, with the reports o1 the inspecting comuittes ao other documents appended, show that the general condition of tue wibes 18 much more peaceful thaa wo had reason to expect. neral or formidaole hostilities have orosen oul 1b 13 velleved that tne influence of nearly ail the older and more expe- rienced chief ‘has been in favor of peace and of friendly appeals to us to carry out our treaties with them. . Sail bands of several trives have been guilty of piliage and murder and have veen severeiy and justly punwned by tue troops, but even these Collisions have not diturbed the quite: of tie greater portion of tne ladian country. OFFICR OF EDUCATION. At the last session of Vongress the organ!zation of the department of elucation was so reduced. as ea sentially to change its ciaracter, ‘the Commissiouer has devoted his time and atten- ton— First—To giving such advice, Information and as- sistance us may be speciiically called for oy stace officers of education or local trustees or instructors of common scaoois throughout tue county, Seoond—Lo preparing and transmitting circulars and memoirs wiicd contalu such matter ad he re- gards best adapted to tmprove and periect the vouw- won scuool education of the country; aud Third—To personally visiting schools, conven- tlons, &c., tor tue purpose of interchanging views with professional teachers and acqpiriug or impart- ing knowledge respecting tae progress of education and ita methods. The report for the present year will be found to contain elaborate comparisons and analyses of the paolic educational systems of Europe, the courses of instruction, the organization and discipline of the various schools, and, besides the bricfer-circa- lars on important educational topics, which have been issue duting the year, a history of tbe schools of the District of Columpia and of the general work Of the bureau itselt. ‘The encourazement of education among the freed- men of the Southein States, waich has heretofore formed avery important part of the labor oi tue Freedmen’s Bureau, 1s necessarily very closely allied to the general scope of the duties devolving upon tue Commissioner of Education. I wouid respect- fully suggest tue propricty of uniting the whvie in this office, with suitable powers and provisions for fosvermg education and increasing imteligence mong the receutiy eniranchised people, it woud seein that in regard to thein the efforts of the Vom. missioner may be of the utmost service by placing At their disposal and bringing vo their attention tue methods of igiruction which exprience las de- veloped in the most enlightened portions of the world, and thus saving them from the slow and pat aful process of learning by cheir experience alone, rhe whole country has go grea: a stake in the pro- gress of those who have recently emerged from slavery, and in their proving fit to wieid the great political power now heid by them, that no rational eilort should be spared to hasten their enligntenment and give tuem access to the most approved means of intellectual progress. CENSUS, Tho twenty-"hird section of an act entitled “An act proviaing ior the taxing of the seventh and sub- sequent Ccnsuses of the United Staves, und to dx the number of the members of the House of Kepresenta- tives and provide for their future apporwonment among tae several States,” approved May 23, 1x5), rescribes “that it no cther law be passed providing or the taking of tue elguty or any suvsequont cen- sus of the United States, un or before the ist day ot January of any year when, by the constitution of the United States, any surther enumeration of the inhab- tants thereof ia required to be taken, such census shall, io all things, be iaken and completed accord. ing to the provisions of tits act.” The constituuional Provision directs the next enumeration to be made during the coming year, and Congress, in executing it. Wil provide other methods if those prescribed by existing legisiatioa are deemed inadequate. I for- bear making any specific recommendation on the subject, as a committee, appointed by the House of Representatives at its last session, to take Into con- siderauon such measures as might be deemed proper in reterence to the census, and to prepare @ plaa, have been actively engaged in prosecuting their in- quiries, and will, Lau 1luiormed, be ready to report atthe commencement of the approacuing session. A great amount of preliminary lavor is required in maturing and arranging the details of a work of such extent and variety, and in preparing and dis- tribuung bianks and tnstructions. ‘Tue ovvious un- possibility of commencing it until the manner of taking the census siail have been determined, oes @ conclusive reasou tor the early decision of Cvn- gress. Payment has been withheld from a large number of nhasistant marsbals, who rendered services 10 taking the eighth census in those sections of the couniry which were subsequentiy in rebellion, ‘Ine original appropriations tor that ceasus were long ace exhausted, and those of @ later dav do not extend 10 these cases. 