Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-05

Hon. John W. Noble. secretary of the
interior, has transmitted bis annual report
for the fiscal year ending June ;'oth. 1892,
10 the President, and 1t will be presented
TO Congress at an early day. 1t Is one of
the most important reports presented by
any, cabinet officer on nccount of the large
number of divisions OF bureaus connected
Herewith. Among them are the pension
bureau, division of public lands. the
patent office. census bureau, Indian
afaits, the national parks. the territories
anil the bureau of education. All these
different bureaus many Of them requiring
. force many times larger than any aher
department to properly administer their af-
fairs as that of the pension and census Of
fees, shows the vast range covered by the
interior department and the great import
ance of its work.
The General Land Office has worked off
the vast accumulation of former years and
Is nov on current business, greatly To the
advantage of western settlers. The Indian
bureau has made great progress in eicvat-
ing the various Indian tribes, in the work
of allotment of land in severalty to in
diviluRl Indians, the con sequent dis
indignation of their tribal relation, and the
development of schools. Great reform has
been accomplished in the purchase of In
dian supplies. The amount of the trust
funds credited to the various Indian tribes
aggregates sat. 2a6.I6s. During the year
there were paid in cash to the Indians in
ful6llment OF treaty stipulations s3,4lo.-
ZIG. This sum is nearly s2.ooo.0oo in
excess of the previous average yearly pay
mcnts. Wherever il is possible the employ
ment Of Indians, in preference to whites. at
the agencies and in schools is being prac-
ticed. and many inportan, positions are now
flled sceeptsbly by educated Indians. The
pension office has disposed of an immense
volume of work and has exceeded all
former records in the number of final
adjudications. both original and upon
appeals, executing the benefeeut laws
for the soldiers Of Union. The details of
the years work in this Office has already
been given In our columns.
The census Office has finished nearly all
of its immense and highly scientific work
and what remains is rapidly nearing COM
pletion. The geological survey has pro-
gresseti greatly in its typographical survey
of the states and territories in locating
reservoirs for the irrigation Of the arid
lands, and in its other useful
divisions. The increase in value of min
crsl products. as shown during the past
wear was s7s.o0o, 600, and the increase in
the thirteen years of the survey is $780,
100000; showing these products have in
this time more than doubled, while populs-
ton has increased only 80 per cent. The
railroad bureau has kept constant super
vision Of sls, condition of the road beds
aud appurtcnances and given careful con-
alteration to the question of the maturing
debts Of the Subsidized railroads and the
future conditions which should govern them.
The Patent ofiice has kept up with cur
rent work AMI has introduced several
imporssn. refmms. The total number Of
applications for patents during the year
was s,.ei5: the totsi number awaiting
action July 1, ls9s, e44s. The number
Of patcnss granted was ss,ss6, the total
receires we're u ,sss.sa4 81. and the ex-