The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-12-09
MATTERS OF INTERIOR DE-
PARTMENT IN DETAIL.
Geological Surveys--Census--
Mining Ala ska--Generalities.

public Lane area, Secretary Bliss says:
acres Of desert land, requiring irriga-
ton to render them valuable farming
lands, the available water supply is
sufficient for only II, SOC, 900 acres, leav-
ing 260, 676, 900 acres suitable only for
grazing purposes. There are thirty for
est reservations, embracing an esti-
mated area of 40,179 ,474 acres.
"The Indians are declared to have
made substantial progress, and the
Chippewa outbreak was the only seri-
Gus disturbance of the year."
Referring to this trouble, the report
points to Commissioner Of Indian At
fairs Jones' successful efforts in bring
ing 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 justice.
PENSION MATTERS.
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports 635, 900 claims of all classes
pending, n 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 per-
manent disabilities contracted in the
service.
He also concurs in the recommended
ton for the creation of a commission to
revise the pension laws and regulations
in the interest of a future reliable, in
telligent and uniform practice. Early
legislative enactment for taking of the
twelfth census is urged, in view Of the
necessarily large amount of work pre-
paratory to the enumeration of the
population.
During the year the geological sur
vey has surveyed geographically 80, 057
square miles, making a total complet-
ed of approximately one-fourth Of the
entire country exclusive Of Alaska. The
field surveys Of Indian territory ave
been completed.
It is estimated that the GO, 1000 square
miles of forests now included within
the forest reserves can be thoroughly
and economically surveyed within five
years if adequate appropriations are
made.
EDUCATIONAL LINES.
The advancement along educational
lines is outlined by an increase of over
$50, 900 schol pupils in the United States
for the fiscal year 1867 over the pre-
vious 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, universities,
high schools and academies is put at
. 16, 255, O93. "' .
The reindeer and their Lapland driv-
ers in Alaska have largely passed into
the service of the p%ostofice depart
ment, and are now being distributed for
carrying the Yukon mail through a
thousand miles of scattered mining set
Elements in the wilderness. ...
The report makes no mention Of the
recommendation of Commissioner of
Railroads Longstreet for the govern
ment construction and operation of a
transcontinental trunk line from Kan
sas City to San Diego.
Secretary Bliss, summing up the re-
port of Governor Brady of Alaska, calls
attention to the difficulty Of prevent
ing the smuggling of liquor into Alaska,
it being impossible to, enforce present
regulations without a fleet of revenue
cutters and steam. launches to patrol
the tortuous channels of Southeast
Alaskan waters. : ,s'srs8 .,n.
Smuggling prevails and saloons are
open in all of the towns and mining
camps. The governor reports a con-
sensus 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 sew
eral minor notifications is urged as
meeting a majority approval.
The governor believes that Alaska
should and can pay revenue into the
United States treasury. inc a high
license law he estimates that the liquor
license would yield an annual revenue
of not less than 5000, 900; a tax of a few
cents per case of salmon would produce
from s35, 900 to $780, 900; 10 cents per ton
on wharfage collected during the past
year would have yielded 100000. He
recommends that any system Of aka
ton for the territory be deferred until