1 recommend that provision be made for all just claims of this description, sub- ject, however, to the joint reso/uttion o: March 2, 1867, Waich prohibits the payment of an’ account or demand against the United Staves to a person who, during the rebellion, Was not Known to be opposed theretv, aad in iavor of its suppression, JUDICIARY. The following statement shows the amount ad- vanced daring the Oscal year enaing Jude 30, 1309, to mershais of the United States for defrayiag the expenses of the courts of the United States, includ- ing the fees of marshals, jurors and witnesses, the maintensuce of prisouers and contingencies:. Alebama see $2,000 New Hampshire $3,979 Arkansas + 64,150 22,205 California + 26 637 169,360 Connecticut ..., 8,207 37,270 Delaware....... 2,416 90,300 District of Co- 14,107 181,254 84,804 16,915 6,348 31,004 89, 190 66,740 Tennesses 41,025 17,231 Texas... . 37,183 883 Vermon' 9,500 25,000 2,347 17,372 30,970 23,054 6,046 17,000 18,253 New Mexico.... 25,704 17,060 Washington.,.. 21,508 70,701 Wyoming....... 4,324 37,500 NE Baie 7,382 «= Total... $1,500,701 The atnoun t paid to district attorneys, their assist - ants and substitutes for the same period was $190,123; to United States Commissioners, $87,796; to clerks of the courts of the United States, $79,508, and for miscellaneous expenditures, inciading rent of court rooms, $109,703, making in the ageregate $2,075,892, beiug $286,175 im excess ol the expendt- ture during the preceding year. In addition to the estimated receipts (rom fines, penalties and fortelt ures, $1,200,000 will be required for this service aur- ing the next fiscal year. ‘1his sum is less by $300,000 than tuat appropriated for the present year. - The government has erecied or purchased butid. ings im several of the districts, and appropriated theal, in whow or in part, to judicial us this Wise and liberal provision has not been made in many places where there 18 a large and increasing Amount of litigation. The department, in such cases, has been compelied to lease private property on the best terms that coud bs obtained. Jt very rarely affords suitable apartments for court or jury rooms, or the other requisite accommodations, My prede- cessors have expressed tho opiuion. in whicn [ fully concur, that the federal courts should be heid in fdre- Proof buildings, especially constructed for the pur- Pose by the United States, combining every couve- bience for promptly transacting business, with th Utmort security (or the preservation of the recor id files, In some of the districts, courts are re- tired to ait in more placos tian the necessities of 1@ Service demand. Tid arrangement causes con- Riderable expense, without any correspoading benefit to the litigating parties or the public, RAILWAYS AND WAGON ROADS, The Union Pacific Railroad Company, during the facal year, compleced 165 miles Of railroad and toie- sraph, terminating at Promontory Summit, Tue ice thereirom to Omaha is 1,035 miles, ne Joint resolution of 10th Apri, 180%, providos:— hat the common terminns of the Union Pacific And the Centra: Pacific Kaiiroads shail be at or near Ogden; aud tho Union Pacific Railroad Company Shall butid, and the Central Pacific Ratlroad Vom- pany pay for and own the ratiroad (rom the ter. Tainus wioresald to Promontury BulbMA, at WhICL potnt the rails shall moet and coanect aad form one continuous line,’ The connection was formed on the 10th of Mi last. The departments has not, however, beeo ad- vised of aby agremeent by the companies respecting the locauion of their ‘common terminus,” The company report ia: since the connection, trains have been run wich a regularity not surpassed on the oldest roads in the country, and that an ade- quate force has been constantly cagaaed mm making such improvements ay would render thelr road in all respects equal io the presorivea, T! fut the following to 30th June, 4,423,463, and from telegraph, &c., $465,155. The average number of milea of road operated daring the year was 854; the gross earnings were $7,142,271, aud the operatiag expenses $5,394,265, leaving a3 net earnings $1,448,002 The catire cost of the road to 20th June, 1369, not inciud- ing unadjusted balaacs wiih engineers and consract- ord, Was $92,748,162, and the indebtedness of tuo company Bt thas date $47,535, W2, Va the 1ith uf August iast the commissioners ap- pointed under the joint resolaiion approved 10th of April, 1369, were instrucced (0 exauine tae roads bulit by this and the Ceutral Pacifo i:ailroad Com- any, Of California, and to report touching tweir jocation, construction aud equipment, aud ihe sums, if any, that would be required to coimpiete eaca of them for tts entire iength a3 a Orat ciass railroad, ia compliance with the requirements of Cougresa. ‘The commissioners baye subinitted taeir report. They are Of opinion that there are no material eriors in the general location of this road, but that the de- Viatons fron the accepied line at Piomontury and Uinteh mountains should be corrected and the bridge line at Omana bulit 80 a8 to avoid the present heavy grade. The roadbed, the larger part of tue way. 18 of proper width, though thore are some iaces where the embankments saould bo widened. ‘ne bridges, cuiverts and trost 3 are generally good structures. Some of the former suould be sireugta- ened and some of the latter iled Tae track 1s erally very good. ‘Ihe