MANSION, _Washington, February 9, 1874_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the Secretary of the
Department of the Interior, to whom was referred the resolution of the
House of Representatives of January 7, requesting "a statement of the
extent and nature of the contracts, purchases, and expenditures for the
Indian service made since July 1, 1873, setting forth which, if any,
of them were made or entered into without conference with the Board
of Indian Commissioners appointed by the President, and the extent and
description of contracts and vouchers objected to by said board, stating
to what extent payments have been made thereon against their
remonstrance."

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, February 10, 1874_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I have the honor to transmit herewith reports from the Secretaries of
the War Department and Department of the Interior, to whom were referred
the resolutions of the House of Representatives of the 7th of January
last, requesting "copies of all the correspondence between the different
Departments of the Government and the peace commissioners during the war
with the Modoc Indians in southern Oregon and northern California during
the years 1872 and 1873; also copies of all the correspondence with and
orders issued to the military authorities engaged in said war up to the
period of the removal of said Modoc Indians from the States of Oregon
and California."

U.S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, _February 17, 1874_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State and
accompanying papers.[78]

U.S. GRANT.

[Footnote 78: Report of John M. Thacher, United States delegate to the
International Patent Congress held at Vienna in August, 1873, and
exhibits.]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 19, 1874_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I have the honor to transmit herewith a memorial upon the "cultivation
of timber and the preservation of forests," and a draft of a joint
resolution prepared by the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, together with a communication from the Commissioner of the
General Land Office upon the same subject.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, February 25, 1874_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I have the honor herewith to submit the report of the Centenn