Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-12-09

about 1850 tons trial isplaecment; 20 have
the highest speed compatible with good cruis-
ing qualities, great radius OF action and TO
carry the most powerful ordnance suited TO
vessels of their class Estimated cost excla-
Sive Of armament. II. i4l SO each
join with the secretary OF the navy IN rec
ommendinS that the grades of SdmiraI snd
! vice-admiral be temporarily revived to be
filed by officers who have sp -cially distia-
grsSi'esi themselves in the war with Spain
he Genus
I earnestly urge upon congress the inpor-
tance of early Legislation providing for the
taking OF the twelfth census This is Heces-
must be performed in the preparation OF the
schedule preparatory TO the enumeration OF
the population
Pension Rolls
There were on the pension rolls on June 50
1884, COS. ia names. increase OF nearly IS oo0
over the number the roll on the same day
OF the preceding year. The amount appro7ri-
ated by the act OF December - 1926. for the
payment of pensions for the fiscal year 1898
was sl4L000o0L Eight million. seventy thou
sand. eight hundred and seventy-two dollars
and forty-six cents was appropriated by the
act Of March 81, 1898. to cover deficiencies
in army pensions and rep3yments in the
sum OF sls,0sa 81. making total OF
sliS oSSeSe 40 available for the payment OF
pensions during the fiscal year 1895 The
| amount disoursed from that sum was sI44. 65l.-
$40 So leaving = balance OF IS, 4SIois-99 nnex-
pended on the SIth OF June. ls3s. - hich was
covered into the treasury. There were 50
names added to the rolls during the year by
special acts pa SSed at the second session Of the
Fifty-ffth congress, making total of ass
pensioners by congressional enactment since
1851
The Patent OGice.
The total rectip.S OF thu paten. offise during
the past year were sI,sSS,e;s IL The expe1dl-
lures were 51.0si. 6S1Ts leaving \ surplus OF
sI1a.sIL6a-
Public Lands
The public lands disposed o; hy the govern
ment during the year reached S as. s9d 81 acres.
an increase of GA so 90 acres over the previous
year. The total receipts from public lands
during the fiscal year amounted to - ssT. 99AIs.
increase of sl91oS39l over the precediR e
year. The lands embraced in the IL forest
| reservations which were suspended by
| the act OF June 1. 1897 again became
subject to the operations OF the procla-
nations OF February p. 1897. creating
| tn IN. which added a estimated amount Ct
1e,sslS6 acres To the area embraced IN ths re-
serves previously created In addition thereto
two new reserves were created during the year
the Pine Mountain and Zaca Lake reserves in
California, embracing l.64i.SSl acres. and the
Prescott reserve in Arizona, embracing Ia.2i3
acres. while the Pecos river in New Mexico has
been changed and enlarged 10 include $4,000
additional ceres
at the close OF the year 81 forestry reserva-
lions. not including those OF the Afognac forest
| and fish culture reserve in Alaska had bsen
created by executive proclamation under Sec
ton "a of the act of March ), 1891. embracing an
estimated area of l.. 7I9- 454 acres The depart
ment OF the interior has inaugurated a forest
| system, made possible BY the act OF july. ISSS.
| for graded force OF officers il control OF the
/ reserves This system has only been IL full
| operation since August but good results have
4 already been secured in many sections The
reports received Indicate that the system OF
patrol has not only prevented destructive fires
| from gaining Roadway but has diminished tho
| number OF fires
| The Indians.
| The special attention OF the congress Is called
| 70 that part of the report OF the secretary OF
| the interior in relation to the five civilized
| tribes II is noteworthy that the general con-
dition of the Indians shows marked progress
But one outbreak OF a seriouE7 character &C.
CURED during the year and that among the
Chippewa Indians OF Minnesota who happily
have been suppressed While it has not yet
been practicable to enforce all the provisions Of
| the act OF June .. lsesr for the protection OF
the people of the Indian territory and for
other purposes 2" il Is having a salutary effect
upon the nations composing the i've tribes
The Dawes commission reports that the most
gratifying results and greater advance toward
the attainment OF the objects OF the govern
ment have been secured in the past year than
In any previous year. / cannot too strongly in
dorse the Recommendation OF the commission
| and OF the secretary OF the interior for the
| necessity OF providing for the education OF the
$1,000 white children resident in the Indian
| territory.
The Department OF Agriculture.
| The department of agriculture has been
| active in the past year Explorers have been
sent to many OF the countries of the eastern
! and western hemispheres for seeds and plants
| that may be useful to the United States and
| with the further view OF opening up markets
| fo- our surplus products The forestry division
OF the department is giving special Ut
tention TO the treeless regions OF country
and is introducing species specially adapted To
senlI-arid regions Forest fires which seriously
interfere with production especially in irriSst-
ed regions are being studied that the losses
from this cause may be avoided The depart
meat is inquiriL-, into thc and abuse OF
water in many states OF the west and collating
Information regarding the laws OF the states
the decisions of the courts ana the customs OF
Il the people IN this regard that uniformity
may be secured Experiment stations
are become mere effective every
year. The annual appropriation OF $1,000
| by congress Is supplemented by 600
| from the states Nationwide experiments
have been conducted 20 ascertain the suitable
| ness TO soil and climate and states for grow
| ing sugar beets. The number of sugar factories
has been doubled in the past two years ana the
| ability OF the United States TO prOduce its own
sugar from this source has been clearly demon
| strated.
In the year 1870 will occur the centennial an
| niversary OF the founding OF the city of Wash
iaguon for the permanent capital or the govern
ment OF the United States by authority Of an
| act Of congress approved July Is I7Sa In May.
isl1 the archives and general or1ces OF the fed
| eral government were removed to this place
On the nth OF November, 1900. the national
| congress met here for the first time and
| assumed exclusive control of the federal dis
| trict and city. This interesting event assumes
| all the usore Significance when recall tbs
! circumstances attending the choosing OF the
| site, thu naming Of the capitol In honor OF the
! father OF his country and the interest taken by
him in the adoption OF plans for its future de-
| velopment magnificent sale These orig
| iaal plans have been wrought out with con-
! slant progress and a signal success even be-
| yond anything their trainers could have fore
| seen The people of the country are justly
proud OF the distinctive beauty and govern
! ment Of the capital and OF the rare instruments
OF science and education which here find their
natural home