Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-01
REPORT OF SECRETARY BLISS.
Concerns Indians, Lands, Mining AE
fairs aud Pensions.

Concerns Indians, Lands, Mining A6-
fairs aud Pensions.
Secretary of the Interior Bliss has is
sued his annual report. In speaking of
the disposal of public lands the report
says: 1.-The total area of public lands,
not including Indian lands, entered by in
dividuals exclusive of selections by cor
porations) during the year ending June
80, was 11,32S, O37.34 acres. This is in
excess of the area so disposed of by the
Government during the previous year by
2,6Oz, S93,96 acres, an increase of over %
per cent. The number Of individual en-
tries of Government land during the year
was 1854, as against Il ,5S1 the previous
year, showing an increase of over % per
cent
The report shows an increase of $50 in
the mineral entries and an increase of LA
patents issued and 466 claims patented. In
commenting on this, feature Secretary
Bliss says: "Ehis increase in mineral en-
tries indicates Il marked revival of the
mining industry, which had fallen to it's
lowest ebb in 1895, when but 757 entries
were made, being less than one-half the
number made in 1898 and the lowest since
1870. From Colorado there was mined
during the calendar year 1897 $40, 1O4, 200
in gold and q ,G36, 400 ounces of silver, ex-
ceeding the output of any other State in
the Union. The next State in gold min
ing was California, with $14 ,61S 300,
Montana being second in the production of
silver, with 1866, 800 ounces. The third
State in gold mining was South Dakota,
with 1904, 900, Utah being third in pro-
duction of silver, with 6,265, 600 ounces.
The fourth State in gold mining was Mon
tana, with $4,373 400, Idaho being fourth
in the production of silver, with 1901 200
ounces
Upon Indian affairs the report says:
'"The progress of the Indians during the
last year, in civilization as we'll as edu-
cation, has been gradual, though substan-
tial. There has been but one disturbance
or outbreak of serious character, and
that was among the Chippewa Indians of
Minnesota. 1t was of very recent occur
renee, however, and happily has been sup
pressed. The population of Indians ex-
elusive Of those in the State of New York,
and those Of the five civilized tribes, may
be stated to be, approximately, $50, 1872;
that of the New York Indians, 5,31S, and
of the five civilized tribes. including IT,
457 freedmen, as 77,O1S. The policy here
tOfOre 1naugurated OF extending to the In
dams every facility tending to make them
an independent and self-supporting class
has been continued"
In speaking of the pension department
the report says: "The report of the COM
missioner of pensions shows that June 80
there were ON the pension roll 993, ia
names, an increase of 17,7OO over the
number On the rolls June 80, 1897. The
amount disbursed for army and navy pen
sions during the year was $144 ,651
$3.50, leaving a balance of So, 431 ,O12 80
unexpended June 80, which was covered
into the treasury. This uneXpended bal
ance would have been reduced in the sum
of $76O,212.24, representing first pay
ments on 1851 cases, which were adjudi-
Gated during the fiscal year, had it been
possible to get them into the hands of the
pension agents in time to make payments
thereon prior to July II