The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-12-15

yaL ne Pine Mountain and. zaea 1a1e
acres. and the Prescott reserve. -
Pecos River reserve in New Mexico has
peen changed and enlarged to include TO-.
OOO additional acres
Afogonac forests and the fish culturs
be- IN Alaska have been created
mated ate area Of lo.7i9, q acres. 's oil ssA
augurated a forest system. made possible
fierce of officers in control Of the reserves.
ton since August, but good results have
The reports received indicate that the
edestructiye fires from gaining headway.
but has diminished the number Of fires.
Promoting Agriculture.
The department of agriculture has been
active in the past year. Explorers have
been sent to many Of the countries of the
Eastern and Western hem,Lspheres Tor
the United States, and with the further
view of opening up markets for our sur.
Plus products. The forestry division OF
to the treeless regions Of our country, and
IS introducing species especially adapted
to semI-arid regions. Forest tires, wuien
seriously interfere with production. es.
studied that the losses from this cause
may be avoided The department is in
many states OF the West and collecting
information regarding the laws Of the
states, the decisions OF the courts and the
customs of the people in this regard SO
that uniformity may be secured.
ExperiImeIn,tal stations are, are becoming
mented by $500, 90 from the stations.
Nation wide experiments have been con-
ducted to ascertain the suitableness as TO
sugar beets. The number of beet sugar
factories has been doubled in the past two
years, and the ability OF the United
States to produce it's own sugar from this
source has been clearly demonstrated.
The weather bureau forecast and OBJ
servation stations have been EXTENDED
around the Caribbean sea to give early
warming Of the approach of hurricanes
from the south seas to our fleets and mer-
chant marine.
pCrtance of early legislation providing Tor
the taking of the twelfth census. This
OF work which must be performed in the
preparation of the schedules preparatory
to the enumeration OF the population.
Pensions.
There were on the pension rolls on June
30, $685. 99a,714 names. an increase Of
nearly $4,000 over the number on the rolls
on the Same day of the preceding year.
The amount of the appropriation by act
of Dec. 90. 1896 for the payment Of pen
sions for the fiscal year 1855 was $14O, 900.
600. Eight million seventy thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two dollars and
forty.six cents was appropriated by the
act of March 3, 1898, to cover deficiencies
in army pensions. and repayment in the
sum of So, O20.33. making a total Of $14S,.
0s2,s92.79 available for The rayment, -, OF
pensions during the fiscal year 1898. The
S144, 651 $3.50, leaving balance Of So. 431..
O129o unexpended on the Both of June.
There were $50 names added to the rolls
during the year by special acts passed at
the second session of the fifty-fifth con-
gress, making a total of G,4S6 pensions by
congressional -enactments since 1861.
TIE several documentary reports will be
laid before you. They give in great detail
ment during the past year and discuss
many questions upon which the congress
may be called upon to act.