The record-union., 1898-11-25
Rev lew Of Pension, Indian, Land, Educa-
iIOnaI and Territorial Affairs.
OF Over Three Hundred Million
Acres OF Desert Land Requiring
Irrigation to Render Them Val
liable for Farming Purposes,
the Available Water Supply is
Sufficient for Only Seventy-One
and a Half Million Acres.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24-The an
nual report of the Secretary of the In
terror Bliss, made public tonight, re-
views in detail the progress Of pension,
Indian, land patent, educational and
Territorial affairs.
Reviewing the gradual diminution or
the public land area, Secretary Bliss
says: "Of three hundred and odd mill
ion acres of desert land requiring irri-
cation to render them valuable farm
ing lands, the available water supply
sufficient for only II, 100000 acres. leav-
ing 260,676,0O0 acres suitable only for
grazing purposes. There are thirty
forest reservations, embracing an esti-
mated area of 40,719,4 acres
The Indians are declared to have
made substantial progress, and the
Chippewa outbreak was the only seri-
Gus disturbance.
Referring to this trouble, the report
points to Commissioner of Indian Af-
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 of
Justice
AS to the logging operations there,
which figured so conspicuously in the
discussion of the outbreak, Secretary
Bliss says: 1.-The aggregate acreage of
the 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 Sc, ,545 acres of pine lands
and 320,6 acres of agricultural lands,
aggregating 407, 179 acres. The total
amount received from the sale of pine
and agricultural lands is approximately
S659, ,913 which has been deposited in
the treasury to the credit of the In
dians, as required by law OF the ag-
ricultural lands sold 320,634 acres were
embraced in homestead entries, on
which there are due $400, ,543." Con-
gress has so far appropriated, as an
advance to the Chippewa Indians S2.-
O60559. which appears to be reimburs-
able to. the Government. The approx
innate value of all the lands ceded by
the Indians aggregate So. .253, ,010
Upon the disposal of all such lands"
the Secretary says, sit is doubtful
whether compliance with the require
ments of this Act regarding the dis
bursements of moneys advanced by
the United States would impose any
very great hardship on the Indians.
No complaints of the under. valuation
of timber by the present corps of ex-
aminers have been made. The result
Of the dead and down timber logging
operations on the reservations during
the year clearly indicates the wisdom
Of the carrying on of the work by the
Indian contractors under the regula-
tions promulgated, as being i'll the in
terest Of the Indians. Logging opera
tions on this. reservation were discon-
tinued some time ago, but the Indians
recently have petitioned for resump-
tion of the work, which will receive fa-
vorable consideration in the work of
progress under the same restrictions as
heretofore
Considerable effort has been made to
induce the Mile Lac Chippewas to go
to White Earth Reservation, but with
meager success, though Chippewa
Commissioner Hall hopes quite a num-
ber will remove this autumn.
The Senate is urged to ratify the
treaty with the Uintah Indians to re-
ceive such Uncompahgres as should be
allotted to lands on the Uintah reser-
walton. No agreement, however, can
lie made with the Uintahs for the sale
OF all their lands, in order that all not
needed for allotment may be offered for
sale. The commission reports its failure.
and says the terms specified We're not
acceptable to the tribe.
The workings of the Curtis Indian
Territory Act are praised, and the more
progressive element of the Indians in
the Territory are reported as inclined
u
Reviewing pension matters, Secre-
tary Bliss. reports 635,0O0 claims of
ali classes pending, and says a sepa-
rate division has been organized for
1ht adjudication of claims growing out
of the war with Spain. These soldiers
will receive their pensions under the
general law for permanent disabilities
contracted IN the service.
He also concurs in the recommends
ton for the creation of 4 commission
to revise the pension laws and regula-
tions in the interest of a future relia-
BILE intelligent and uniform practice.
Early legislative enactment for the
taking of the twelfth census is urged.
in view of the necessary large amount
of work preparatory to the enumeration
of the population.
During the year the ge0lOg1ca1 sur
vey has surveyed geographically 3D.
057 square miles. making a total now
completed of approximately one-fourth
OF the area of the entire country, ex-
elusive of Alaska. The field surveys
of Indian Territory were completed last
June. This latter work has demon
strated that it is more economical to
survey large areas in this manner than
under the contract system heretofore
employed by the Government in its
land subdivisions 1t is anticipated
that the 60.O00 square miles of forest
now included within the forest reserves
can be thoroughly and completely sur
veyed within five years, when adequate
appropriations are made.
The advancement along educational
lines is outlined by an increase of over
a quarter of million of pupils in the
Tinted States for the fiscal year lSyo-
az oyer the previous one, but yet the
average amount of schooling per IN
,5ixridAIaI for the whole United States,
measured by the present standard,
does not quite equal five years Of 1Oo