Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-12-14

lot a hard one, we ought not to expect
Indians. unless far advanced in civiliz ltlon
and habits of industry, to support tnsm-
selves on the small tracts OF land usually
allotted tothem.
Lam convinced that the proper solution
OF the Indian problem and the success OF
every step taken In that direction depen to
n very large extent upon the intelligence
md honesty OF the reservation agents and
the interest they have in their work. An
agent fitted for his place can do much
towards preparing the Indians under his
charge for citizenship and allotment OF tnelr
lands. and his advice as to any matter con-
,erning their welfare will not mislead. An
unfit agent will make no effort to advan3e
Tho Indians On his reservation towards CIVIL
zatlon OF preparation for allotment OF lands
In severalty. and his opinion as to their coa-
dition in this and other regards Is needless
and valueless.
The indications are that thedetail ofarmy
officers as Indian agents will result ID I'M
proved management on the reservations.
The intelligent Indian school management
of the past year has been followed by graft
fying results. Efforts have been made 10
advance the work in a sound ana practic"i
manner. Five institutes of Indian teachers
have been held during tho year, ana nave
proved very beneficial through the views eX-
larly applicable to Indian education.
Efforts are being made in the direction OF
q gradual reduction of the number oil In
dian contract schools, so that in compar-
atiyey short time they may give way ato-
pether to Government schools, and 1t IS
hoped that the change may be so gradual as
10 be perfected without too great expense TO
the Government or undue disregard OF IN
yestments made by those who have estao-
inf mi QOntrQot
schools.
The appropriation for the current year,
ending June 30, 1895, applicable to the or
dinary expenses Of the Indian service
amounts to Sc, ,733, ,OO9.1S, being less by $685.
24Os4 than the sum appropriated on the
same account for the previous year.
PENSION MATTERS.
At the close OF the last fiscal year, on the
9Oth day OF June, 1891, there were 909,off
persons on our pension rolls, being net IN
crease Of 3532 over the number reporter a'
tho end of the previous year. 80
Taes, pensioners may be classihs as fol-
lows: Soldiers and sailors, survivors OF all
wars, 753, 1868; widows and relatives OF de-
ceased soldiers, 215, 1862 army nurs os IN the
war of the Rebellion, Ala OF these pension
prs 32. .039 are surviving soldiers OF Indian
and other wars prior to tho Civil War, and
the widows and relatives OF suc1 soldiers.
The remainder, mum 5ering 937, ,5O5, are re.
ceiving pensions on account of the war OF
tha Rebellion. an of these 459, 34A are on
the rolls under the authority of the act OF
June 81. 1890, sometimes called the depend
ent pension law. ....
The total amount expended for pensions
during the year was $l39, ,8)l, 46l.O5. leaving
An unexpected balance from the sum appro'
priated OF $50, ,205, 1885.
The sum necessary to meet pension expen-
ditures for the year an ling Juno 30, 1875, Is
estimated at $40, ,0J) ,OJO.
The Commissioner OF Pensions Is OF tue
opinion that the year 1895, being the tRir-
tieth after the close of the War OF the Rebel
lion. must. according to all sensible human
calculation, see the highest limit OF the PEN
siCn roll, and that after that ear 1t must De-
| gin to decline.
The claims pending in the bureau havo
decreased more than 10000 during the year,
A large proportion OF the new claims filed
are for increase OF pension by those now Oh
the rolls. IN
The number OF certificates issued was 80
213. The names dropped from the rolls ior
all causes during the year numbered ~ Sol.
Among our pensioners are nine WIDOWS
and three daughters of soldiers OF the Reyo.
luton and forty-ive survivors OF the war OF
1872.
The bare,acel and extensive pension
frauds exposei under the direction or tue
courageous and generous veteran soldier
now at the h ad of the bureau leave no room
for the claim that no purgation OF our PEN
sion rolls was needed, or that continued
vigilance and prompt action are not neces-
sary to the same end.
the accusation that an effort to detect
pension frau Is Is evidence OF unfrlendllness
towards our worthy veterans and denial I
their claims to the generosity OF the Govern
| ment. suggests an unfortunate 1ndl1erenc3
10 the commission of any offense which has
for its motive the securing OF pension, AMI
in licates willingness to be blind TO the eX-
istencs OF mean and tr5acherous crimes
which play upon demHgoGic fears and MAKE
sport of th3 patriotic Impulse OF grateIu'
people.
THE ELEVENTH CENSUS.
The completion OF the Eleventh Census is
now in charge Of the Commissioner OF
L15or The total disbursements on account
OF the work for the fiscal year ending June
30. 1894. amounted to so, 365, ,676.81 At the
close Of the year the number OF persons en-
ployed in the Census Office was 679. AT
present there are about 4J). The whole num-
Der OF volumes necessary TO comprehend the
Eleventh Census will be twenty-five, and they
will contain 22,270 printe pages The assur-
ance is confidently made that before the
close of the present calendar yelr the
material still incomplete will be practically
in hand, and the census can certainly be
closed by the 4th Of March, 1895. Alter
that. the revision and proof-readinS neces'
sary to bring out the volumes will still be
required.
AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.
The Secretary of Agriculture in his report
reviews the operations OF his department for
the last fiscal year. an makes recommenda-
kions for the further extension OF its useful
hess. He reports saving In expenditures
during the year OF 5000, 900, which is covered
back into the Treasury. This sum istwenty-
three per cent. OF the entire appropriation.
A special study has been made OF the de-
mand for American farm products in all for
eigu markets, especially Great Britain. That
country received from the United States dur
ine the nine months ending September 81,
1891, 305, ,91O live beef cattle, valued at S26,
500. COO rs against 1926 cattle, valued at
'S16, ,694, 900, during the same period for 1898.
During the first six months OF 1874 the
United Kingdom took, also, 1l2,0O0, OUy
pounds of dressed beef from the United
States, valued at nearly SIC, 900.
The report shows that during the nine
months Immediately preceding September
80. 1894. the United States exported to Great
Britain 222, GIG. 900 pounds of pork; OF ap-
pies, l, 900, 900 bushels, valued at $2,5OO, 600
and OF horses. 2811, at an average value o
lS139 per head. There was a falling of il
American wheat exports Of 1885, 900 bush
els, and the Secretary is inclined to belie,y
that wheat may not, in the future, be tn
staple export cereal product Of oar country
but that corn will continue to advance IN i'm
portance as an export on account o. the ney
uses to which it is constantly being appro
priated.