Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-12-08

embracing m cStlTilIcu urea u -
T10,454 acres.
join with the secretary of the navy
In recommending that the grades of ad,
miral and vice admiral be temporarily
revived. to be filled by officers who
have specially distinguished themselves
In the war with Spain.
''The several departmental reports
will be laid before you. They give in
great detail the conduct of the affairs
of the government during the past
year and discuss many questions upon
which the Congress may be called mp.
OH to act.
ut is our purpose to muster out the
entire volunteer army ns soon as the
Congress shall provide for the increase
of the regular establishment. This
will be only an act Of Justice and will
be much appreciated by the brave
men who left their homes md employ.
ments to help the country in Its emer-
gency."
"The alien contract law Is shown b!
experience to need some amendment.
a measure providing better protection
for seamen Is proposed; the rightful
application of the ei.ht-hour law for
the benefit of labor and of the princl
pie OF arbitration are suggested. ana
commend these subjects to the careful
consideration OF the Congress.
"The Department OF the Interior has
innugurnted u forest system made
possible by the act Of July, 1893. for II
graded force OF officers In control Of
the reserves. This system has only
been In full operation since August.
but good results have already been se-
cured In many sections. The reports
| received Indicate that the system Of
patrol has not only prevented de-
structivc fires from gaining hendway.
| but has diminished the number OF
fires.
."rhcrc were on the pension rolls on
June 30. 1898. 9a3.I14 names. an In.
| crease of nearly lS.OO0 over the num-
her on the roll on the same day OF the
preceding year. The amount nppro-
priatcd by the act of December -.
| 1896. for the payment OF pensions Tor
| the fiscal year 1888. was S14O.U0.0U.
Eight million seventy thousand eight
hundred and sevcnty-two dollars ana
forty-six cents was appropriated by the
act OF March II. 1898. TO cover deli
cienc!es In army pensions and repay.
| mcnts In the sum OF S12.O20,33. making
a total Of S1iS, S,OS2 ,S92.I9 available for
the payment OF pensions during the fis.
| cal year 1898. The amount disbursctl
from that sum was S1II.651 .SI0.S0.
leaving a balance OF s3.i31 .O12.g9 un-
croenlcd on June 20. 1898, which was
covered into the treasury. There were
$50 names added to the rolls during the
year by special acts passed nt the see
ond session of the Fifty-iirst Congress.
making n total OF G.IS6 pensioners b!
| congressional cnactmcnts since 1851.
The public lands disposed OF by the
|
| 2,ij3. .S96.02 acres. an increase OF G1l,-
7S0.2G acres over the previous year.
The total receipts from public lands
during :lc fiscal year amounted to 81
2T7, ,99J.1S. an Increase OF S13OOOO.E'
over the preceding year. The lands
embraced In the eleven forest rcserva-
tons which were suspended by the
act OF June !. 1897. again became sub.
jcct TO the operations Of the proclaim
tions OF February %. 1897. creating
them. which added an estimated
amount of 1851 800 acres to the
area embraced In the reserves previ-
cusly created. In addition thereto.
two new reserves were created dur
ing tho ycnr-thc Pine mountain and
Zaca lake reservation. In California.
embracing 1.Gil.30i acres. and the
Prescott reservation. In Arizona. en-
brncing 1920 ncrcs. while the Pccos
reservation In New Mexico has been
| changed and enlarged to include 10.
600 additional acres.
The Weather Bureau forecast and oh.
scravton stations have been extended
around the caribbean sea. to give early
warning OF the approach Of hurricanes
| from the South seas TO our fleets and
merchant marine.
"In the year 1000 will occur the cen.
tenninl anniversary of the founding OF
the city of Washington for the perma.
ncnt capital OF the government Of the
United States by authority of an act
of Congress approved July 1G. 100. In
May, 1900. the archives and general of
fees of the federal government were
removed to this place. On the 18th Of
| No. .vcmbcr. 1900. the National Con
grcss met here for the first time and as
sumcd exclusive control of the federal
district and city. This Interesting
event assumes all the more Significance
when we recall the circumstances ut
| tending the choosing OF the site, the
| naming of the capital In honor OF the
father OF his country and the interest
taken by him In the adoption of plans
for its future development on mag
nlficcnt scale.
''Thcse original plans have been
wrought out with Il constant progress
and n signal success even beyond any
thing their trainers had foreseen. The
people OF the country are justly proud
OF the distinctive beauty and govern
mcnt OF the capital aud of the rare
instruments of science and education
which here find their natural home.
"a movement lately inaugurnted by
the citizens to have the anniversary
celebrated with fitting ceremonies, in
Guiding. perhaps. the establishment OF
n handsome permanent memorial to
mark 50 historical an occasion. and to
give 1t more than local recognition.
has met with general favor on the
part OF the public.
81 recommend to the Congress the
granting of an appropriation for this
purpose and the appointment of n
committee from its respective bodies.