cottonwood cross- igs should be repaced by others of more durable material, aie mdings are amounting nine ce road needs ballasting be- to the length of the line, tween Promontory and Uden aod in the Piste val- ley. A machine shop tho juactioa of the two road’ and engive houses at taree po.nts will bo re- quired. Freight cars are in excess of ths wants of the road. ‘Tae eauimate tor suppiying deficieucioa betweeu Promoniory and Ugden ta $200,000, aud bo tween the lauwer piace and Omaba $1,350,102, mak- dng an aggregate of $1,536,109, The company have On baud # surplus of material and supplies amount to apout $1,500,090 10 vaiue. hile ube location of the Ceutral Pacific Railroad ta, in severai places, open to criticism there are uo errors the Immediate correction of waich, 1n the vpinion of the commissioners, should be required by the gov- ernment. At a few pots the ewoankmenis need widening. There are fifteen tunnels on ibe road, and those which require i are arched with wood, The bridges and tresiies are in the same condition @3 those On tie other road. Io @ distance of foity miles there are thirty-two miles of snow suous, The track is Weil adapted to hizn rates of speed. Some additional bailasting 1s require; The sidings are aoout five percent of the length of the road. The machine shops are considered suiticient, except ab the junction of the two roads, Additional eogine houses are needed. Tho equipment is in excess of the wants of tue road. ‘The co.uumissioners estimate the sim required to supply the deiciencies at $575,600 aud the value of the surplus material as more than $1,000,000, ‘The original act required the completion of a con- ‘inuous line of railway from the Missourt kiver to the navigaole waters of the Sacramento “by tue 1st day ot suly, 1874.” The evergy with wilca cue work was prosecuted has boen crownod wita signal Sud unexpected success, ad thia great matvaai thorousiifare was lu, use more than seven years before that date, It 14 noc surprising, in view of tue unpreceacated rapidity with waich it Was oou- structed, that deficieuc.es, must of wuicd ace inct- ould have existed. buck Cominissioucrs time = appoiued, suows that these deficiencics havo | been geadualy, and in a8 very ‘eat = degree sappiled, The aggregate material and equipmeas on hand exceed by $637,250 the amount necessary 1 make tue waole line contoriu in every respect to (ue demands of the law and tue just expectations of ths country. Under the circumstances, I had the Louor to recommend the acceptance of tae last sections, No patents uave been issued Lo the frat company, and the subsidy of $1,670,400, On account of the fifty-two and oue-fitth miles of road wuicu were last coustructed, has beea witnheld, Tae ovlicr com- pauy have received paten.s covering only 104,506 acres, It Wl thus be perceived tuat Lue govecn- Went hes Smple means to secure rom the Go.upanics the jaltuial peiformunce of tue respective euguge- ments. ihree hundred and tnree-tenths miles of the Contrai Facile Kasdrvad of Vat ornia have been consiructed since the date of the tast annual report of tuis Gepartment, Lue distance trom frowvntory Summit to Sacramenty 18 8X hundred and moe aud Uree-ventas mies. ‘Tho President of tie com- PaDy as NOt subMitied Brepors, a3 required Dy iaw. Stock of the Kansas Pacillc Katlway Vowpany to the amount of $5,072,600 has been subserived and paid in, The receipts for transportativa of passen- gers and treigut from ist Seprember, 1363, to dist August, 186¥, Were $2,141,193, wad the net earuines $040,655, The cost of conssruction, surveys, rgut of way and of rea: estate purchased to the iutier date Was $24,105,757, aad the taen indepdteaness ot tue company $18,263,601. Including tie Leaveawori braucn four hundred and chiriy-elgut miles of ruad fave beeu Constructed, and ibis expected thas tuo lune to Veaver wil! be Haished snd ia Baccessiul ope- Tavion during next summer, Stock of the Central Brauch Onion Pacific Railroad Company to the amount of $1,000,000 has beeu sud scribed and $930 60) pald, Tue recespis for traus- Portation of passeugers and freight from 1st August, 1868, to Ist August, 1869, were $109,0d4. ‘The accaal cost of tne road, fixtures, rolling 8tOCK, &C., 18 $3,723,709, and the indebtedness of the company for borrowed money, rauroad lron and freiguts, 948,354 ‘The Sioux City Paciflo Kallroad bas beeu com. Pleted and accepied, Ita lengta 23 101 27-100th niles, ‘The awouut of capital stuck of the company subscribed 13 $4,271,000, Of Waica $1,677,900 has been paid. Tue receipts from the transportation oi pas- sengers and ireizat from lst October, 1353 to Bdtn Sepiewber, 1809, were $243,724 aud the operaung @xpeuses $151,920, Lhe cost of the consiruction aad equipment of the road is $4,230,504, and the imMdedt- CUDesS $4,934, 220, ‘tbe amount of stock of the Western Pacific Rall- road Coinpany subscribed, ail of wiico has actualy beea paid in, 13 $531,100, uring tue year enamg Juue 0, Lode, 8 receipts from pasSougers gad freight were $6,175 and tas running expeuses $200. The indeotedness at chat date, unsevticd accounts With contractors not included, Was $351,000, Sluco tue last anaual report of the department eiguty-tarve miles of their