The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-12-01
REPORT OF SECRETARY BLISS.
Concerns indians, Lands, Mining Af-
fairs and Pensions.

NoHecIHs IHdiduSs i<uHQs, uiuius AZ
fairs and Pensions.
Secretary of the Interior Bliss has is
sued his annual report. In speaking of
the d .osal of public lands the report
says: The total area OF public lands,
not including Indian lands entered by in
dividualS texcusive of selections by cor
rorations) during the year ending Juno
80, was ll,32S. .G3I.3i acres. This is in
excess of the area so disposed of by the
Government during the previous year by
2,6Of .S33.9G acres. an increase of over y;
per cent. The number of individual en-
tries of Government land during the year
was S9GI4. as against II ,JS1 the previous
year. showing an increase of over % per
cent
The report shows an increase of $50 in
the mineral entries and an increase of ia
patents issued and 4G6 claims patented. In
commenting on this feature Secretary
Bliss says: This increase in mineral en-
tries Indicates Il marked revival of the
mining industry. which had fallen to its
lowest ebb in 1893, when but 1JI entries
were made, being less than one-half the
number made in 1898 and the lowest since
1879 From Colorado there was mined
during the calendar year 1897 SO. 1O4 200
in gold and 81 ,G36, 400 ounces of silver, ex-
ceeding the output OF any other State in
the Union. The next State in gold min
ing was California, with $14.G1S.300,
Montana being second in the production of
silver, with 1867 300 ounces The third
State in gold mining was South Dakota.
with S5,G94, 300, Utah being third in pro-
duction of silver, with 6,26j, 900 ounces.
The fourth State in gold mining was Mon
tana. with $4,3I3,4 400. Idaho being fourth
in the production OF silver, with 1901 200
ounces"
Upon Indian affairs tile report SAYS:
The progress of the Indians during the
last year, in civilization as we'll as edu-
cation. has been gradual, though sabstan-
tial. There has been but one disturbance
or outbreak of serious character. and
that was among the Chippewa Indians of
Minnesota. 1t was of very recent occur
renee. however, and happily has been sup
pressed. The population of Indians. ex-
elusive of those in the State of New York.
and those of the five civilized tribes, may
be stated TO be, approximately. $50, 132:
that of the New York Indians. 5,31S. and
of the FIVE civilized tribes. including IT,
451 freedmen, as I,O1S. The policy here
tofore inaugurated of extending to the In
dians every facility tending 10 make them
an independent and self-supporting class
has been continued"
In speaking of the pension department
the report says: The report OF the com.
missioner of pensions shows that June 81
there were en- the pension roll 993, ,114
names. an increase of HOO over the
number on the rolls June 30. 1897. The
amount dsbursed for army and navy pen
sions during the year was S144.651.- =
$3.50. leaving balance of 3,431, ,O12.90
unexpended June so, which was covered
into the treasury. This unexpended bal
ance would have been reduced in the sum
of S16O.212.24. representing first pay
ments on 1851 cases, which were adjudi-
Gated during the fiscal year, had it been
possible to get them into the hands of the
pension agents in time to make payments
thereon prior to July l.