The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-25
BLISS ANNUAL REPORT.
Secretary Of the Interior Reviews
the Work Of His Department. !.
THE INDIANS ARE PROGRESSING.



Revision OF Pension Laws-Needed
Reforms For Alaslra.
Washington, Nov. 25.--The annual re-
port of Secretary of the. Interior Bliss
reviews In detail the progress of PEN
sion. Indian, land, patent. educational
and territorial affairs. Reviewing the
gradual dimunition of public land area
Secretary Bliss says that of three hun
dred and odd million acres of desert
land requiring irrigation to render them
valuable farming lands the available
water supply is sufficient for only H.
100000 acres. leaving 260676, 900 acres
suitable only for grazing purposes.
There are 80 forest reservations, en-
bracing an estimated area of 40.7l9.i4
acres.
The Indians are declared to have
made substantial progress. and the
Chippewa outbreak was the only scri-
Gus disturbance of the year As to
logging operations there. which figured
so conspicuously in the discussion Of
the outbreak, Secretary Bliss says:
The aggregate acreage Of Chippewa
pine and agricultural lands to be sold
originally was 2,9S4,297, exclusive Of
the land allotted to the Indians. There
have been disposed of to date $3.50
acres of pine lands and 320G34 acres Of
agricultural lands. aggregating 407179
acres. The total amount received from
the sale of pine and agricultural lands
is approximately s659.9l3. which has
been deposited in the treasury to the
credit of the Indians. as required by
1p,. L, do oil
800. 63t acres were embraced in home
stead entries, on which there are due
sl00,5i3."
Reviewing pension matters Secretary
Eliss reports 1000 claims OF all classes
pending. and says a separate division
has been orga nizcd for the ADJUDICATION
of claims growing cut of the war with
Spain. These soldiers will receive
their pension under the general law for
permanent disabilities contracted in the
service. He also concurs in the recon-
mendaion fer the creation of a COM
mission to revise the pension laws
and regulations in the interest of a flu
ture reliable, Intelligent and uniform
practice.
During the year the geological sur
vcy has surveyed geographically 3).-
G1i square miles. .makinga total now com"
pleted of approximately onefourth Of
the area of the entire country, exclu-
slvs of Alaska. The field surveys of the
Indian Territory We're completed last
June The latter work has demonstrate
ed that 1t is more economical to survey
large areas in this manner than under
the contract system heretofore employ
ed by the government in its land sub
division surveys. 1t is anticipated that
the GO(0o sGuare miles Of forests now
Included within the forest reserves can
be thoroughly and economically sur
veycd within five years il adequate APP
proptiations are made.
The advancement along educational
lines is outlined by an increase of over
$50 OCO of school pupils in the United
States for the fiscal year 1869 over
the previous one. but yet the total av-
crase amount Of schooling per individ-
ual for the whole United States meas
urcd by the present standard. does not
quite equal five years Of 200 days each
for each inhabitant. The total number
of scbobl pupils in the country, in ele-
mentary public and private schools,
colleges and universities, high schools
and academies. is put at 16,255. .093.
Secretary Bliss. summing up the re-
port of Governor Brady, of Alaska,
calls attention to the difficulty of pre-
venting 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 south
east Alaskan waters. Smuggling pre-
walls and saloons are open In all of the
towns and mining camps. The gov
ernor reports a consensus Of opinion in
favor of stringent high license law,
which would tend to stamp out snug
Cling and liquor selling to the natives.
The application to Alaska of the liquor
laws in force in the District Of Column
bia, with several minor notifications,
is urged as meeting a majority ap-
rroval. The governor believes that
Alaska should and can pay revenue
into the United States treasury.
Many sections of Alaska. 1t is shown,
are suitable for agricultural purposes.
With proper care cattle can be raised
in the mildcr DISTRICTS. 1t cannot be
doubted that in the course Of time
vast herds Of reindeer will cover the
plains Of northern Alaska. ana "A few
thousands Of dollars spent now in help
ing the Eskimo to obtain herds Will
save the expenditure of many thou
sands in the future.
The fur seals are doomed to extinc-
ton unless all pelasic sealing can h.
stonuel. The brands render the pplts
vallclcss, and show that the United
states has property right to the nni-
NAL. The raising of blue foxes is b.
coming an important industry. The
hunting Of the sea otter has heen so
UnrcniiltinE that very few are left.
The governor recommends that the
killing Of them be prohibited for long
time.
R"nrcsentatiOn in congress for the
ci:i.ons Of Alaska Is strongly urged.
Public buildings at Sitka are urgent
ly needed for the accommodation of the
officials. 1t Is recommended that con-
Eress appropriate $4,000 for the erec-
ton Of "A penitentiary and other build
ings
An appropriation of $4,000 for the
education of children in Alaska Is ear
nestly recommended.
Attention is called to the fact that
the rapid increase in the number OF
vessels plying Alaskan waters neces-
states the erection of many light
hnucns