road have been built aud accepted. ‘The ioregoing fe coup of the Ousimess aud fluan- lai condition of Me companies has been compied feom Wwe reporis Wuch they respectively fied iu tals department pursuant 40 tue ack Of 250 June, isis. Neitaer the Nortucra Vaciic, the Auanuc.and ra- clig, nor the Soutuern Paciie Ratiroad Campany lave complied with the act, aud lam not oiliciuily advised OF tueir dolags. Ceriaia puvile lauds were witidrawa on accouut of the latter company. As tuey Were no, in the opinion of my imaeuiaiv pre- decessor, siLuate on tie authorized rouse of che ruad, he iasued un order Tor thar resiorauon to markey He subsequently allowed a temporary suspension of tuat paré of the order which related to the seciioDs jying south OF San Jose, a3 the company desired tune to produce prools aud arguments, Alter iuuy considering thei I had no doubt taal the order was obviously just and right, aud on the 2d instanid directed It to be carried tuto eiect. Pursuant to the authority conlerred by the act of March 3, 1869, the Kansas Pacidc Katiroad vompany envered mito & contract witb the Deayger and Paciuc Ratiway and Teiegrapa Company for the construc- tion, operation aud maintenance by whe iatter of that part of the road of the former company Wich ex- Vends from Denver to Cheyenne. A copy of the coo- tractand @ map of the rou between tuosé pots have been flieu In this department, and tuo granted lands witadra wn from iarket. Une thousand dollars appropriated by an act of March 4%, 1849, have been expended in compicting tie bridge over the Daxota river, and in joculing and surveying the wagon road between It aud to Vermillion river, There is & balance of forty-five doliars of tue appropriation fur tne bridge across tue Big Sioux river, aad tor the wagon road between ploux City and the mouth of the Big Cheyenne river, No further work has been done oa we road from Virginia City, Montana, to Lewistoa, Idaho. it was opened for pack tralas tu 1867, ana in the opiaion of the superin- tendent, nothing more was required, or couid be done for a large portion of the way. There a uaexpended balauce of $8,025 app cable to that tm- provement. Operations on tho road from the mou of the Big Cheyenne to @ point on the Niobrara road Were suspended in 1867 aud Nave.not been resumed. It crosses the reservation set apart for the differeat bands of Sioux todians, under tae treaty concluded by them with the United States at Fort Laramie, and prociaimed on the 24tn day of February las, ‘che balance of the appropriation on hand is $5,037, PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, The laws oe, for the distribution of the statutes aod other pubiications lave, as [ar as practicable, been @xecuted. Public documents Irom the commencement of the Thirty-#ixth: to «be Fortieth VCougress, Inciusive, & copy of “American Archives,’ “Annsia of Congress,” and “American [State Papers, fsecond seri ‘oli care- fully boxed, will be sent to the several territuria) governments whieh have not heretofore received ‘hem, on their signifying a willingness to incur the cost of transportation, Congressional documeats a 0 held to supply One pubite liorary, of an in- corporated institution, in cach Congressional district Of the States ately in rebellion. In conformity with an act of Congress of Maron 3, 1862, about 31,000 yoiumes have been collected from executive departments and public offices and de- posited tn this building. Taere ts @ very jarge accu mulation of broken sets of documents, and autnority shouid be given to seii, exchange or distribute such odd volumes as are not needed to supply deficiencies in the library of Congress or in that oi either of the executive departments, ich of the laws ag rovide for Laren jennial Register or lage Book’ @ list of ths several post orfices. — masters, mail contrhctors, clerks poat oillces, mali route messengers, letter carriers, &c., &0., 10 the several States and ‘Torrivories. ‘Che last number oi the register has 877 pages, of which 644 are ap- propriated to the postal The Post Omice Vepartment issues biennially a work contaming an alphavetical list of the offices, with tle names of the postimasters aunexed, the oMces arranged by coun. ties and States, tadies of distances, rates of postage aod ower valuable information, Duplicating the Sawe wartor iu & soparae publication la Woreg thea 13 aseless, The namos of the oMcors of that depart- ! the Commissioner things fie tame for suck extraor- nigh be reiained wm meat on duty tn Wash ing yr Of bae postal atalis- tho register, and tue roula! tics exciuded. CAPITOL, The architect reports various changes, repairs and Jmproveuentsia the Capitol extension during the past year, Maur of lle rooms and passages have been painted and the Senate pos oflice room has beea rearranged. Jour pictures in fresco have been addaed to the ceiling of tae Senate relring room, the granite steps reset and the cleaning an po:nting of the marvie continued. fhe repairs of the wing snd heating apperatas Were formerly ordered by the officers of the two houses and paid for by specific appropriations. An acwor the Sd of March last provides that ail im- provements, ariditions and repairs of the Capitol Ball be made by