Evening journal., 1898-11-25
MIR. BLISS REPORTS.
Annual Statement Of Secre-
tary Of the interior.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALASKA.
Good Agricultural Prospects - Coal
Discoveries - Rcindecr - Educn-
ton of Alaskan Children.
WHISKY SMUGGLING. Etc.

NhAeA-@ 1tAuEkllhEf Ltc.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25-The annual
report OF Secretary OF the Interior
Bliss, made public last night reviews
in detail the progress of pension. In
dian. land. patent, educational and ter
ritorlal affairs. Reviewing the gradual
diminutlon Of public land area, socre-
tary Bliss says Of three hundred and
odd million acres OF desert land re-
quiring irrigation 20 render them valu-
able farming lands the available water
supply Is sufficient for only "A 800 600
acres. leaving 26OG76.4A acres suitable
only for grazing purposes. There are
80 forest reservations, embracing an es-
timated area Of 4O,7is.i7 acres.
The Indians are declared 60 have
made substantial progress, and the
Chippeway outbreak was the only seri-
Gus disturbance Of the year. Beferrins
to this trouble. the report points to
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Jones
successful efforts i'm 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.
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports 635, 600 claims Of all class
a.
has been organized for the adjudication
OF the claims growing out Of the war
with Spain. These soldiers win receive
their pensions under the general law
for permanent disabilities contracted In
the service. He also concurs In the rec
ommendation for the creation of a COM
mission TO revise the pension laws and
regulations in the interest OF a future
reliable, intelligent and uniform prac-
tice.
Early legislative enactment for the
taking OF the twelfth census is urged In
view OF the necessary large amount of
work preparatory TO the enumeration
OF the population.
During the year the geological sur
vey has surveyed geographically SO.O5l
square miles, making a total now COM
pleted of approximately one-fourth OF
the area of the entire country exclusive
of Alaska.
The advancement along educational
lines Is outlined by an increase of over
100000 school pupils in the United
States for the fiscal year 1867 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 lnhabitant. The total number Of
school pupils in the country in ele-
mentary public and private schools, coli
leges universities, high schools and
academies Is put at l6,255,Og3
The reindeer and their Lapland drlv-
ers in Alaska have largely passed into
the service OF the postoiiice depart
mont and are now distributed for carr
NtfIe
valley OF the Yukon through 1000 miles
of scattered mining settlements In the
wilderness.
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. IL
being impossible TO enforce present reg
ulations without a fleet OF revenue cut
tiers and steam launches TO patrol the
tortuous channels of southeast Alaska
waters. Smuggling prevails and saloons
are open In all Of the towns and min
ing camps. The governor reports con-
sensus of opinion I'm favor OF stringent
high license law. which would tend TO
stamp out smuggling and liquor selling
to the natives The application TO Alas
ka of the liquor laws In force i'm the
District OF Columbia with several nil
nor notifications, is urged as meeting
a majority of approval.
The governor believes that Alaska
should and can pay revenue into the
United States treasury Under high
license law he estimates that the liquor
traffic would yield an annual revenue Of
not less than 5000 900; a tax of few
cents per case of salmon would pro-
duce from S35 600 to $4,000; 10 cents per
ton on wharfage collected during the
past year would have yielded 100000.
He recommends. however. that any sys-
tenn of taxation for the territory be de-
ferred until land laws shall have been
provided.
Many sections OF Alaska. Il IS shown.
are suitable for agricultural purposes.
with proper care cattle can be raised In
the milder districts. 10 cannot be doubt
cd that In the course of time vast herds
Of reindeer viii cover the plains Of
northern Alaska. and a Few thousand
dollars spent now in helping the Esll-
mos to obtain herds will save the ex-
penditure OF thousands in the future.
The fur seal are doomed to extinction
unless all pelagic sealing can be stop
ped The branding OF female seals has
proved q success. The brands render
the pelts valueless and show that the
United States has a property right 20
the animal The raising Of blue foxes
Is becoming an important industry The
hunting of the sea otter has been so UNI
renting that very few are now LETT
The governor recommends that the kill
ing of them be prohibited for a long
time.
Representation in congress for the
citizens of Alaska is strongly urged.
The past year has been one of great
progress In mining operations Many
Americans who located claims In the
Northwest Territories have abandoned
them and have settled on the Alaskan
side of the international boundary line.
where a new town, Eagle City. has
sprung up. There has been great de-
velopment In quartz mining In south
east Alaska and along the coast as far
as Unalaska. Coal has been discovere J
near the upper Yukon. the Tanana and
on Prince William sound
An appropriation Of $50 600 for the ed
ucation Of children in Alaska is earnest
ly recommended.
Attention is called TO the fact that thu
rapid increase in the number OF vessels
risrfrr fn Alaskan Vrnfrrq saonaccff.t..e