Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1883 — OFFICIAL REPORTS. [ARTICLE]

OFFICIAL REPORTS.

Interesting Statistics from the General Land Office. Gen. Sherman’s last Official Document The Commissioner of the General Land Office, the Hon. N. C. McFarland, In his annual report, states that the disposals of public lands during the year embraced 10,030,700 acres, and Indian lands 399,235 acres, an increase over 1882 of about 5,000,000 acres, and over 1881 of about 8,000,000 acres. The receipts from all sources in connection with disposals of publio land were $11,088,479, and from sales of Indian lands $026,404, a total of $11,713,883. Public lands were disposed of as follows: Acres Public sales 273.069 Private entries., 2.179,986 Pre-emption entries, 2,286,710 Mineral entries 31,620 Homestead entries 8,171,914 Timber-culture entries 3,110,930 Entries with military bounty land warrants 45,414 Entries with land-claim scrip 1u,606 Total number of entries and filings posted during the year 251,685, aggregating 30,000,000 acres. The increase in number of claims recorded in 1883 was 55,548 over the year 1882. The Commissioner states that he is satisfied the pre-emption filings are made or procured to be made to a great extent for speculative purposes. He renews the recommendation that the Pre-emption law be repealed. The report recommends the amendment of the Homestead laws, requiring a period of not less than six months after the settlement of a claim has been plaoed on record before final proof shall be admitted, irrespective of the alleged time of residence prior to the entry. The report further recommends the total repeal of the Timber Culture law on account of its inherent defects. The construction of 1,210 miles of land-grant railroad was reported during the year, making a total of 17,449 miles of road reported as constructed under all grants to June 80, 1883. The Commissioner asks that his salary be fixed at $5,000 and for a moderate increase of the salaries of the principal officers and clerks of his department. The character and responsibility of the office, together with the fact that its business has increased 82 per cent since 1881, appears to the Commissioner to justify this request. FOREIGN MAILS. The Postmaster General has received the annual report of Judge Blackfan, Superintendent of Foreign Malls. The total weight of mails dispatched to countries In the Postal union, with the exception of Canada, was 2,532,990 pounds, an increase of 329,114 pounds over the weight last year. Of the letter mall dispatched, 41 per cent, was sent to Great .Britain and Ireland, 23 to Germany, 27 to other countries of Europe, and 9 per cent, to Postal union countries and colonies outside of Europe. The amount of letter mail dispatched last year increased 77 per cent, over the amount sent In 1880. The printed matter increased 74 per cent. In the same time. The sum paid for sea transportation of malls was $316,522, an Increase over the cost of 1882 of $36,368, or 68 per cent, over 1880. The estimated amount of postage collected in the United States on foreign mall matter was $2,078,918. GEN. SHERMAN’S FINAL REPORT. The last annual report of Gen. Sherman la in the hands of the Secretary of War. The army consists of 2,143 officers and 23,335 men —the figures being almost identical with those of last year. Gen. Sherman considers Crook’s Apache campaign a success. Military education Is treated at some length, and the opinion expressed that the Military academy at West Point and the schools at Fortress Monroe and Leavenworth are among the best in the world. The Indians are regarded as substantially eliminated from the problem of the army. The railroad which used to follow In the rear, and now goes forward with the picket-tine in the great battle of civilization with barbarism, has had a great influence. The recent completion of the last of four great transcontinental lines of railway has settled forever the Indian question, the army question, and many others which have hitherto troubled the country. Tho recommendation of last year is renewed that the strongest posts be enlarged and the minor places abandoned. “ Tho soldier,” says Gen. Sherman, “ must be treated as a fellow-man. Let him live in comfort, and he will respond to tho call of duty, even to death. When the soldier is employed as a carpenter, mechanic or laborer, it is only fair that he should be paid for such labor.” The opinion is expressed that it will be found wise to provide a common organization for all such arms of tho service, and that Congress should provide for the transfer of regiments from remote to home sections after a fair period of service. In this connection particular attention is called to the case of the Twenty-first infantry, which has been on the Pacific coast for fourteen years. «EN. DRUM’S REPORT. Adjt. Gen. Drum has submitted his annual report. He says the State militia has steadily improved in discipline, soldierly bearing and knowledge. He recommends the retirement on full pay of men who have faithfully served thirty-five years. It Is suggested that increased pay for re-enlisting be made to depend on ImmecNate re-enlistment in the same regiment, and that the man reenlisting be granted a furlough of one, two, of three months, according to the number of terms he has already served. A bi-monthly settlement of the clothing accounts is recommended, and a statement made in this connection that the Government lost SIO,OOO last year in clothing overdrawn by deserters. Notwithstanding great efforts to fill the army to the authorized strength, it still lacks 2,149 men of the full quota.