The Ely miner., 1898-11-30
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Bliss Reviews Work of PEN
stOn, Indian, Land, Patent, Educa-
tiOnal and Territorial Bureaus.

Washington, Nov. 25.-The annual report
of Secretary of the Interior Bliss reviews
in detail the progress of pension, Indian,
land, patent educational and territorial
affairs. Reviewing the gradual diminu-
tion OF pubic land area, Secretary Bliss
says: ''Of 301, 100000 acres of desert land
requiring irrigation to render them valu-
able farming lands, the available water
supply is sufficient for only 7l.5oO.0OO acres.
leaving 2e0,676,000 acres suitable only for
grazing purposes There are 80 forest res
ervations embracing an estimated area
Of 40.719.4H acres"
The Indians are declared to have made
substantial progress and the Chippewa out
break was the only serious disturbance of
the year. Referring to this trouble the re-
port points to Commissioner of Indian Af-
fairs Jones' successful efforts in 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
Considerable effort has been made to in
duce the Mile Lac Chippewas to go to
White Earth reservation, but with meager
success, though Chippewa Commissioner
Hall hopes quite a number will remove
this autumn. The senate is urged to ratify
the treaty with the Uintah Indians to re-
ceive such UncompahgreS as should be al
lotted 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 commission
reports it's failure and says the terms
specified were not acceptable 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 situa-
ton in good faith.
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports 6S5,000 claims of all classes
pending, and says 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 dis
abilities contracted in the service. He also
cCncurs in the recommendation for the
creation Of commission to revise the pen
sion laws and regulations in the interest
of a future reliable, intelligent and uni
form practice. Early legislative enact
ment for the taking of the twelfth census
is urged in view of the necessary large
amount of work preparatory to the enum-
Grafton of the population.
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Web
ster Davis, in his annual report, says the
1851 appeals from the pension bureau and
626 motions for reconsideration filed dur
ing the year make up a number unprece-
dented in any one year or two years in the
history of the board of pension appeals.
The proportionate increase still continues
and on October l last there were 1920
,such appeals and motions pending and
Secretary Bliss concurs in Assistant Sec
retary Davis recommendations for provid-
ing for three additional members of this
board; for additional legislation amending
the act of August z, 1882, relating to mar
riages; legislation regulating the payment
of pensions to soldiers who deprive their
families of the use thereof because of i'm
moral habits and incompetency; and a leg
islative amendment in behalf of widows
whose husbands died while in the service
death not being the result of any violation
of any law, regulation or rule Of the mill
tary or naval service, death under such
conditions to be held to be equivalent to
an honorable discharge. as now required.
The advancement along educational lines
is outlined by an increase of over 250, 900 Of
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 habitant. The total number of
school pupils in the country in elementary
public and private schools, colleges, uni
versities, high schools and academies, Is
put at 1926, ,C93.
Secretary Bliss, summing up the report
of Gov. Brady, Of Alaska, calls attention to
the difficulty of preventing the smuggling
of liquor into Alaska, it being impossible
to enforce present regulations without a
to patrol the tortuous channels of south
east Alaskan waters Smuggling prevails
and saloons are open in all of the towns
and mining camps The governor reports
a consensus of opinion in favor of a strin-
gent high license law which would tend to
stamp out smuggling and liquor selling to
the natives. The application to Alaska Of
the liquor laws in force in the District of
Columbia with several minor modifica-
tions, is urged as meeting majority ap-
proVal. 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
$200, 900; a tax of a few cents per case of
salmon would produce from $4,000 to $780,
600; ten cents per ton on wharfage collected
during the past year would have yielded
$100,00O He recommends, however, that
any system of taxation for the territory be
deferred until land laws shall have been
provided.
Many sections of Alaska, 1t is shown, are
suitable for agricultural purposes. With
proper care, cattle can be raised in the
milder districts. 1t cannot be doubted that
in the course of time vast herds of reindeer
will cover the plains of northern Alaska
and few thousands of dollars spent now
in helping the Eskimo to obtain herds will
save the expenditure of many thousands
in the future.
Representation in congress for the citi-
zens Of Alaska is strongly urged
The past year has been one Of great
progress in mining operations. Many
Americans who located claims in the north
west territory have abandoned them and
have settled on the Alaskan side of the
international boundary line, where new
town, Eagle City, has sprung up. There
has been great development in quartz min
ing in southeast Alaska and along the coast
as far as Unaaska. Coal has been dis
covered near the upper Yukon, the Tanana.
and on Prince William sound.
Public buildings at Sitka are urgently
needed for the accommodation of the Of
ficials 1t is recommended that congress
appropriate $4,000 for the erection of
penitentiary and other buildings.