La Junta tribune., 1898-12-17


l. Three seagoing sheathed and cop
pered battleships of about 1850 tons
trial displacement. carrying the henv-
lest armor and most powerful ordancc
for vessels of their class. and to have
the highest practicable speed and
great radius of action. Estimated ccst.
of armor and armament, S3,-
600 600 each
.. Three shea;hed and coppcred ar
mored cruisers OF about 12,0oo tons
trial displacement, carrying the heay-
lest armor and most powerful ord
nance for vessels of their class, and to
have the highest practicable speed and
great radius of action. Estimated cost,
exclusive or armor and armament, ST.
OOO,O0O each
2. Three sheathed and coppered pro-
tected cruisers of about 6.olN tons trial
displacement. 10 have the highest prac-
ticable speed and great radius Of action
and to carry the most powerful ord
nance suitable for vessels of their
class. Their estimated cost. exclusive
of armor and armament. $2.15o,oOO
each.
1. Six sheathcd and coppercd cruis-
ers of about $500 tons trial displace-
ment: 10 have the highest speed com
patible with good cruising qualities,
great radius of action .and to carry the
most powerful ordnance suited 10 yes
sels of their class. Estimated cost. cN-
elusive of armament. Sl.lI1 800 each.
join with the secretary of the navy
in recommending that the grades of ad-
miral and vice admiral be temporarily
revived. to he filed by officers who
have specially distinguished themselves
in the war with Spain.
l earnestly urge upon Congress the
Importance of early legislation pruvid-
Ing for the taking of the twelfth cen
sus. This Is necessary in view of the
large amount OF work which must he
performed in the preparation of the
schedules preparatory to the enumera-
tion Of the population.
The n .tion'. p-n.ion Roll.
There We're on the pension rolls on
June 30. 1898. 993.Tl4 names. an In
crease of nearly $4,000 over the num-
ber on the roll on the same day of the
preceding year. The amount appro-
printed by the act of December 22,
1896. for the payment of pensions for
the fiscal year 1898. was S14o.O00. 900.
Eight million seventy thousand eight
hundred and scventy-two dollars and
forty-siN cents was appropriated by the
act of March 81. 1888. to cover def
cicncies in army pensions and repay
mcnts In the sum of S12.O2D.}3. making
total OF S1iS, ,OS2 ,s92.T0 available for
the payment of pensions during the iis-
cal year 1898. The amount disbursed
from that sum was Sill. 1851. .ST9.S0.
leaving a balance Of S3.431 .012.99 I'M
expended on June 30. 1893. which was
covered into the treasury. There were
:}S!, names added 10 the rolls during the
year by special acts passed nj the sec
ond session of the l'ifty-iirst Congress.
making n total OF 6.iS6 pensioners by
congressional ennctments since 1861.
The total receipts of the patent office
during the past year We're $1,253.
HS.4i. The expenditures were S1.0S1.-
633.I9, leaving IA surplus OF S1I2,3l4.G5.
The Publ L Lands.
The public lands disposed OF by the
government during the year reached
S,45:i. .S96.92 acres. an increase OF 614.-
ISO.26 acres over the previous year.
The total receipts from public lands
during the fiscal year amounted to S.
2IT,39j.1S. an increase of S190.OO0.DO
over the preceding year The lands
embraced IN the eleven forest reserva-
tions which were suspended by the
act of June 1. 1897. again became sub
Jcct to the operations Of the proclama-
tons of February -. 1897. crenting
them. which added an estimated
amount of 1881 800 ncres to the
area embraced in tie reserves prcyi-
cusly created. In addition thereto.
two new reserves were created dur
ing the year-the Pine mountain and
Zaca lake reservation. in California.
embracing l.GIi.594 acres. and The
Prescott reservation. in Arizona. en-
bracing 1920 ncres. while the Pecos
reservation in New Mexico has been
changed and enlarged 10 include 120.-
coo additional acres.
At the close OF The year thirty for
estry reservations. not Including those
of the AfOgnac forest and the fish cul-
tu.e reserve. in Alaska had been ere
ated by executive proclamation under
section 2 of the act of March 3. 1891.
embracing an estimated area of t.,
119.454 acres.
The Department of tlie Interior has
inaugurated forest system made
possible by the net of July. 1898. for II
graded force of officers in control of
the reserves. This system has only
been In full operation since August.
hut good results have already been Sc
cured in many sections. The reports
received Indicate that the system of
patrol has not only prevented de-
structive fires from gaining headway.
but has diminished the number of
fires.
The Department OF Agriculture has
been active In the past year. Explorers
have been sent 10 many OF the coun-
tries of the eastern and western hem
lspleres for seeds and plants that may
he 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 ireeless
regions of our country. and Is introduc-
ing species specially adapted to semi
arid regions. Forest fires. which seri-
ously Interfere with production. espe-
cially In irrigated regions. are belng
studied, that the losses from this cause
may be avoided. The department is in
guiring into the use and abuse Of wat
or in mnny edafes of the West and col