Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-12-16

for the District of Nebraska the LIST and "a
Of November Of this yenr. The amount due
the Government consisted Of the principal Of
crued Interest thereon, $31,2l1.611.O7, max.
Ing the total Indebtedness $5S, AS, 223.75.
The bid at the sale covered the irst mort:
gage lien and the entire mortgage claim Of
the Government, principal and Interest"
This left the KANSAS Pacific case uncon.
cluded. By a decree Of the court In TINT
case an upset price for the property was
1xed ut a sum- which would yield TO the
Government. only S2,5oo.0o0 upon its lien.
By a somewhat complicated transaction the
Government secured an advance Of $685..
COO over and above the sum which the court
reorganization committee had declared was
the maximum which they would pay for tbe
property.
Department Of Justice Building.
I deem 1t my duty to call to the attention
OF Congress- the condition Of the present
Justice. The building now occupied by it is
pronounced unsafe and unsuited for the use
to which 1t - put. A proper regard for the
safety, comfort and convenience OF the on
penditure Of a liberal sum Of money In the
erection OF a new building. In this connec-
ton ! may likewise refer to the inadequate
accommodations provided for tho Supreme
Court In the Capitol.
Growth of the Postal Service.
NAS POoIaA bSiS1CS VI luV COuutEy ADVANCES
with extraordinary growth. Within twenty
years both the revenues and the expendi-
lures of the Postofice department, have
multiplied threefold. In the last ten years
ness grows much more rapidly than our pop.
u!ation. IT now Involves an expenditure OF
Sl00,OOO,O00 a year, numbers $4,000 post
offices. and enrolls 100000 employees. The
labors on the P0stoftlce Department. The
mastering of the military and naval forces
OF the United States required special mail
arrangemen:s for every camp and every
prompt detail and dispatch Of experienced
men from the established force, and by d.
recting all the instrumentalities of the rail
way mall and postofice service 30 far as
necessary to this new need.
Under the same authority, when our forces
moved upon Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
iippines. they were attended aud followed
by the postal service.
Increasing the Navy.
The following recommendations Of the
Secretary Of the Navy relative to the In
prevail:
!. Three sea-going, sheathed and coppcred
battleships OF about 1900 tons trial dis.
most powerful ordnance for vessels of their
class. and to have the highest practicable
speed and great radius of action. Estimated
cost. exclusive OF armor and armament, 3d.
00U,000 each.
2. Three shcathed and coppercd nrmored
cruisers of about 1900 tons trial displace-
nacnt. carrying the heaviest armor and most
powerful ordnance for vessels of their class,
and to have the highest practicable speed
and great radius of action. Estimated cost,
exclusive or armor and armament, 100000
each.
8. Three sheathed and coppered protected
ment; to have the highest practicable speed
and great radius Of action, and to carry the
most powerful ordnance suitable for yes.
sells OF their class. Estimated cost, exclu-
4. Six sheathed and coppered cruisers of
about $500 tons trial displacement; to have
the highest speed compatible with good
cruising qualities. great radius Of action and
to vessels Of their class. Estimated cost,
exclusive of armament, $1,141,00o each.
Additions to the Pension List.
There were on the pension rolls June 80,
lS0s, 993,714 names. IN increase of nearly
$4,000 over the number on the rolls the same
day Of the preceding year. The amount APP
P tse navman ~ 81 the nen net OF DC Dec ~, %, ol 1899. FOR for
1898 was $l40,O0O.O0O. Eight million sew
enty thousand eight hundred and seventy
two dollars aud forty-six cents was appro-
priated by the act Of March 3D. 1898, to
cover deficiencies in army pensions and re.
payments in the sum Of S12,O 20. 3s. making
n total of $14S.Os2 s02. 79 available for the
aymenn q, Of pensions during the fiscal year
was $144 ,05 sI0.S0. leaving a balance Of
So. 43l ,O12.00 unexpended June 80, 1898,
which was covered Into the treasury.
The total receipts Of the patent office dur
expenditures we're sI,osi,ess.70, leaving a
surplus Of $1I2,314.65.
Government Lands Disposed Of
The public lands disposed Of by the Gov.
ernment during the year reached S,453, S08.D2
acres, an increase of GA, SSO.28 acres over
the previous year. The total receipts from
public lands during the fiscal year amounted
to $2,ee77 ,985. 10. an Increase Of $40, O6s ~,
over the preceding year.
The special attention Of the Congress- is
called to that part Of the report Of the Sec
civilized tribes: 1t is noteworthy that the
general condition of the Indians shows
marked progress. But one outbreak Of a Sc
rious character occurred during the year,
Minnesota. which happily has been sup.
pressed.
Dawes CouaInission Report.
While 1t has not vet been practicable to en-
force all the provisions Of The act of June g,
ls0S, for the protection Of the people Of
Mses." 1t is having a salutary effect upon
! the nations composing the five tribes. /
cannot too strongly indorse the recommen-
dalton OF the commission and OF the Sec
cur L " eI4 luz lnS uecCSSlty OF
providing for the education Of the 5000
white children resident in the Indian Terri.
tory.
Department. of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture has been
active in the last year. Explorers have
been sent to many of the countries of the
Eastern and Western Hemisphcrcs for seeds
and plants that may be useful to the United
States and witt the further view Of opening
up markets for our surplus products. The
forestry division Of the department ia giving
special attention to the %treeless regions Of
our country and Is introducing species spc.
cIally adapted to semi-arid regions. Forest
fires. which seriously interfere with produc.
tion. especially in irrigated regions, are be.
ing studied that the losses from this cause
may be avoided. The department Is inquir-
States Of the West and collecting informa.
ton regarding the laws Of the States, the
decisions Of the courts and the customs Of
the people in this regard. 50 that uniformity
may be secured. Experiment stations are
becoming more effective every year. The
annual appropriation Of S720.00O By Con.
gress IL supplemented by 100000 from the
|tststes. Nationwide experiment.. have been
| soil and climate and States for growing gu.