Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-12-03
.of three hundred and n million

"Of three hundred and million
acres of desert land requiring irriga'
ton to render them valuable farming
lands the available water supply Is
sufficient for only II 800, 900 acres, leav-
ing 260,676, 900 acres suitable only for
grazing purposes. There are thirty
forest reservations embracing an esti'
mated area of 40,719,474 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 Affairs Jones
successful efforts in bringing about
the surrender Of the Indians and says
the origin of the trouble is now under
just investigation by the departments
of the interior and of justice.
a.. Considerable effort has been made
to induce the Mile Lac Chippewas TO
go to the White Earth reservation, but
without success.
The senate is urged to ratify the
treaty with the Uintah Indians to re-
ceive such Uncompahgres as should be
allotted TO lands i'm the Uintah rcserya-
ton. The workings of the Curtis In
dian territory act are praised and the
more progressive element of the In
dians in the territory are reported as
inclined to accept the situation in good
faith.
Reviewing pension matters Secre-
tary Bliss reports 635 900 claims of all
classes pending, and says a separate
division has been organized for the the
adjudication Of claims growing out
of h war with Spain, and for those
soldiers who receive their pensions un-
der the general law for permanent dis
abilities contracted i'm the service.
He recommends the creation of a
commission to revise the pension laws
and regulations in the interest of a fu.
ture, reliable, 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 geological survey
has surveyed geographically 3O.O57 square
miles, making a total now completed OF
approximately o~ne-fourth Of the area OF
the entire country exclusive OF Alaska.
The field surveys Of Indian territory were
competed lh5I JUNE, Inc advancement
along educational lines is outlined by an
increase Of over a quarter OF a million
Of school pupils in the United States for
the fiscal year 1867 over the previous
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 NJ GThnnl nnnilg I'm the Cnlln-
try is put at 16, 90, O9G.
Secretary Bliss, summing up the re-
port Of Governor Brady, of Alaska, calls
attention TO the difficulty OF preventing
the smuggling Of liquor into Alaska, IL
being impossible to enforce present Iegu-
lations without a feet Of revenue cutters
and steam launches to patrol the tor
tuous channels of southeast Alaskan
waters.
The fur seals arc sure TO become eX-
tlnct unless all pelagic sealing can be
stopped. The branding of female seals
has proved a success. The brands render
the pelts Valueless and show that the
United States has q property right TO the
animal.
Representation In congress for the citi-
zens Of Alaska is strongly urged,
The past year has been one of great
progress in mining operations. There has
been great development in quartZ mining
in southeast Alaska and along the coast
as far as Unalaska.
Public buildings at Sitka are urgently
needed for the accommodation of the Off
Gals.
Other recommendation include n
monthly mail service between Sitka and
Unalaska; cable connection betwecn the
United States and Alaska; enlargement
of administrative authority and extension
Of the land avs to at least the settled
portions. The other territorial reports all
claim material progress n urge imme-
date recognition as stated.
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Web
ster Davis in his annual report says that
~, col appeals from the pension bureau and
GIG motions for reconsideration filed dur
ing the year make up n number unprece-
dented in any one year or two years in the
history OF the board Of pension appeals.
The proportionate increase still con-
tinues. and on October last there were
l1,S20 such appeals and motions pending
and Secretary Bliss concurs in Assistant
Secretary Davis recommendations for
providing for thee additional members of
this board.