ians
from the inroads of whites for a term of years, until they become
sufficiently advanced in the arts and civilization to guard their own
rights, and from the disposal of the lands held by them for the same
period.

LANDS.

During the last fiscal year there were disposed of out of the public
lands 11,864,975 acres, a quantity greater by 1,099,270 acres than was
disposed of the previous year. Of this amount 1,370,320 acres were
sold for cash, 389,460 acres located with military warrants, 4,671,332
acres taken for homesteads, 693,613 acres located with college scrip,
3,554,887 acres granted to railroads, 465,347 acres granted to wagon
roads, 714,255 acres given to States as swamp land, 5,760 acres located
by Indian scrip. The cash receipts from all sources in the Land Office
amounted to $3,218,100. During the same period 22,016,608 acres of
the public lands were surveyed, which, added to the quantity before
surveyed, amounts to 583,364,780 acres, leaving 1,257,633,628 acres
of the public lands still unsurveyed.

The reports from the subordinates of the Land Office contain interesting
information in regard to their respective districts. They uniformly
mention the fruitfulness of the soil during the past season and the
increased yields of all kinds of produce. Even in those States and
Territories where mining is the principal business agricultural products
have exceeded the local demand, and liberal shipments have been made to
distant points.

PATENTS.

During the year ending September 30, 1872, there were issued from the
Patent Office 13,626 patents, 233 extensions, and 556 certificates and
registries of trade-marks. During the same time 19,587 applications for
patents, including reissues and designs, have been received and 3,100
caveats filed. The fees received during the same period amounted to
$700,954.86, and the total expenditures to $623,553.90, making the net
receipts over the expenditures $77,400.96.

Since 1836 200,000 applications for patents have been filed and
about 133,000 patents issued. The office is being conducted under the
same laws and general organization as were adopted at its original
inauguration, when only from 100 to 500 applications were made per
annum. The Commissioner shows that the office has outgrown the original
plan, and that a new organization has become necessary. This subject was
presented to Congress in a special communication in February last, with
my approval and the approv