The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-05
M KlNLEY TO CONGRESS.


bursed from that sum was s144. 651. $3.50.
leaving a balance of IS, 431, O12.99 unex-
pended on the 3Oth of June 1885, which
was covered into the treasury.
There were 2S9 names added to the
rolls during the year by special acts
passed at the second session of the
Fifty-1fth congress, making a total of
{, 4S6 pensioners by congressional enact
mentS since 1861.
The total receipts of the patent office
during the past year We're 81, 253, 94S. "A.
The expenditures were 81, 0S1, 633. rs, lea,V-
ing a surplus of $172. Bags.
The public lands disposed of by the
government during the year reached s.
453. 80 acres, an increase of GA, 1926
acres over the previous year. The total
receipts from public lands during the
fiscal year amounted to $2277. 995.18, an
increase of $3.50, 06S.90, over the preced-
ing year. The LANDS embraced in the
eleven forest reservations which were
suspended by the act of June 4, 1897
again became subject to the operations
of the prOclamatiOns of February D.
1897, creating them, which added an eS-
timated amount of Is, 951, $50 acres to the
area embraced in the reserves previous
ly created.
IN addition thereto two new reserves
were created during the year, the Pine
Mountain and Seaca Lake reserve in
California, embracing 1644,594 acres and
the Prescott reservation in Arizona, en-
bracing 1920 acres, while the PecoS
river in New Mexico has been changed
and enlarged to include 100000 additional
acres.
At the close of the year thirty forestry
reservations, not including those of the
AfOgnac forest and the fish culture re
serve in Alaska, had been created by
executive proclamation under section
"a of the act of March 3, 1891, embrace
ing an estimated area, of 40, 719,474 acres.
The department of the interior has in
augurated a, forest system, made posi-
BILE by the act of July, 1898, for graded
force of officers in control of the re-
serves. This system has only been in
full operation since August but good
results have already been secured in
many sections. The reports received in
dictate that the system of patrol has not
only prevented destructive fires from
gaining headway, but has diminished
the number of fires.
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. It is note
worthy that the general condition of the
Indians shows marked progress. But
one outbreak of a serious character or
CURED during the year, and that among
the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota,
which happily has been suppressed.
While it has not yet been practicable
to enforce all the provisions Of the act
of June %, 1898, for the protection Of
the people of the Indian Territory ana
for other PURPOSES - it is having Salu-
tary effect upon the nations composing
the five tribes. The Dawes commission
reports that the most gratifying results
and greater advance toward the attain
ment of the objects of the government
have been secured in the past year than
in any previous year.
I cannot too strongly endorse the re-
communication of the commission and of
the secretary of the interior for the nee
cessity of providing for the education
of the 10000 white children resident in
the Indian Territory.
The department of. agriculture has
been active in the past year. Explor-
ers have been sent to many of the
zfeAVsT1
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. The
| forestry division of the department is
| giving special attention to the treeless
| regions of our country and is introduce
| ing species specially adapted to semi
! arid regions. Forest fires, which Serl-
| ously interfere with production, espec-
| tally in irrigated regions are being stud
! led, that the loss from this cause may
| be avoided.
The department is inquiring into the
use and abuse of water in many states
| of the west and cOllating information
| regarding the laws of states, the decis-
| ions of the courts and the customs Of
| the people in this regard, so that uni
| fOrmity may be secured. Experiment
stations are becoming more effective
every year. The annual appropriation
| of S72O 600 by congress is supplemented
by $400 600 from the states. Nation
| wide experiments have been conducted
| to ascertain the SuEaDleneSS as TO SOIL
and climate and states for growing SUI
| gar beets. The number of sugar factor
| les 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 demOnstra-
| ted.
The weather bureau forecast and OBJ
| serVatiOn 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 1900 will occur the centen-
| NAL anniversary of the founding of the
| city of Washington for the permanent
| capital of the government of the Uni
ted States, by authority of an act OF
CONGRESS approved July Is. 1890. In
| May 1900, the archives and general Off
| ces of the federal government were re
moved to this place. On the 1fth OF
| NOvern Der 1900 the national congress
met here for the first time and assumed
| exclusive control of the federal district
and city. This interesting event as
SumeS all the more significance when
| we recall the circumstances attending
! the choosing of the site, the naming OF
/ the canita in Honor of the father of his
! country and the interest taken by him
| in the adoption of plans for its future
| development on a magnificent scale
! These original plans have been
! wrought out with a constant progress
! and a signal success, even beyond any
| thing their trainers could have fOreseen.
! The people of the country are justly
proud of the distinctive beauty ana gov
! eminent of the capitol and of the rare
/ instruments of science and education
| which here find their natural home.
/ A movement lately inaugurated by
! the citizens to have the anniversary
| celebrated with fitting ceremonies, in
| Guiding, perhaps, the establishment of
! a handsome permanent memorial to
| mark so historical an occasion, and to
! give it more than local recognition has
! been met with favor on the part of the
| public.
[ recommend to congress the granting
/ ff an IN ion for.