The record-union., 1892-12-05

oraI Land Ofice Disposed of-N early
Twcnty-six Million Acres of Indian
Lands Opened Up for settlement
The Eleventh Census Almost Com
pleted-
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoE.
WASHINGTON. Dec. THE annual re-
port of Secretary Noble says the work
accomplished during the administration
is shown to greatly exceed any like pre-
ceding period in the history Of the de-
partment. In the General Land Office
on June 80, 1855, there were pending 3jO,-
953 final entries, and the accumulation
steadily increasing. These were all dis
posed Of During the present admins
tration 59S, ,l2S agricultural patents were
issued. against l62.754 in the preceding
four years. representing an excess in
acreage Of 81 659,S acres. During the
past year six forest reserves were created
by Presidential proclamation, making an
area Of 3,252, ,260 acres, which policy Will
lie further carried into effect.
The public parks in the United States
under control of the Interior Depart
ment, except the Hot Springs reserva-
ton in Arkansas, are under guard Of
special details from the army, and are
well protected and rapidly gaining III
natural beauty ana attractiveness.
The boundary line between the States
of North ana South Dakota have been
surveyed from the eastern end of the
line to the Missouri River, and the re-
mainder of the line will be completed
r.lg of
season. The line is marked by monu-
ments of quartzite, and will remain one
of the most conspicuous works of The
Land Office.
Educational work among the Indians
has been greatly increased and improved
in efficiency. There is an increase Of
over II per cent. in attendance. New In
dian reservation neutrality-suspicious. have
been established during the present Ad-
ministration, and more are i'll progress
and will be opened soon.
Under the policy Of Indian allOtments,
negotiations with fourteen tribes during
the present Administration resulted in
the opening up for public settlement of
nearly 2j,OUO0OO acres of land. Other
negotiations which are pending, will,
When ratified, add 100000 acres more.
Allotments of lands in severalty to
Indians were made i'll very large num-
bers, and $500 to whom patents We're
citizens Of the United States. \ very i'm
portant agreement was negotiated III De
camber, 1891. whereby the Cherokee na-
tiOu cedes It's rights to the Cherokee out
let for the sum OF SS.J51,1 13j L. BatiiCa-
uOn OF the agreement by Congress will
open TO settlement about G,0J30U0 acres Of
land, wiz u are very FERTILE and valuable
for agricultural purposes, and il is strong
ly urged that officials are zealously en-
gagged in the suppression OF the liquor
traffic among Indians.
There was formerly much complaint
that the quality OF goods delivered to IN
dIans was far below the samples fur
nshed. Under the personal supervision
OF the Assistant Secretary, the Commits
sIOner of Indian Affairs and some MEM
hers OF the Board of Indian Commission
ers the evils were corrected and the repu-
tation of the service for fair dealing re-
stored.
The taking of the census in 1880 was
recognized al the beginning as most i'm
pOrtant and difficult task, but ii has been
accomplished, the census publications re-
ccived with favorable Endorsement
throughout the civilized nations. and the
work stands an acknowledged success
and great scientific achievement The
mass Of statistics is now in process Of
completion, and much OF it already in the
hands Of the printer With the eXcep-
tion of a small amount Of work on vital
statistics on population and statistics of
manufactures and agriculture, all regu-
lar work of the eleventh census is about
completed. The farm mortgages report
viii be completed III about twelve
months.
There Is no marked change in the bust
ness methods of the Patent Office The
humber OF applications for patents dur
ing the year were 1915; total number
awaiting action July /, 1872, 6, g,t47; num-
nI rs1fpnTs cd ~. n: 10
Ceipts, Si,-6S,7 72i b, and expenditures,
SI,u4,l34 -. The amount in the treasury
TO the credit of the Patent Office is now
Sil02,l4I.
Ihe secretary states that the work of
the Geological Survey WAS carried on
with great efficiency. The report states
that il was determined 10y triaugulation
that the summit Of Mt. st. ELIAS has an
altitude OF Is, l0J feet above the sea, MAX
llg 1t The highest point on the continent.
unless certain unmeasured volcanoes in
Mexico should prove to be higher. This
great landmark lies just little on our
side Of the boundary between Alaska
and British America, and VIII bear the
United States flag
The volume OF business handled and
disposed Of by the Pension once during
the past year is shown to have been enor-
nous. On June 10, 1872, SO, OBS pension
ers were on the rolls, being 10 g9S more
than at the close of the last fiscal wear.
The total expended Tor pensions during
the year was Sl39, ,035 6lZ IS, and it is esti-
mated that the appropriation for 1885 of
Sl449o6,oUO VIII leave a deficiency. There
had been filed up to date October II. 1892.
9-O.H5i claims under the Act of June y
1890, and there has been issued thus far of
these claims 4t3, $50 certificates
The total number Of certificates issued
during the year was 3ll $50; total num-
ber OF pensioners dropped from the roll.
25,206 and the average annual value of
each pension on the roll. Sl2S IL Irnda,.
the provisions Of the Act of June y Iss0
many claimants who could not establish
service of original disability have been
enabled to secure much needed assist
ance and financial relief The ComDis-
sioner recommends the appointment of
an actuary to collate certain statistics
relative to the question of the effect Of
army service upon the expectation Of
lives Of soldiers and probable duration OF
the pension roll. which il is thought will
be a valuable contribution TO science.
Estimates for the deficiency for this year
are $40 55S, ,6Sl, and estimates for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1874, sl65, 100000.
The Bureau of Railroads has been en-
ployed in seeking conclusions as to the
best treatment the Government should
give to the debt subsidized railroads now
approaching maturity. Full reports are
submitted TO Congress as to the guarantee
OF stocks or bonds and payment OF the
Indebtedness of the various roads. Sug-
gesuons made in the Commissioner re-
port look 10 an extension of the debt and
an increase Of the security. The report
OF the Government Directors of the Union
Faclhe Hallway shows that they coincide
With the Railroad Commission in recon-
mending an extension rather than a fore
closure.
Great satisfaction was produced in the
Territory OF New Mexico by the organ