The age-herald., 1898-11-25
Indian Outbreak and Legislation for the
 Red Nan Referred to.
NO DECENTRALIZATION OF TIMBER
The Senate Urged to Ratify the Treaty With the Uintah Indians-Early Legislation for Taking the
 Census Asked For.

IudQ6 puDlC tODlSnl, ftNlSAS III uSioiA etAS progress of pension, Indian,. land, patent, educational and territorial affairs. Review ing the gradual diminution of public land area, Secretary Bliss says: "of course, three hunderd and odd million acres or desert land requiring irrigation to render them valuable farming lands, the available water supply is sufficient for only n50O,0OO acres, leaving 26O,676,000 acres suitable only for grazing purposes. There are thirty for est reservations, embracing an estimated area of 40,719,4H acres.
 The Indians are declared to have made substantial progress, and the Chippewa out break was the only serious disturbance or the year. Referring to this trouble, the report points to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Jones' successful efforts in bringing about the surrender of the Indians, and says the origin of the trouble is now under joint investigation by the departments of the interior and of justice.
 As to the logging operations there which figured so conspicuously, in the discussion Of the outbreak, Secretary Bliss says:
 "The aggregate acreage of Chippewa pine and agricultural lands to be sold originally was 2,9S4.297, exclusive of the land allotted to the Indians. There have been disputed up to date 36 545 acres of pine lands, 62O,634 acres of agricultural lands, aggregating 407 179 acres. The total amount received from the sale of pine lands is, approxi- mateiy s659,913, which has been deposited in the treasury to the credit of the Indians as required by law. Of the agricultural lands sold, 320634 acres were embraced in homestead entries, on which there are due $4OO,543.
 Congress- Appropriations
 "Congress has so far appropriated, as an advance to the Chippewa Indians, s2,06O,55s, which appears to be reimbursable to the government. The approximate value of all the lands ceded by the Indians aggregates $5,273.O .O1O."
 Upon the disposal of all such lands," the secretary says '.it is doutful whether com pliance with the requirements of this. act regarding the disbursements of fmeneys ad- vanced by the United States would impose any very great hardship on the Indians.
 No complaint of the under-valuation of timber by the present corps of examiners have been made. The result of the dead and down timber logging operations on the reservations during the year clearly indi- cates the wisdom of the carrying on of the work by the Indian contractors under the regulations promulgated being in the in terest of the Indians. Logging operations on this reserve were discontinued some time ago, but the Indians recently have pe- titioned for resumption of the work. which will receive favorable consideration, the work to progress under the same re- stctions as heretofore"
 Considerable effort has been made to in- duce the Mile Lac Chippewas to go to White Earth reservation, but with meager success, though Chippewa Commissioner Hall hopes quite number will remove this autumn.
 with the Uitah Indians, who receive such Uncompahgres as should be allotted to lands on the Uitah reservation. No agreement, however, can be made with the Unitahs for the sale of all their lands in order that all not needed for allotment might be offered for sale. The commission reports it's failure and says the terms spec flied were not acceptable to the tribe. The workings of the Curtis Indian territory act are praised and the more progressive ele- ment of the Indians in the territory are re-. ported as inclined to accept the situation in good faith.
 Reviewing pension matters Secretary Bliss reports 635, 900 claims of all classes pending, and says separate division has been organized for the adjudication of claims growing out of the war with Spain. These soldiers will receive their pensions under the general law for permanent dis abilities contracted in the service.
 ToRcvise Pension Laws
 He also concurs in the recommendation for the creation of commission to revise the pension laws and regulations in the in- terest of a future reliable, intelligent and uniform practice. Early legislative enact ment for the taking of the twelfth census is urged in view of the necessary large amount of work preparatory to the emu meration of the population.
 During the year the geodetic survey surveyed Geographically 30057 square miles, making a total now completed of approximately one-fourth of the area of the entire country exclusive of Alaska. The field surveys of Indian Territory were com pleted last June. This latter work has demonstrated that it is more economical to survey large areas in thIs manner than url- der the contract system heretofore employ ed by the government in it's land sub-di- vision surveys. It is anticipated that the SO, GOO square miles of forests now included within the forest reserves can be thorough ly and economically surveyed within five years, if adequate appropriations are made.
 The advancement along educati tional lines Is outlined by an increase of over quarter or iuiiiioi ol sciiool pupHS m tne Onlteu States for the fiscal year 1896-97 over the previous one, but yet the total average amount of schooling per individual for the whole United States. measured by the present standard. does not quite equal five years of 200 days each for each inhabitant The total number of school pupils in the country in elementary. public and private schools colleges. universities, high schools and academies Is put at 16,255,093
 The Reindeer and their Lapand drivers in Alaska have largely, passed into the service of the postofflce department and are now being distributed for carrying the Yukon mail up and down the valley of the Yukon through thousands of miles of scat tered mining settlements in the wilderness The report makes no mention of the recom- mendation of Commissioner of Railroads Iongstreet for the government construc-