The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-25
SECRETARY B1IsS' REPORT.
Progress in Pension, Indian Education
 nnd TerriIOrInl AtfMirs.

Washington, Nov. 24-The annual re- port of Secretary Bliss reports the pro- gross of pension, Indian, land, patent educational and territorial affairs. Re- viewing the gradual dimunit on of the public land area, Secretary Bliss says that of three hundred and odd million acres of desert land requiring irriga- ton to render them valuable farming lands, the available water supply is sufficient for only 71,5oO,00O acres, leav- ing 260,676,0O0 acres suitable only for grazing purposes. There are two forest reservations embracing an estimated area of 40,179,474 acres. The Indians are declared to have made substantial pro- gress and the Chippewa outbreak was the only serious disturbance of the year. The origin of the trouble is now under investigation.
 The report deals at some length with the logging operations there which fig- ured so conspicuously in the discussion of the outbreak. Other matters con- nected with the Indians are also dis cussed.
 Reviewing pension matters Secretary Bliss reports 635, ,G00 claims of all class es pending and says a separate division has been organized for the adjudication of claims growing out of the war with Spain. Those soldiers will receive their pensions under the general law fer per manent sabiities contracted in the service. He concurs in the recommen- dation for the creation of a commission to revise the penGiGn laws and regula- tions in the interest of future reliable, intelligent and uniform practice. Ear ly legislative enactment for the taking of the twelfth census is urged
 During the year the Geological sur sey has surveyed Geographically 30.- 057 square miles, making a total now completed of approximately one-fourth of the area of the entire country exclu- sive of Alaska. The advancement along educational lines is outlined by an in- crease of over quarter of million of pupils for the fiscal year 1S96-7 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 emen- tary public and private schools col leges, universities, high schools and academies is put at 16255.(93.
 Secretary Bliss summing up the re- port of Governor Brady of Alaska calls attention to the difficulty of preventing the smuggling of liquor into Alaska The governor reports consensus of opinion in favor of a stringent high li- cense law which would tend to stamp out smuggling and liquor selling to the natives. The application to Alaska of the liquor laws in force in the District of Columbia with sevedal minor modi- flcations is urged. The governor believ- es that Alaska should and can pay revenue into the United States treas ury. Many sections of Alaska, it is shown, are suitable for agricultural purposes.
 It cannot be doubted, the governor says, that in time vast herds of rein deer will cover the plains of Northern Alaska. The fur seal, he states. are doomed to extinction unless all pelagic sealing can be stopped. The raising of blue foxes is becoming an important in- dustry Representation in congress for Alaska is strongly urged. The past year mas been one of great progress n min- ing operations The other territorial re- ports all claim material progress and urge immediate recognition as states.