the diieciion aud under the super- Vision of the arcaitect, aud be paid for out ol the @ppropriation for the Cap.tol exeasion. ihe esti- ut for next jear inciudes the provable cost of @uch repairs aud that of flagging the upper terraces wita Seneca stone, and surrounding their outer @.ige with a broad granite coping, New sky- lighvs have been pisced over ue lauteras in Lhe cea- tral building, Toe inner sash over tne old hail of the House of Representatives has been removed, aud the Interior of the laatera redtted aud supplied with a row of gasouraers, which are lighted by the ba' tery of tuedome. Six commitee rooms have been titted up, Bad tue 000kS aud ducunen s wuich were stored in most of them deposited in the ocsilar story, into wich heated air nas been introduced. Steam radi- ators have also been placed in the central passages bear the western duors, and the furnaces taken from the crypt. The architect recommenas that, next Beason, steam Cols be Bubsututed tor ihe old aud word Ot air furnaces, as at once more pleasant aud econom cal. A rvoai connected with the office of the Secretary of the Senate has been wtted up, pursuant vo the provision of the Senate resoiutioa of 19tu April last, Bud otger rooms shelved to receive duplicate docu. ments. Much of the exterior of the central building hag been painted, Severa: coats were necessury to prevent the disintegration of the corpice aad balus- trade, which ars exposed to the weather; the noces- sary repaira have beeu done on the new dome and two mea constantly employed in keeping the Lite- rior tn proper order for visitors. ‘tue butidings not necessary for tha work in pro- gress have, with the exception Of the fre engine house, beeu removed irom tue uninciosed grouads adjoluing the Capitol, Karly measurea should be taken to determine the exteut of these grounds to embellish tuem, and to lay out and improve the sur- Touuding sireets, if the eastern irons of tHe Ceutral portion of the Capitoi is not to be extended the space in front of it should be paved and the side walks dugged. ‘The portico and railing of the north front of this Gepartmenut have been completed aud the contigu- ous sidewalk suitably flagged. G street, from Sev- uth to Ninsh sirecs, bas uot veen paved. The own- ers of the greater portiou of ihe property on ihe hortn mide of It express a preference lor & rooden pavement, and { deein it better suited than any otnor vw @ thoroughiare boraering upon public ofices. Seven thousand dollars iu addition to the funds on hand ($1,775) will be required to meet so Mich of the expense of Cuis 1mMprovement as Will be chargeable on the United states. The improvements of tne eastern portion of the City Hall, authorized by Congress, 20ta July, 1863, have becn completed. An @ proprtation of $1,000 iw necessury for genecal repairs aud the purchase of hot air ruraaces for the court room. Tere 18 aL UL- expanded oalauce of $100. ‘ue appropriations asked for make an aggregate Of SilsGu; viz, Capitol extensiua, $75,000; Capl- $10,000; uew dome, $4,000, fig and cading pitol grouads, $15,009; paving G strect ‘0m Seventii to Ninta, $7,000, and City Hail, $1,000, d. D. COX, el J. THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. Annual Heport of the Commissioner of the General Land Ofce, This report, equaling sny of tts predessors tn care- ful ejaboration 62d compass of topical interest, has been seuc to press, The text embraces thirty-five separate heads, with the usual appendix of statisti- cui tavles, It is accompanied by maps of the dif- erent public land, States and territories, and by a connected map of ths Territory of the whole couatry showing the progress of the public surveys, aiso by @ mercatortat chart of the glove executed Ln a style of unsurpassed excellence, with tables of valuable statistics iilustratiag the geographical, industrial and commercial relations of the United States. The operations of the public land system during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1809, were prosecuted in all the pubic land States and Territories except Wyoming and Alaska, Surveys have been com- pleted in Ohio Indiana, Miinois, Michigan, Missourt, A/aoama, Mississippi, Wisconsin aud Lowa. © + A ssetch of cho surveyiug 8ysvem 13 given incind- ing the provisions of law and the praciice under them. The entire area of the pubity domain ts dst 993,400 acres, Of whicd, auring tne past year, 0, 822,396 acres were surveyed, involving 40,549 lineal miles of survey. The eutire area surveyed 13 608,667,762 xores, leaving unsurveyed 1,526,430, 648 acres, Inseresting accounis of boundary surveys are given with chorograplical and topograpuical inlorination of great value. ‘Lue disposal of pubite iauds in seventy-three local land ouices during the year embraced 7,663,151.97 res, being Dearly @ miuiuon acre: ore than last year. ‘Ihe cash receipts were $4,472,335, an increase of $2,849,160 over last year. ‘Tho principles of tae pudlic Land system are tre.ted of in several eiaborate Payers and are shown to be & remarkable embodl- meat of the jundaumental prine!ples of soctal science. Tuo discussion brings to view tie origin of the rights of property and the progress of social organi- zauion trom & community