The herald., 1898-11-25
OF WORK OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT
ONLY ONE INDIAN OUTBREAK
Progress Reported in Dealing With
Pension, Patent, Educational and
Territorial Affairs
Associated Press Special Wire

progress of pension, Indian, land, patent,
educational and territorial affairs. Review
ing the gradual diminution OF pubhc land
area, Secretary Bliss says:
OF three hundred and odd million acres
OF desert land requiring irrigaticn to render
them valuable farming lands, the available
water supply is sufficient for only 7l,5OO,OOO
acres, leaving 2G0. SIC, 900 acres suitable only
for grazing purposes. There are thirty for
est reservations, embracing an estimated
area of 4O,7l0,474 acres.
THE INDIAN QUESTION
The Indians are declared to have made
substantial progress and the Chippewa out
break was the only serious disturbance o.
the year.
Referring to this trouble the secretary
points to Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Jones successful efforts in bringing about
tho surrender of the Indians, and says the
origin OF the trouble is now under joint
investigation by the departments OF the in
terror and OF justice.
As to the logging operations there, which
figured conspiouously in tire discussion
Of the outbreak, Secretary Bliss says:
"The aggregate acreage OF Chippewa pine
and agricultural lands to be sold originally
was 1854, ,297, exclusive Of the land allotted
to the Indians There have been disposed
OF to date S6545 acres OF pine lands and
S2O,03l acres of agricultural lands, aggre-
eating 407,l79 acres. The total amount re-
ceived from the sale of pine and agricultural
lands is approximately S659,9l3, which has
been deposited in the treasury to the credit
OF the Indians as required by law. OF the
agricultural lands, sold, 320,634 acres were
embraced in homestead entries on which
there are due S400,5
Congress has so far appropriated, as an
advance to the Chippewa Indians, 50 oG0, $50,
which appears to be reimbursabe to the
government. The approximate value of all
the lands ceded by the Indians aggregates
f5,2530l0.
Upon the disposal of all such lands,'
the secretary says, sit is doubtful whether
compliance with the requirements of this
act regarding the disbursements of moneys
advanced by the United States would inn
pose any very great hardship onl the Indians.
No complaints Of the differentiation Of
timber by the present corps of examiners
have been made. The result of the dead and
down timber logging operations on the res
ervations during the year clearly indicates
the wisdom OF the carrying on of the work
by the Indian contractors under the regula-
tions promulgated, as being in the interest
OF the Indians Logging operations on this
reservation We're discontinued some time
ago, but the Indians recently have peti-
ticned for a resumption of the work, which
will receive favorable consideration, the
work to progress under the same restric-
tions as heretofore"
Considerable efforts has been made to in
duce the Mile Lac Chippewas TO go to the
White Earth reservation, but with meager
success, though Chippewa Commissioner
Hall hopes quite number will remove this
autumn.
The senate is urged to ratify the treaty
with the Uintah Indians to receive such
Cncompahgres as should be allotted to lands
on the Uintah reservation. No agreement,
however, can be made with the Uintahs for
the sale of all their lands in order that all
not needed for allotment might be offered
for sale. The committee reports its failure
and says the terms specified were not ac-
ceptable to the tribe. The workings of the
Curtis Indian territory act are praised and
the more progressive element of the Indians
In the territory are reported as inclined to
accept the situation in good faith.
PENSION MATTERS
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports 635,O0O claims of all classes
pending and says a separate division has
been organized for the adjudication of
claims growing out of the war with Spain.
These soldiers will receive their pensions
under the general law for permanent disa-
bilities contracted in the service.
He also concurs in the recommendation
tItn Of 10
pension laws and regulations in the interest
of future reliable intelligent and uniform
practice.
THE TWELFTH CENSUS
Early legislative enactment for the taking
OF the twelfth census is urged, in view of
the necessarily large amount Of work pre-
paratory to the enumeration Of the popu-
lation.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
During the year the geological survey has
surveyed geographically 30,057 square
miles, making Il total now completed of
approximately one-fourth of the area of the
entire country, exclusive of Alaska The
field surveys of Indian territory were COM
pieted last June. This latter work has
demonstrated that it is more economical to
survey large areas in this manner than I'M
der the contract system heretofore en-
poyed by the government in its land sub
division surveys. Ii is anticipated that the
6O,0OO square miles OF forest now included
within the forest reserves can be thoroughly
and completely surveyed within five years,
when adequate appropriations are made.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS
The advancement along educational lines
is outlined by increase of over quarter of
q million OF pupils in the United States for
the fiscal year 1867, over the previous one.
but yet the average amount of schooling
per individual for the whole United States
measured gy the present standard does not
quite equal five years of two hundred days
each for each nhabitant. The total mum.
Der of school pupils in the country, in ee
nientary public and private schools. col
leges, universities, high schools and acad
emies, is put at l6,255,O93.
ALGER'S DEER DRIVERS
The reindeer and Lapland drivers in Alas
ka have largely passed into the service of
the postoflice department and are now be-
ing distributed for carrying the Yukon mail
up and down the valley of the United States
through thousand miles of scattered min.
ing settlements in the wilderness. The re.
port makes MO mention of the recommenda-
tion of the commissioner OF railroads, Long