The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-12-07

than three and half times as great as thefn.
crease during the three years ending June 30 1888
NAVAL AFFAIRS. gfS
| The report OF the secretary Of the navy ex-
hibits great progress in the construction OF our
new navy. When the present secretary entered
upon his duties only three modern steel vessels
werein commission The vessels since put In
commission and to be put in commissi n during
the winter will make total OF nineteen during
his administration Of the department During
the current year ten war vessels and three navy
tugs hays been launchea and during the four
years twenty-five vcsspls wilt have boon
launched Two otlNrllrgc ships AM tOrnA =,
boat are uaucg -UutrIct an tn q, Il; uDun
them well advanced ana the four monitors are
awaiting only the arrival Of their arnor, which
has been unexpectedly delayed, or they would
have been before this in commission.
Contracts have been lot during this admins.
tration, under the appropriations for the in
crease OF the navy, including new vessels and
their appurtenances, to the amount Of t35, ,O00,-
0OO and there has been expended during the
same period for labor at navy yards upon SINH
lar work sS,OOO,00O without the smallest scandal
or charge OF fraud or partiality. The enthusi-
asm and interest Of our naval officers, both Of
the stan and line, have been greatly kindled
| They have responded magniacenty TO the con-
| fldence OF congress and have demonstrated TO
the world On unexcelled capacity in oonstruc-
| tion, in ordnance and in everything involved in
the building, equipping and sailing Of great war
ships
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The work Of the interior department, always
| very burdensome, has been larger than ever be-
| fore during the administration OF Secretary
| Noble The disability pension law, the taking
| Of the eleventh census, the opening OF vast
areas Of Indian lands TO settlement the organi-
zation OF Oklahoma and the negotiations for
| the cession of Indian lands furnish some OF th9
| particulars OF the increased work; and the re-
snlts achieved testify TO the ability and industry
| OF the head OF the department and his enicient
| assistants
Several important agreements for the cession
| Of Indian lands negotiated by the commission
appointed under the act OF March 2, 1889. are
| awaiting the action Of congress. Perhaps the
most important OF these is that for the cession
| OF the Cherokee strip This region has been
the source OF great vexation 10 the executive
department and OF great friction and unrest
| between the settlers who desire TO occupy II
| and the Indians who assert title. The agree
mentwhich has been made by the commission
is perhaps the most satisfactory that could have
been reached. II will be noticed that 1t is con.
ditioned upon its ratification by congress before
March 4, 1898.
The work in the Indian bureau, in the execu
tion Of the policy OF recent legislation, has been
largely directed TO two chief purposes; first,
the allotment OF lands In severalty TO the
Indians and the cession to the United States Of
the surplus lands; and, secondly to the work
| OF educating the Indians for their own protec
tion in closer contact with the white man for
the intelligent exercise OF his new citizenship
| Allotments have been made and patents issued
to 5,90J Indians under the present secretary and
commissioner, and 1900 additional allotments
have been made for which patents are now in
process Of preparation. The school attendance
4 OF Indian children has been increased during
that time over 10 per cent
desire TO call the attention OF congress TO
the fact that the recent agreement concluded
with the Kiowas and Comanches relates TO
lands which we're part Of the leased district,
land 10 which the claim OF the Choctaws and
Ch!ckasaws is precisely recognized by congress
In the legislation 1 have referred TO- The sur
plus lands 70 which this claim would attach iu
the Kiowa and Comanche reservation Is 2, 500, ,0Oi
acres. and at the same rate the government
will be called upon TO pay TO the Choctaws and
Chickasaws for these lands t3i2S,OOo
PENSION BUREAU.
The report OF the commissioner OF pensions,
90 which extended notice Is given by the aecre.
tary Of the interior in his report will attract
amount OF work done, the last year has been the
greatest in the history Of the ofice. believe
that the organization OF tho once Is eficieni
and that the work has been done with fidelity.
The passage OF what Is known as the disability
bill has, as was foreseen, very largely increased
the annual disbursements 10 the disabled vet
Grams OF the civil war. Tho estimate for this ns.
col year was sl44, $50 900 and that amount was
ppropriated A deficiency amounting 10 80.
O5s,62i must be provided for at this session.
The estimate for pensions for the fiscal year
ending June 20. 1894, is tle6,Ooo,ooo The com
missioner OF pensions believes that, II the pres.
entlegislation and methods are maintained and
further additions TO the pension laws are not
made, the maximum expenditure for pensions
will be reached June 30 1891, and will be at the
highest point, sise, 100000 per snnum adhere
10 the views expressed in previous messages,
that the care OF the disabled soldiers OF the war
| OF the rebellion Is q matter OF national concern
and duty. Perhaps no emotion cools sooner
than that OF gratitude, but cannot believe that
this process has yet reached point with our
people that would sustain the policy Of remit
ting the care OF these disabled veterans TO the
inadequate agencies provided by local laws.
The parade on the Goth OF September last upon
the streets OF this capital Of sixty thousand Of
the surviving Union veterans OF the war Of the
rebellion was a most touching and thrilling cpl
sode, and the rich and gracious welcome ex.
tended 10 them by the District Of Columbia and
the applause that greeted their progress from
tens Of thousands Of people from all the states
did much 10 revive the recoAotions OF the grand
review when these men and many thousands OF
others now in their graves, were welcomed with
grateful 10y as victors In astruggle In which the
national unity, honor and wealth were all at
issue
AoRIouLTURR
The report OF the secretary OF agriculture
contains not only most interesting statement
the progressive and valuable work done under
the administration OF Secretary Rusk, but many
suggestionsvor the enlarged usefulness OF this
important department In the successful effort
to break down tho restrictions 10 tho free intro
duction OF our meat products in the countries OF
Europe, the secretary has been untiring from
tho first stimulating and aiding ali other gov
| crnment officers. at homo and abroad, whose
oficial duties enabled them 10 participate In the
work
The total trade in hog products with Europe
In May 1892, amounted TO e2,000O00 pounds,
against ~ GpoO, 90 in the same month Of 1891; In
June, 1902, the exports aggregated S6,7Oo0Oo
pounds against i6,5Oo,Oo0 pounds In the same
mouth OF the previous year; in July there was
| an incrnasa OF II por cent, and In August OF IS
| per eenL over the corresponding months Of 1891.
over 100000 pounds Of inspected pork have
been exported since the law was put IN opera
| tlon, and comparison Of tho four months OF
| May June. July and August 1892. with the
samo months Of 1891 shows an increase In the
number OF pounds OF our export pork products
| of o. per cent, and an increase In value Of coy
| per cent
The exports Of dressed beef increased from
i1,poO OJ pounds IN 1889 70 e,0,bo0)o pounds In
| 1899 OF about 90 por cent During thd past year
| -. ooa a ~ IA.