of interests to separate private ownerships with ctiations from the great BHuropean pubiicsts. Yhe extinction of the Indian usufructuary tive to the soil 13 considered. ‘The or- dinance of 1785 passed by the Con.inental Congress, th: nucieus of our laud gystem 1s reviewed, tho progress of liveral ideas ta jraming and executing the land laws is clearly marked. The policy of for bidding settlement ou the public lands without pur- cnase, enacted by the law of 1807, Waa overpowered by the press of immigration. Congress first healed & muititude of breaches of this law by special revro- active statutes, and finally by act of Septemoer 4, 131, established tue pre-emption privilezes as a per- mianent e.ement of our sysiem. Some minor details of the pre-emption jaws require revision, but the general features are now settled aud working smoouily. ‘the homestead policy is the worthy supplement of the pre-cmpsion, A great increase Of appropriation of public iands by actual sevilers under these two cimases of laws {8 shown. 16 is Cscimuted that by direct and mdirect operations of the land systern during tue last uscai year 6),000 sarall farms were adued co tie ireenoius of our repudlic—about doudie tue eative muuver Of land OWners ln Engiand, as re- boried ia the decennial census of 1801. We uave appiled tue principie of preemption to towa Bites Bud Dave given special facilities to town building on tue pudiic lands. Our rural and urban Proprio.ors are esUinated at five and a haif millions or gue un eight of our peopie. This landed yeo- manry @xerc.ses a far greater power if Inaimtainiag puolio order tnan do the Live and a half millions ot Huropean soidtery on Lue peace estabiushment prop- plug the unstable equilibrium of feudal society. ‘The liberality of our naturalization laws bas drawn an immense tnmigration - trom Europe; about 10,000,000 of Our population are due totuis cause. ‘These have largely availed themselves Of the kindly provisions of our land jaws, adsorbing an immense amoune of public laid. it i# estimated that foreign luuigrants have braught to this couniry since 1740, $400, 000,000 guld vaiue, Gran of iand have been made to oMcers and soldiers of the different warsof tue repuodlic, thus testiiying te nation’s gratituve to its defenders. Our linmense grants in oid of popular education are Vindiouced a8 8 social necessity, the only means of securing such a diffusion of intelligence as will serve as & basis Of free institutions. The continental ordinance of 1785 set apart secuion sixteen of each township for the support of common schools. Tis donation has been repeated on tie admission of every new State into tuc Union, and since the ad- mussion of Oregon the amount of jand bas been du- piicated, section thirty-six aa well as section sixseen ing granted for Lue support of scROOls, Large grants have been made lor sve support of universities and coileges. A special donation has algo been made to the states of 0,000 acres for each Senator aud Kepreseniative, they were entitled to under the apportionment of 156). The aggregate amount of jaud finally accruing under ail tuese grants will be vot less than 7¥,320,suz acres. Lhe disposition of these granus by several of tue Staves da given ta tho repoit. A change in the channel of the Missouri river, !n- voiviig possible questions of Doundary between Nebraska and Dakota, calis for an expos.tion of alice land taws ag eifectea thereby, Several papers on Indian reservations throw light on that branch of ministration. The geological and imtaeralogi- ter Of the public domain, as illustrated by ilent cabinet of the General Land Oitice, is subject of an elaborate paper of great interest gad vaiue. The methods of proceeding under the Mining law and the status of agriculturai junds in niiniog districts are treated witn great clearaes. ‘This branch of the business in the office ia now fally organized and clalins can be adjusted as rapialy a3 they can be got through thi 1 oOMces. ‘The poloy of grants for internal improvement, and especial for raliways, 18 considered at length and a sxetch of the rauway system of the United Staves t4 given at large, Ite history naturally divides itself sto three eras. First, its primary stage on the Atlantic slope, in which i¢ Had to await tho slow accuiula- tons of the necessary capitul for ite coustiruc- tion; second, tts secondary siago in the Missis- Sippt valley, im which, by the donation of public lauds otherwise wnsaieaole tt create its own endowment by th ues tt unparted to the Aol; third, kts aetiuttive stage west of (ie Missis- sippl, in which tt app ‘ay a forerunuer of civil- fwation gatnering streugih to project itself ecross great Wilderness tracts to reach our Pacilic States. At the close of the preseat year there will be in Operation 47,000 miles of road. 1 tonnage of 1363 fa estimared at over 100,000,000, representing a cash Value Of $12,00),000,00), At the ciose of this cen- tury we will Lave not Jess than 100,000 miles in Operation, wish a tonnage beyoud present cstiniate, Tue enormous expansion of raliways Was one of Oor national neconsities. ‘he liberal poiley of laaded and loan subventions by the government was clow’y aswistance bas passed and reouumeads