New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-25
SECRETARY BLISS'S REPORT.
a YEARS WORK OF THE INTERIOR DE-
PARTMENT REVIEWED.
PROGRESS MADE BY THE INDIANs-THE CHIP
PEwA oUTBREAK-PUBLIC LANDS PENSION.


sion, Indian land. patent educational and terri
torial affairs. In regard to the gradual dimnuton
Of publicland area. Secretary Bliss says. OF three
hundred and odd million acres OF desert land re-
curing irrigation to render them valuable farming
lands the available water supply is sufficient for
only 71.s00oo0 acres leaving 26Os76Oc suitable
only for grazing purposes. There are thirty forest
reservations. embracing an estimated area Of ~
71o. 474 acres
The Indians are declared to have made substan-
tial progress. and the Chippewa outbreak in Min
nesota the only serious disturbance Of the
year. Referring to this trouble. the report points
to the successful efforts OF Mr.. Jones' the Commits
sioner Of Indian Affairs. in bringing about the sur
render Of the Indians. and says that the origin OF
the trouble is under joint investigation by the
Departments Of the Interior and Of Justice. As 10
logging operations. which figured so conspicuously
in the discussion of the outbreak Secretary Bliss
says
The aggregate acreage OF Chippewa pine and
agricultural lands be sold originally 2.ssi%i1.
exclusive OF the land allotted to the Indians There
have been disposed of to date s5545 acres OF pine
lands and 3o6Si acres OF agricultural lands. aGSFc,
eating 407l19 acres. The total amount received
mat Rne w ahS has beea IN
the Treasury TO the credit Of the Indians; as r.
CURED by law or the agricultural LANDS soid'
S2063i acres were embraced IN homestead entries
on which there aV due SiO0.5i3
Congress has far appropriated as an advance
to the Chippewa Indians S2,ooO559. which appears
10 DE 10 the 1ONtrliHeHi nc hi'P.'N
innate value of all the lands coded by the Indians
aggregates s527S,Olo Upon the disposal OF all
such lands" the Secretary says. ut Is doubtful
whether compliance with the requirements Of this
act regarding the disbursements of moneys adj
vanced by the United States would impose any
very great hardshps on the Indians. No COM
paints have been made of the differentiation or
timber by the present corps of examiners. 1he
result Of the dead and down timber logging opera
tons on the reservations during the year clearly
indicates the wisdom Of the carrying on of the Work
by the Indian contractors under the regulations
prescribed being in the interest OF the Indians
Logging operations in this reserve we're discon-
tinued some time ago but the Indians have Pc
titoned for a resumption Of the work, which VIII
receive favorable consideration. the work to pro-
coed under the restrictions as heretofore
Considerable effort has been made to induce the
Mile Lac Chippewas to go to White EARN fese'-
walton. but with meagre success though 'oi"
missioner Hall hopes quite number VIII remove.
The Senate is urged to ratfy the treaty with the
rintah Indians to receive such Uncompahsres az
should be allotted 70 lands the Cintah Keset-
Walton No agreement. however. can DC hau'
with the Uintahs for the sale of all their ldhus "
order that all not needed for allotment might ne
offered for sale. The Commission reports Its fai-
ure and saws the terms specified were not accept
able to the tribe. The workings OF the curtis lhd-
ian Territory act are praised. and the more pro-
gressive Indians In the Territory are reported as
inclined 10 accept the situation in good taltn.
PENSIONS. CENSUS AND EDUCATION
Reviewing pension matters. Secretary Bliss re-
ports $4,000 claims q all classes pending. and
SAYS separate division has been organized for
the adjudication of the claims growing out Of the
war with Spain These soldiers VIII receive 'he'r
pensions under the general law for permanent
disabilities contracted in the service He also con-
ours in the recommendation for the creation OF a
commission TO revise the pension laws and regula-
lions in the interest Of future reliable. intelligent
and uniform practice.
Early legislation for the taking of the twelfth
census is urged in view Of the necessary large
amount OF work preparatory to the enumeration Oh
the population.
During the year the Geological Survey has sur
veyed geographically 30.057 square miles. making
total now completed of approximately one-fourth
OF the area OF the entire country. exclusive oil
Alaska The field surveys Of Indian Territory
were completed last June. This latter work has
demonstrated that it is more economical to survey
large areas in this manner than under the con-
tract system heretofore employed by the Govern
rent in its land subdivision surveys. II Is an
ticipated that the sixty thousand square miles OF
forests now included within the forest reserves can
be thoroughly and economically surveyed within
five years if adequate appropriations are made.
The advance along educational lines is shown by
an increase OF over quarter Of million Of school
pupils in the United States for the fiscal year 1886
1897 the previous year. but yet the total aN-
erage amount OF schooling per individual for the
whole United States measured by the present
standard does not quite equal five years Of two
hundred days each for each inhabitant The total
number OF school pupils in the country, in ele-
mentary public and private schools colleges uni
versites high schools and academies, is put at
16 255 093 .
have largely passed into the service OF the POST
Office Department. and are nov distributed for
Yukon through a thousand miles of scattered MN
ing settlements in the wilderness The report
missioner Longstreet for the construction and OPP
Grafton Of a new transcontlnentai truhK me from
Kansas City to San Diego by the Government
AFFAIRS IN ALASKA.
Secretary Bliss summing up the report of Gov
ernor Brady OF Alaska. calls attention to the diff
fculty Of preventing the smuggling OF liquor into
the Territory il being impossible to enforce present
regulations without a fleet Of revenue cutters and
steam launches to patrol the tortuous channels 'of
Southeastern Alaskan waters. Smuggling prevails
and saloons are open in all the towns and mining
camps The Governor reports a consensus Of opin-
ion in favor Of a stringent hgh-license law, which
would tend to stamp smuggling and liquor
selling TO the natives. The application 10 Alaska
OF the liquor laws in force in the District Of Column
oia with several minor notifications. IS urged The
Governor believes that Alaska should and can pay
revenue into the United States Treasury. Under
high-liconse law he estimates that the liquor traffic
would yield an annual revenue Of not less than
$2OOtOO. tax o. few cents on A case 81 salmon
would produce from $5j.Jp 10 $4,000: 70 cents ton
on Wharfage collected IN the las. year Wouln hdVe
Yielded 10000. He recommends. however. that "ny
system OF taxation for the Territory bee deferred
until land laws shall have been prOVlIed. Many
sections of Alaska. it IS shown are suitable ior
agricultural purposes with proper care cattle
can be raised in the mdcr districts. II cannot be
doubted that IN the course Of tine vast herds Of
reindeer will cover the plains OF Northern Alaska
and a few thousands Of dollars spent now IN help
ins the Esquimaux 10 obtain herds viii save the eX-
penditure Of many thousands in the future.
Tho fur seal are doomed 10 extinction unless all
pcasic sea Ing can be stopped The nEanding of
female seals has proved success. Tn brands
render the pelts Valueless. and show that ihe
United States has property r.eht 70 The animal
The raising Of blue foxes i becoming an import ant
Industry. The hunting OF the sea otter mas been
so unremitting that few are now left The Gov
ernor recommends that the killing OF them De pro-
hibiicd for q long time
Representation in Congress Tor ;he citizens OF