The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-25
REPORT OF INTERIOR AFFAIRS.
Secretary Bliss Resume of the Busi-
mess of His Oalee.


Washington, Nov A.-The annual report
of Secretary of the Interior Bliss, made
public tonight, reviews in detail the pro-
gress of pension, Indian land, patent, ed
ucational and territorial affairs. Re
viewing. the gradual diminution in public
land area, Secretary Bliss says:
"Os three hundred and odd million
acres of desert land requiring irrigation
to render them valuable farming lands
the available water supply is sufficient for
only 71,5Oo,OO0 acres, leaving 26O,676OOO
acres suitable only for grazing purposes.
There are thirty forest reservations en-
bracing an estimated area Of 4O,7ls,474
acres"
The Indians are declared TO have made
substantial progress and the Chippewa
outbreak was the only serous disturbance
of 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.
Congress has so far appropriated as an
advance to the Chippewa Indians $1,000, ,55s,
which appears to be reimbursable to the
government.
The approximate value Of all the lands
ceded by the Indians aggregates s., O1O.
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports 635. 900 claims Of all classes
pending, and says separate division has
been organized for the adjudication of
all claims growing out of the war with
Spain. lie concurs in the recommended
ton for the creation of a commission to
revise The pension laws and regulations
in the interest of future, reliable, intel
ligent and uniform practice. early legis-
latiye enactment for the taking OF the
twelfth census is urged over the necessary
large amount of work preparatory 10 the
enumeration Of the population.
During the year the geological survey
has surveyed geographically S0O75 square
miles, making a total now completed of
approximately one-fourth Of the area of
the entire country, exclusive of Alaska.
The advancement along educational lines
is outlined by increase of over a quarter
of million of school pupils in the Unit
ed States for the fiscal year 1S95-97, 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 inhabi-
tant The total number Of school pupils
in the country, in elementary, public and
private schools, colleges, universities,
high schools and academies, is put at 49,,
255, 093.
The reindeer and their Lapland drivers
In Alaska have largely passed into the
service of the postoffice department, and
are now being distributed for carrying the
Yukon mail up and down the valley OF the
Yukon, through one thousand miles of
scattered mining settlements in the will
derness
The fur seals are doomed to extinction
unless all pelagic sealing can be stopped.
The branding Of female seals has proven
a success. The brands render the pelts
valueless, and show that the United States
has property right 10 the animal
Representation in Congress for the citl-
zens Of Alaska is strongly urged
Great as was the worlds production of
gold in 1897" continues the director.
Amounting to the value of s237. .5O4. 800. and
exceeding that of 1896 by $S4, 1872, 500 it is
judging by The returns already at hand
certain that the product OF 1893 viii be still
greater.
THE returns from South Africa for ten
months show that q the present rate OF
production its yield viii exceed the yield
of 1887 by s21 ,S52 Oo0. The returns from Aus
tralia indicate that its product In 1898 will
exceed the product of 1897 by S1Oss5. 900.
From July Is last, 10 Nov. Is, the receipts
of gold al Seattle and San Francisco from
the Canadian Yukon aggregated above S10,-
100000, and on this basis the increased pro
duction for Canada in 1898 is estimated at
$500, coo. The increase in the United States
can hardly fall below $50O0,000
"rhe total of these estimates Is S45, ,6S7.-
coo which added to the figures OF 1897
would indicate a worlds product in 1898
of $2S3, 192, 800 if the remaining countries in
their aggregate are unchanged. The pro-
duct of 1891, 100000 will be more than
double, and the combined value OF the
gold and silver product ten years ex-
ceeded by gold alone.
"Stocks in gold in sight i'm European
banks and government treasures from
December, 1892. to December, 1897, increas-
ed $3.50, GOO or over 40 per cent The
stock Of gold in the United States In the
five years increased $05, $4,000. The increase
in the gold holdings Of the banks of Aus
tralia, Canada and South America was
about $4,000 600. Total gold thus account
ted for, 1856, 450,0 ,0OO"