River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-12-01
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary bliss Reviews Work ofPen-
s'on, Indian, Land, Patent, Eduea-
tional and Territorial bureaus.

Washington, Nov. 25.-The annual report
OF Secretary OF the Interior Bliss reviews
IN dsiaii the progress of pension. Indian,
iaad patent, educational and territorial
aHalFs. Reviewing the gradual diminu-
tlon Of public land area, Secretary Bliss
says Ci gu. 100000 acres Of desert land
fsquirlng Irrigation 10 render them vaIu-
aOte farming lands, the available water
supply As sufficient for emily q 500 eco acres,
leaving HU,6lt.uV0 acres suitable only Tor
grazing purposes There are 80 forest res
eFNauons embracing an estimated area
Of 4o.5is.414 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 Az
fairs Jones successful efforts Ia 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 10 in
duce the Mile Lac Chippewas to go to
White Earth reservation. but with meager
success, though Chippewa Commissioner
HAN hopes quite number will remove
this autumn. The senate is urged TO ratify
the treaty with the Uintah Indians TO re-
celve such Uncompahgres as should be al
loued 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 ali not needed for allotment
might be offered for sale The commission
reports its 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 inclined to accept the situa-
tlon in good faith.
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports 6S5000 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 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 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
l2,6Sl appeals from the pension bureau and
GIG motions for reconsideration filed dur
ing the year make up q number unpreCe-
Gented In any one year or two years in the
history of the board OF pension appeals
The proportionate increase still continues
A-eA
such appeals and motions pending and
Secretary Bliss concurs In Assistant Sec.
rotary Davis recommendations for proyid-
ing for three additional members of this
board, for additional legislation amending
the act OF August T. 1852 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
islatve 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 Ia
an honorable discharge, IS now required.
The advancement along educational lines
is outlined by an increase of over 250, 600 of
school pupils in the United States for the
fiscal year 1861 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 inhabitant 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 l6,25J.JJ3.
Secretary Bliss, summing up the report
of Gov Brady, of Alaska, calls attention 10
the difficulty Of preventing the smuggling
of liquor into Alaska, il being Impossible
TO enforce present regulations without a
fleet OF revenue cutters and steam launches
to patrol the tortuous channels of south
east Alaskan waters. Smuggling prevails
and saloons are open In ali 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 "a
stamp out smuggling and liquor selling to
the natives. The application to Alaska OF
the liquor laws in force In the District oil
Columbia with several minor mOdilica.
lions, is urged as meeting majority ap-
prevail. 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 thar
$500 000 s. tax Of a few cents per case OF
salmon would produce from $4,000 TO $780,
coo; ten cents per ten on wharfage collected
during the past year would have yielded
100000 He recommends, however thai
any system of taxation for the territory be
deferred unit! land laws shall have been
provided
Many sections of Alaska, it 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 a 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 a 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 Unalaska. 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
fcias 1t Is recommended that congress
appropriate $4,000 for the erection of a
penitentiary and other buildings.