Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-08

Estimated cost. exclusive Of armor ano ar'''s'
ment, g. l50 900 each.
SIX shesthed and coppered cruisers Oh
about $500 tons trial displacement; 10 haso
the highest speed compatible with good cruis-
ing Qualities, great radius Of action ana 70
carry the most powerful ordnance suited 70
vessels Of their class Estimated COST exciu'
sive OF armament. u, l4l so each
| oin with the secretary OF the navy IN rec.
ommepding that the grades OF admiral anu
vice. admiral be temporarily revived. to Do
| filed by officers who have sp cially distih-
guished themselves in the war with Spain
| The Genius
| | earnestly urge upon congress tn imnor-
lance Of early legislation providing for the
taking OF the twelfth census This Is neces-
sary in view OF the large amount OF work when
must be performed In the preparation Of the
| schedule preparatory to the enumeration OF
| the population.
he Pension Rolls.
| There were on the pension rolls on June w,
| 1885, $685. IA names. an increase OF nearly s,osV
over the number on the roll on the same day
| OF the preceding year. The amount approprl-
ated by the act of December y, 1896 for the
payment OF pensions for the fiscal year ls9S
was ,l4lOOl'O o. Eight million, seventy thou
sand eight hundred and seventy-two dollars
and fortv-six cents was appropriated by the
act of March Il, 1898. TO cover deficiencies
in army pensions and repayments in the
/ sum of l2,02) 81, making total OF
Yl4S 08.,t 70 available for the payment OF
pensions during the fiscal year 1898. The
amount disbursed from that sum was Sl4a,65l.-
$40 80, leaving u balance of 434jl0l2.D unex-
pended on the 9th OF June 1874 which was
covered into the treasury. Tnere were Sc0
names added to the rolls during the year BY
special acts pa lsed at the second s,s'lOn OF the
Ffty-ffth congress, making q total Of 6,lS8
pensioners by congressional enactment since
1851
The Patent Once.
The total receipts OF tbs patent 0tfl,e during
the past year were $l,253,9 i8 A. The expendl-
lures were II, OSl. 63a7s leaving surplus Of
Sl72, Sl485
Pubic Lands
The public lands disposed OF by the govern
ment during the year reached S4,Ss)i92 acres,
an increase Of 81, 49, % acres over the previous
year The total receipts from public lands
during the fiscal year amounted to $2,a'7,9sa 10.
an increase Of ,lJl05i9, over the preceding
NChI' luJ luiuN OuDlutCu Ill vuO II iOlOnV
reservations which vera suspended by
the act Of June L. 1897, again became
subject to the operations Of the procla-
nations OF F february 2. 1897, creating
them which added an estimated amount Of
1881 S6 res to thu area embraced in the re-
serves previously created In addition thereto
two new reserves were created during the year
the Pine Mountain AMI Zlca Lake reserves in
California, embracing l,64t59l acres, and the
Prescott reserve in Arizona, embracing l)24J
acres while the Pecos river In New Mexico has
been CHANGED and enlarged to include 10000
additional acres
At the close Of the year 80 forestry reserva.
tiOns, not including those of the Afognac forest
and fish culture reserve in Alaska, had been
created by executive proclamation under sec.
tion "a of the act of March 3. 1891, embracing an
estimated area Of 4),7ls IA acres. The DEPART
ment Of the interior has inaugurated forest
system, made possible by the act OF July 1875,
for a 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 secured in many sections. The
reports received indicate that the system Of
patrol has not only prevented destructive fires
from gaining Roadway but has diminished the
number OF fires
The Indians.
The special attention Of the congress Is called
to that part OF the report Of the secretary OF
the interior in relation to the five civilized
tribes Its noteworthy that the general con-
dition Of the Indians shows marked progress
But one outbreak Of serious character 0c-
Cured during the year and that among the
Chippewa Indians Of Minnesota who happily
have been suppressed While 1t has not yet
been practicable to enforce all the provisions Of
the act of June 70, 1898. for the protection Of
the people Of the Indian territory and for
other purposes it is having q salutary effect
upon the nations composing the five tribes
The Dawes commission reports that the most
gratifying results and greater advance toward
the attainment OF the objects OF the govern
ment have been secured in the past year than
in any previous year. cannot too strongly n-
dorse the recommendation Of the commission
and Of the secretary OF the interior for the
necessity Of providing for the education Of the
10000 white children resident in the. Indian
territory.
The Department Of 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 hemispheres for seeds and plants
that may be useful to the United States and
with the further view Of opening up markets
for our surplus products. TheforesIry division
Of the department is giving special at
tentionto the treeless regions Of our country
and is introducing species specially adapted to
semi-arid regions Forest fires which seriously
interfere with production especially In irrigat-
ed regions are being studied that the losses
from this cause may be avoided. The DEPART
ment is inquiring into the use and abuse Of
water in many states Of the west and collating
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. Experiment stations
are to become more effective every
year The annual appropriation of $4,000
bys congress Is supplemented by 100000
from the states Nationwide experiments
have been conducted to ascertain the suitable-
ness as to soil and climate and states for grow
ing sugar beets. The number Of sugar factories
has been doubled in the past two years and the
ability Of the United States to produce its own
sugar from this source has been clearly demon
strated.
Anniversary IT Founding OF Washington.
In the year 1900 will occur the centennial an
nlversary of the founding Of the city of WASH
ington for the permanent capital Of the govern
ment Of the United States by authority Of an
oct Of congress approved July 6 l79l In May.
1900 the archives and general offices of the fed
eral 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
trict 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 capitol in honor OF the
IN thor of his country and tho intereet tabon b,,