i withdrawal, Descriptive sketches are given of the Slates and ‘Territories erected out of the public domata, embra- clog # very great variety of uselul information. A case uf injunction by the United States 7 Court of lowa against local laad olicers in thas State gives rise to an able arg iment against the rigos of courts to interfere with cases pending before the General Land Office or aay olor brancn of the ex- ecutive department. * ‘Yue report conciudes with @ reviow of the com- mei | position of the United States, tracing & lind ol commerce around the earth between the fortieth nd fiftieth paraiieis, to whicn all the local currents of trade wil converge. Tne completion of our Pa- cvfic Ratiroad, with the thereasing advantage of rail- way Communication over every other, 1s Making this country the highway of the worla’s commerce, ‘The changes in the nauonailties of Asia and (he gradual incorporation of progressive ideas Indicate the ap- proach of the definitive development of civilization, In the midst of these Oriental movements an increas- ing power ov the Pacidc makes a rupture of peace for mere purposes of conquest a thine of noes hazal inasmuch 48 we have no ambition of terrt torial expansion tn Asia, the Oriental nations lean upon our moral support against the rapacity of Europe. This will result frst in commercial ascend- ency of the United States, and ultimately in a per fected comity of nations. Our abuity to compass these splendid resnite Springs from our liberal Janded policy, Its infuence is especially marked. The growth of our resources 13 startling. The gold value of personal and read property is $30,000,000,000, Our gross annual earn- ings amount (oO $10,000,000,000, of waich not leas thaa ten per cent or $1,000,000,000 are surplus for rein- vestment, Our civilization, belng industrial in ite chief characteristics, looks to 8 broader sweep of original production, aud hence our accumulation of weulia will be more rapid Wan that of any past age. NAVY DEPARTMENT. Annual Report of Secretary George M. Robeson. NAVY DaPARrMENT, Dec. 1, .89% Lreapectfully submit the following report ut the Navy Department and the branch of the puylio ser vice under its supervision during the last year. The head of this departmont has been twiee changed since the sending in of the last annual report, and we report for this year must therefore include the operations carried on during thas ume, as well under the superintendence of Mr. Welles (the former Secretary of the Navy), as under that of my immediate predecessor, Mr. Borie, and myself. Of the period extending from the date of the last Anoual report tothe coming in of the present ad-g ministration, che detailed reports of the severs bureaus are naturally incomplete, and I am, of course, without authoritative information of the 1deas which at that time governed the operations ef the department. It becomes me, therefore, to speak of {t only in general terma, and, showing simply tha condition of the navy at the commencement of this administration, state only resulta aa the surest tost of princtples and practice, NAVAL FOROR IN MARCH, 186). When my immediate predecessor came into oMoe, on the 9ch day of March last, the navy of the United ‘Staves consisted of two hundred and turce vessels of all classes and in every condition. These measured ope hundred and eighty-three thousand four nundred and foriy-two tons, and were calculated to carry, when in commission, thirteen hundred and sixty-six guns, exciusive of howitzers. Of these ships one hundred ana fifty-one were wooden and fifty-two were iron-ciad or monitors. Of the wooden ships thirty-two were sailing vos sels, filty-three were steamers, with some auxiliary sail power; forty-four were steamers without aay eiicient sail power and twenty-two were without sail power oi auy Kind. ‘Loe iron-clads are ail steamers, relying wholly on steam under all circamsiaaces, Of all these classes only forty-three vessels, in- cluding stole ships, Mounting turee hundred and filty-nix guns of every calibre, were atiached Ww deeks or returning thereirom, ix more, mountung thirty. 8iX guus, Weie in Commission tor special Service, aud six others at the various stations as receiving ships. ‘Theses togetuer with fourteen tugs and small yesseis, Atiuched to the Various navy yards aud sta- tions, Consticuted the whole force Of the Davy ab Laat thie effective for immediate service. It has since been found necessary to offer for sale, on foreign stations, three of these vessels, which were conuvemued a8 until for service aud unsale to send home, aud twenty-five more of them have ceen ordered home to the various navy yards for repaw and aiverauon or sale. But one slip, che Juniata, a6 PhLaaelpiua, was nuder ropair ab tue time of sue couung 14 Of the present administration. Tue remaimder Of tue aavy uot ia counission CoR- sisted 01 ;— ¢—Forty-six tron-clads and monitors of every class, laid up at Various stauons, none of which could be got ready tor service without thorough overluauling and expensive repairs to huila, turceis and macuimery, thiriy-two of wuica had been oon- demned and ordered to be sold, as not adavted (o our service, twenty-six of them never haviag been