Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-01
INTERIOR AFFAIRS.
Secretary Bliss Reviews in Detail
the Affairs Of His Department.
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS OF INDIANS
Peuslou Claims to the Number Of 6S7,OOO
Pending Commission Asked to Revise
Pension Laws-Curtis Act Praised
Webster Davis Report

Washington, Nov. 3d. The annual
report Of Secretary OF the Interior
Bliss, made public last night, reviews
in detail the progress of the pension,
Indian, land, patent, educational ana
territorial affairs. Reviewing the grad
ual diminution Of public land area
Secretary Bliss says:
OF 800 and odd million acres OF desert Janus
recurring irrigation to render them valuable
farming lands, the available water supply Is
sufficient for only 7i,5OO, 800 acres, leaving 9oo'-
e780OO acres suitable only for grazing purposes
There ore 20 forest reservations embracing oil
estimated area Of 40,7l9, 4'4 acres
The Indians are declared to nave
made substantial progress, and the
Chippewa outbreak was the only serl'
Gus disturbance of the year. The sem
ate is urged to ratify the treaty with
the Uintah Indians TO receive such
Uncompahgres as should be allotted
to lands on the Uintah reservation
No agreement, however, can be made I,
with the Uintahs for the sale OF all
their lands in order that all not need
ed for allotment might be offered TOR
sale, The commission reports its fall
ure and says the terms specified were
not acceptable to the tribe The
workings Of the Curtis Indian terri
tory act are praised and the more pro-
l.. l.,
pressive element of the Indians in the
territory are reported as inclined to
accept the situation in good faith.
Reviewing pension matters, Secre.
tary Bliss reports $4,000 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 disabilities
contracted in the service. lie also
concurs in the recommendation for the
creation OF commission to revise the
pension laws and regulations in the
interest of a future reliable, intelligent
and uniform practice.
Early legislative enactment for the
taking Of the twelfth census is urged
in view Of the necessary large amount
Of work preparatory to the enumera
ton Of the population.
During the year the geological sur
vey has surveyed geographically 80,
o57 square miles, making a total nov
completed Of approximately one'fourtf
OF the area OF the entire country, ex
elusive of Alaska. The field surveys
of the Indian territory were com
pleted last June. This latter worl
has demonstrated that it is NOR
economical to survey large areas il
this manner than under the contrac
system heretofore employed by tn
government in its land subdivision
surveys 1t is anticipated that the co.
900 square miles of forests now in
cluded within the forest reserves cal
be thoroughly and economically SUI
veyed within five years II adequate az
preparations are made.
The advancement along educatlona
lines is outlined by an increase OF owe
100000 of school pupils in the Unite
States for the fiscal year of 1869 owe
the previous one, but yet the tota
average amount OF schooling per ind
yidual for the whole United State
measured by the present standard
does not quite equal five years OF q
DAYS for each inhabitant The tot'
number Of school pupils in the countr.
in elementary. public and priva'
schools. universities. high schools an