The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-12-08

yen. the Pins uOr7n4atr ana zaea 11a1s
/ reserve. IN California, embracing I644- 5y4
/ acres, sas and the PrescStt reserve II
Pecos River reserve In New Mexico has
& been changed and enlarged to include no.
6 OOO additional acres. siE
At the close OF the year thirty forest
reservations, not including those OF the
sArogonae forests and the fish culture
by proclamation under section "a Of the
act OF March 1891, embracing an esh-
mated area Of 4O,719,474 acres.
augurated forest system, made possible
ey the act Of July, 1898, for graded.
force of officers in control Of the reserves.
n This system has only been in full opera
ton since August, but good results have
a. been secured in many sections
The reports received indicate that the
system Of patrol has not only prevented
destructiye fires from gaining Roadway.
but has diminished the number Of fires.
Promoting Agriculture.
The department of agriculture has been
active in the past year. Explorers have
peem sent to many Of the countries Of the
q Eastern and Western henispheres for
seeds and plants that may he useful TO
Il the United States, and with the further
view of opening up markets for our sur
Plus products. The forestry division Of
the department. is giving special attention
to the treeless regions of our country, and
S IS introducing species especially adapted
70 semi-arid regions. Forest tires, winch
Peclally in irrigated regions are being
studied that the losses from this cause
may be avoided. The department. is In
many states of the West and collecting
information regarding the laws OF the
states, the decisions OF the courts and the
customs OF the people in this regard SO
that uniformity may be secured.
Experlmental stations are becoming
more valuable every year. The appropria-
mented by $500, 600 from the stations.
! Nation wide exper1m ents have been con-
QUOTED to ascertain the suitableness as to
soil and climate and states for growing
sugar beets The number of beet sugar
factories has been doubled in the past two
years and the ability OF the un 1
source has been clearly demonstrated
The weather bureau forecast and OBJ
servation stations have been extended
around the Caribbean sea to give early
warming Of the approach of hurricanes
from the south seas to our fleets and mer-7
chant marine. zss
pcrtance of early legislation providing for
the taking Of the twelfth census. This
Is necessary in view Of the larse amount
OF work which must be performed in the
preparation of the schedules preparatory
TO the enumeration Of the population.
Pensions.
There were on the pension rolls on June
80, 1885, 993,714 names, an increase Of
nearly $4,000 over the number on the rolls
on the Same day Of the preceding year.
The amount of the appropriation by act
of Dec. %. 1886, Tor the payment Of pen
600. Eight million seventy thousand eight
hundred and seventy-tWo dollars and
forty-six cents was Appropriated by the
in army pensions, and repayment in the
sum of $12,020.33, making a total of $148,-e
OS2892.79 available for the payment OF
pensions during the fiscal year 1898 The
amount disbursed from that sum was
$144, 651 ,S79. so, leaving balance Of Sc, 49,
O12.9o unexpended on the Both of June,
1893, which was covered into the trea sury.
There were $50 names added to the rolls
during the, year by special acts passed at
the second session of the fifty-fifth con-
gress, making a total of G, 1856 pensions by
congressional enactments since 1861.
TIE several documentary reports will be
the conduct Of the affairs Of the govern
ment during the past year and discuss
many questions upon which the congress
may be called upon to act