Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1880.djvu/59

Rh The Commissioner makes several recommendations worthy of special attention. He calls special attention to the inadequacy of the rooms provided for the use of the office. He also calls attention to the great need of a system of digests of inventions. To carry out this suggestion would require special appropriation or an increase in the working force of the office, in order that a portion thereof might be detailed for that purpose.

The interests of the service, in his judgment, demand an additional force of clerks and examiners, and in submitting his estimates for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1882, he recommends an increase of one principal examiner, three first assistant examiners, three second assistants, and three third assistants beyond what was provided for in the appropriation bill for the present fiscal year. For the purpose of a better organization of the office he, in the same connection, recommends that there be created three chiefs of divisions at a salary of $2,000 each, who shall take the place of an equal number of fourth-class clerks. He also recommended a small increase in the number of clerks, and that the salaries thereof be readjusted to correspond with the character of work performed. To do this an increase of about $50,000 in the appropriation for salaries is required.

The Commissioner reports satisfactory results in the work of his bureau. During the year 87,304 documents, circulars, and letters were sent to correspondents at home and abroad. During the same period 19,654 were received by the office.

The office library contains about 12,000 volumes and 25,000 pamphlets.

Attention is called to the marked improvement in the methods of teaching, especially in rural schools, and the gratifying growth of public sentiment throughout the country in favor of our public school system.

The laudable efforts in the direction of industrial education are noticed, and the excellent work being done by colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts is commented upon.

The Commissioner renews his recommendation for the passage by Congress of some act of financial aid which should be distributed at first on the basis of the percentage of illiterate persons to the total population, and, substantially, on the plan adopted by the trustees of the Peabody Fund.

He refers to the interesting information received respecting the efforts made to establish schools in Alaska. The Eusso-Greek bishop sends word of his desire to co-operate, if any plan for public schools be adopted by the government. The schools at Sitka and Wrangel, especially the girls' boarding-school at the latter place, report good progress; the children are managed easily and learn readily.