The Progress., 1898-12-10

, ~ AoA AAN
l earnestly urge on congress the i'm
portance of early legislation providing
for the taking of the twelfth census.
This is necessary in view of the large
amount of work which must be per-
formed in the preparation Of the sched-
| ules preparatory to the enumeration Of
the population.
PENSIONS.
There were on the pension rolls on
January 80, 1898, 993,7l4 names, an In
crease Of nearly $4,000 over the number
on the rolls Of the same day Of the pre-
ceding year. The amount appropriated
by the last act of December %, 1896 for
the payment Of pensions for the fiscal
year 1898, was 100000, 900. Eight mil
lion seventy thousand eight hundred
and seventy-twO dollars and fortysiX
cents was appropriated by the act of
March 81, 1898, to cover deficiencies in
army pensions and repayments in the
sum Of $l2,020.33, making a total of
$14S, OS2, S92.79 available for the pay
ment Of pensions during the fiscal year
1898. The amount disbursed from that
sum was $144,651, $3.50, leaving a bal.
ance Of $3.431, O12.99 unexpended on the
Goth Of June, 1885, which was converted
into the treasury. There were 3S9
names added to the rolls during the
year by special acts passed at the Sec
ond session of the 55th congress, max
ing total Of SASS pensioners by con-
gressiOnal enactments since 1861
PATENT OFFICE RECEIPTS.
The total receipts Of the patent office
during the present year were $780,
1854. The expenditures were $l,0S1,-
633.79, leaving surplus of $172,31465.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The public lands disposed of by the
government during the year reached
S,453. 1862 acres, an increase of 6l4,-
1SO.26 acres over the previous year. The
total receipts from public lands during
the fiscal year amounted to 1927, 995.1S,
an increase of $3.50, O639O over the pre-
ceding year. The land embraced in the
eleven forest reservations which We're
suspended by the act Of June 4, 1897,
again became subject to the operations
Of the proclamations Of February %,
1897, creating them, which added an
estimated amount Of 1881, 800 acres to
the area embraced in the reserves pre-
viously created. In addition thereto
two new reserves were created during
the year-the Pine Mountain and SAGA
Lake re-survey, California, embracing
1,644594 acres, and the Prescott reserve
in New Mexico has been changed and
enlarged to include 100000 additional I,
acres
At the close of the year thirty forest
reservations, not including those Of the
Afognac forest and the Fish culture
reserve in Alaska have been created
by executive proclamations under sec
ton "a of the act Of March 3, 1891, en-
bracing an estimated area of 49, 1914
acres,
The department Of the interior has in
augurated forest system, made posi-
bic by the act Of July, 1898, for graded
force Of officers in control of the re-
serves. This system has only been in
full operation since August, but good
results have been secured, the reports
indicate that the system Of patrol has
not only prevented destructive fires
from gaining Roadway, but has dimin-
ished the number Of fires.
WASHINGTON CITY'S CENTEN-
NAL.
In the year 1900 will occur the centen-
NAL anniversary of the founding of the
city Of Washington for the permanent
capital of the United States by author
ity of an act of congress approved
July 6. 1776.
In May, 1900, the archives and general
offices Of the federal government were
removed to this place. On the 18th Of
November, 1900, the national congress
met here for the first time and assumed
exclusive control Of the federal dis
tricts and city. This interesting event
assumes all the more significance when
we recall the circumstances attending
the choosing Of the site, the naming of
the capital in honor Of the father of our
country and the interest taken by him
in the adoption Of plans for its future
development on magnificent scale.