in commission, Seoon4—Twenty-two veasels of every class yet on the stocks, and on which work had veen suspended, Thavd—Sixiy-siX vessels laid up im ordinary, of uniit for active service in the future, ORUISING BEATIONS AND DUTIES, AND FORO OF BACH, IN MAROH, 1569. For the better distrioution of our force the fleld of our naval operations is divided into five cruising staions, kKnoWu respectively as the North and Sousa Atantic, the Pactic, tae European, and the Asiatic, dae eXvent and jimits of Lhese siauons are carefully detined and may be readily traced, ana to each are agsigaed Such proportions of the avauabile force as the extent and Circumstances of each may irom Wine to time require. ‘The Noréa Atlantic station embraces the entire eastern coast of North America and that of South ca a8 far as Cape Urange, uear tie mouts of jazon, exterding eastward to the forsy-third ‘ee of longtiude west from Greenwich. To the SqUadron on Chis station 18 comuniited the protection of ali our outward-bound and returning Atlantic mimerce, When west of the forty-third degree of west jouguude; our coasung trade on the Atiantio and the Gulf and that wuicd We carry on wilh che West imdies, Mexico, the nortiern Countries of South Aluerica and the isthmus. it consisted on the ven of March last of six vessels, mouating in ail twenty-eignt guns, the whole under the comunand of Rear Aduural tioi, ‘dhe South Atlanuc station embraces the east coast of Souta Ainerica trou Cape Orauge to Vape Hora, exienuding across [rom the iorwer pout to Sth Paul de Loando, ana along the soutnwest coast of Africa to the Cape of Goou Hope. The squadron In charge of our iimportant interests in these Wate.s was, at the date last menuoned, uader the command of Rear Admiral Davis, aad consisted of 61x vessels, Mount- uw in all tfty-s.x guns, ‘rhe Paciic station 18 one of great extent and tm- Portance, embraciug Whe entire western coast of both Norvh and South America, extending Westward to the l7uth degree of west iongiiude, aud thence along the equawr south of it to ime 1léth degree east, taking {n New Zealand, Austraia and New Guinea, together with the Feejee and otuer roups of the South Pacific Ocean. The naval ures Of this station 18 looked to for any needed pro- tection to the imteresia of the government and our people in ali the waters uf the Pacific; to our trade aloug the great isthinus, and the whole céast of Souta America; our whauog and fishing fleets in she Nortu Pacilic; our growiug commerce with tae Sandwich isiands, Chisa and Japan; our newly ac- quired interests in Alaska and the adjacent islaads; aad to our traders, representatives and missionaries scattered Guong the barbarous or ball civiuised tribes which people tne Pacific grou: On the date last mensiened this station was divided into two squadrons, denominated the North Pacific and the South Pacitic squadrous, commanded respectively by Kear Admiral Cravea aud Kear Aduural ‘Lurner—the Norin Pacific squadron con- sisting of eight vessels, mounting in all seventy- eight guns; aod the South acidic squadron, con- sisting of 61x Vessels, mounting in ail Jorty-nine guns, Since tie coming tu of the present adminis tration, for the purpose of readier communication, aud to give to the small force in tna extendas Held greater efflciency and facility for combined action, these two stutious have been Consolidated. into one, with a single deet of two divisions, each uuder the lnmediace command of & Commodore, wih the whole uader the general command of & Kear Admiral. The Wuropean station embraces the Atiantlo, with its connecting waters, north Of the equator and as far wesi as the forty-cuird degree west from Green wich, aud includes Wie Whole west 3 of Buropo, tho sied.terrancua aud Is communivaung seas, sod the ovast of Africa as tar as St. Paul de Loando. Tho syuadron, commanded by Kear Admiral Kadford, and consisiag, a (ae date aforesaid, of seven veg sels, mouating In ail eignty-fve guns, reprosenied the naval power Of our country Oa the Coasts and in tie ports Of all the great vations of Western and Soucnern Karope, a8 Weil as Chose of Northera Africa, Tue Asisie station empraces the eastern coast of Asa arouud to Hindostaa, aad thence Lo the Cape of Good Mope, takiag in Java, Sumatra, Bor- co, the Piuippine Islands, Japan, and the waters of Western ana southern Asia and Western Africa. Our growing trade in we. Past, and the influence of our government for tue spread Of commurce and Civilization among tio people of Bastern aod Southern Asia were provecied in (uese Waters by a squadron made up, on cae date last mentioved, of ten vessels, mounting sixty guas, under command of Rear Admiral Kowau. INADEQUACY OF FOROR. It will be seen at a giance that theso cruising sta~ tions Comprise wittin their Hints most of (ae porte and seacoasts Of the Kaowa world; and that, in (haa estabilsuing them, our government has acwempted to exwnd 18 influence and protection ovor every fled into Which, allured by trade or science, or WApred by religion, aX American ciizoa bas Deen BDIB to ponetraie. ‘This, in ime of peace, is an appropriate duty of tue grouudwork ior thus prospervus movement, Dut | OWN Davy, Aud Jig Yoaedid Wl by La YeopOrnOn be a