The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-25


progress OF pension, Indian, land, patent.
educational and territorial affairs Re
viewing the gradual Elimination CT p'aoIc
land, Secretary Hitss says.
The PubIic Lands.
OF thrse hundred and odd niIiien acres
Of desert land requiring irrigation 10 zen
der them Valuable farming 2ands. ne
available water supply - sufiicisnt lof oi.Is
II .ssss, $50 acres, leaving over zatvn,to acres
suitable only for grazing purposes There
are thirty forest reservations embracing
an estimated area OF II. rs, IA acres
Indians Making Good Progress.
The Indians are declared to have made
sunSsa ntlai progress, and the Chippewa
outsraak was the on'y serious disturbance
CT the year. Referring 10 this trouble, the
report points 10 Com missioner OF Indian
Affairs JcrAes' successful efforts IN bringing
about the surrender of the Indians. and
says the origin OF the trouble is now under
joint Investigation BY the department. of
the interior and of justice. As TO the
logging operations there which Inquired 10
conspscuoussy IN the discussion OF the out
break, Secretary Bliss says:
s'The aggregate acreage Of Chippewa pine
and agricultural lands to be sold originally
was 2,ss4,Zsi, exclusive OF the land allotted
TO the indians. There have been disposed
OF to date s.545 acres OF pine lands and
33c,sA acres of agricultural lands. aggre-
eating 4o7.17s acres. The total amount re-
reived from the sale OF pine and agri-
cultural lanes IS
which has been deposited in the treasury 20
the credit of the Indians. as required by
Law. OF the agricultural lands sold. $40 ga
acres were embraced sn homestead entries.
On which there are due 5000
Congress has SO far appropriated as an
advance TO the Chippewa Indians g. go $50,
which appears TO be reimbursahle TO the
government. The approximate value Of all
the lands coded b. the Indians aggregates
IS, D., 90.
Upon the disposal of such lands" the
secretary says, lit is doubtful whether
compliance with the requirements OF this
act regarding the disbursements OF moneys
advanced by the United States would inn
pose any very great hardsh!ps on the In
dtans. No claimants of the under-valua-
ticn of timber by the present corps OF en-
sineers have been made. The result of the
dead and down timber logging operations
on the reservation during the year clearly
indicates the wisdom Of carrying on the
work by the Indian contractors under the
regulations promulgated, as being in the
interest of the Indians. Logging opera
iions on this reserve were discontinued
some time ago, but the Indians have re-
Gently petiiioned for a resumption OF the
work, which viii receive favorable cons.d-
Grafton. the work 10 progress under the
same restrictions as heretofore"
Cousidera Ole effort has been made to in
duce the Mile Lac Chirpewas 20 go to
White reservation. but with meager sue
cess. though Chippewa Commissioners Han
hopes quite a number will remove this
summer.
The working of the Curtis Indian terri
tory act are praised, ana the more pro-
gressive element OF Indians IN the territory
are inclined TO accept the situation in good
faith.
Pension Matters.
Reviewing pension matters, Secretary
Bliss reports 6S5,ts0 claims pending. and
says a separate division has been organized
for the adjudication of claims growing out
Of the war with Spain.
Thess. soldiers will receive their pensions
under the general law for the permanent
disabilities contracted in the service.
The Twelfth Census.
Early legislation for the taking OF the
twelfth census Is urged. in view OF the nee
essary large amount of work preparatory
TO the enumeration Of the population.
Geological Survey.
During the year the geological survey has
surveyed topograp hicaiiy 3d. miles, max
ing a total now completed Of approximate
~ one-fourth OF the area of the entire
country exclusive of Alaska. The field
surveys of Indian territory were completed
last June. This latter work has demon
strated that II Is more economical 10 sur
vey large areas In this manner than I'M
Ger the contract system heretofore employ
cd by the government In land subdivision
surveys. 1t is anticipated that the G1.ee0
square miles Of forests now included within
the forest reserves can be thoroughly and
completely surveyed within five years when
adequate appropriations are made.
Educational Matters.
The Advancement along educational lines
Is outlined by an increase OF over a quar-
ter or a million OF school pupils In the Unit
ed States for the fiscal year 1861 over the
previous one, but Yet the total average
amount of schooling per individual for the
whole United States. measured by the pres
emf standard. does not quite equal five
years OF a0 days each fer each inaaaitant.
The total amount OF school pupils in the
trsr .-s, 7fA
schools. colleges universities. high schools
and academies is put az iG,ga5 CSC.
Reindeer in Alaska.
THE reindeer and their Iapland drivers In
Alaska have largely passed into the service
of the poStofiice department and are now
distributed for carrying The Yukon mail up
and down the valley Of the United States
through a thousand miles Of scattered min
ing settlement In the wilderness.
The report makes no mention of the rec
onFnendaifnn uf the commissioner OF rail-
roads, GEN. longstreet. for tie government
construction and operation OF q new trans
continental trunk line from Kansas City 20
San Diego.
Secretary Bliss. summing up the reaort OF
Gov Brady. Of Alaska calls attention 20
tho difficulty Of preventing the smuggling
OF liquor into Alaska IL being impossible Ia
enfefce the present regulations without a
sieeI OF revenue cutters ana steam launches
20 patrol THE tortuons channels oT South
eastern Alaskan waters. Smuggling pre-
walls and saloCDs are oren in al Of the
towns and mining camps The governor
reports conceDsus OF opiHion In favor Of
a stringent high Itcerse Law. which wouia
tend 10 stamp oGt smuggling and LIQUOR
selling 20 the natives.
The application TO Alaska 81 the lilu9-
laws IN force IN The District Of Columbia,
with several minor notifications Is urged
as meaning a ina 5Gr.tv approval The gov
ernor believes that Alaska should and ear
pay revenue into the United States treas
nrE- ndSr a high license law be estimates
That the liquor traffic would ylsla an an
nnal revenue ~ n0s less than 600 ose; a yax
~ few cents per ease on salmon would
produce from Ss5es1 % $50 go: 80 cents ]
ton on Wharfage collected during tha IA :,
year would have yielded sls3 500
He recommends, however that ary. svs-
1 feIn q faSa;soa for the territory be- defer.
Tsd ants land laws shall have been prcvii-
cd Many sections OF Alaska 81 Is shown
are suitable for agricultural purposes
| VIVA proper care. cattle can BE raised IN the
ns!l}er districts. II cannot BE- Gouhtea ira,
in Jhe course % fjcne the herds % rein.
deer VII cover the pialns of Northerse Alas
IA, ard few thousands o. dollars spart
now N helping she Esu0inaux 10 obtain
AE