The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-06
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
Facts Concerning Public Lands, Indi-
ans and Pensions.

I earnestly urge upon congress the
Importance of early legislation provid-
ing for the taking of the twelfth CEN
sus. This is necessary, in view of the
large amount of work which must be
performed in the preparation of the
schedules preparatory to the enumera-
ton of the population.
There were on the pension rolls on
June 80, 1898, 99S, IA names, an increase
of nearly $4,000 over the number on the
roll on the same day of the preceding
year. The amount appropriated by the
act of Dec. %, 1896, for the payment of
pensions for the fiscal year, 1885, was
$140, 000, 900. Eight million, seventy
thousand eight hundred and seventy
two dollars and forty-six cents was
appropriated by the act of March 81,
1898, to cover the deficiencies in army
pensions and repayments in the sum
of $12, 020.33, making a total of S14S,0S2,-
1929 available for the payment of pen
sions during the fiscal year 1885,
The amount disbursed from that sum
was $144, 651 $3.50, leaving a balance of
SO, 49, 012.99 unexpended on the 30th of
June, 1898, which was covered into the
treasury. There were SS9 names added
to the rolls during the year by special
acts passed at the second session of
| the Fifty-fifth congress. making to-
tai of Sass pensioners by congressional
endCImeDIS since 1901.
The total receipts of the patent office
during the past year were 81, 253, 94S.44
The expenditures were $1,0S1, 6S3.79,
leaving a surplus of S172,314.65.
PUBLIC. LANDS.
The public lands disposed of by the
government during the year reached
S,45S, 1862 acres, an increase of GA
1926 acres over the previous year.
The total rnoaintc from r11b1io lands
during the fiscal year amounted to ST.
| -277, 9951S, an increase of $3.50, 063.90 over
the preceding year. The lands en-
braced 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
Feb. %, 1897, creating them, which
added an estimated amount of 1851
$50 acres to the area embraced in the
reserves previously created. In addi-
ton thereto, two new reserves were
created during the year-the Pine
mountain and Zaca lake reservation, in
California, embracing 1,644,594 acres,
and the Prescott reservation, in Ari-
IONA, embracing 1920 acres; while the
Pecos river, in New Mexico, has been
changed and enlarged to include 120,0
additional acres.
At the close of the year thirty for
estry reservations, not including those
Of the Afognac forest and the fish
culture reserve, in Alaska, had been
created by executive proclamation.
under section "a of the act of March
8, 1891, embracing an estimated area of
AIS, 454 acres The department of the
interior has inaugurated forest sys-
TEN made possible by the act of July,
1898, for a graded force of officers in
control of the reserves. This system
has only been in full operation since
August, but good results have already
been secured in many sections The
reports received indicate that the sys-
tenn of patrol has not only prevented
destructive fires from gaining Roadway,
but has diminished the number of fires.
FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES.
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 serious character
occurred during the year. and that
among the Chippewa Indians OF Mime
sofa, which, happily has been sup
! pressed.
| While it has not yet been practicable
to enforce all the provisions of the act
of June rs, 1893, for the protection of
the people of the Indian Territory. and
! for other purposes" it is having a sal
utary effect upon the nations compos-
| ing the five tribes. The Dawes commits
sion reports that the most gratifying
results and greater advance toward the
attainment of the objects of the gov
eminent have been secured in the past
year than in any previous year. I
cannot too strongly endorse the recon-
mendation of the commission and of
| the secretary of the interior for the
necessity of providing for the educa
ton of the 10000 white children resi-
dent in the Indian Territory.