The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06

der the terms of the third section of
the act Of June q, 1890, whose income
aside from the proceeds of daily labor
is not in excess of $3.50 per annum.
believe this to be a simple act of jus
.tice and heartily recommend it.
The Dawes Commission.
The Dawes commission reports that
gratifying progress has been made in
its work during the preceding year
The field work of enrolment of four
nations has been completed. I recon-
mend that congress at an early day
make liberal appropriation for educa-
tioaal purposes in the Indian terri
tory. vi
The Twelfth Census.
In accordance with the act of con-
gress approved March 3, 1899, the pre-
lminary work in connection with the
18th census is now fully under way.
The officers required for the proper adj
ninistration of the duties imposed have
been selected. The provision for secur-
ing proper enumeration of the popu-
lation as we'll as to secure evidence of
the industrial growth of the nation is
broader and more comprehensive than
any similar legislation in the past. The
director advises that every needful eff
fort is being made to push this great
work to completion in the time limited
by the statute. 1t is believed that the
18th census will emphasize our remark
able advance in all that pertains to ma
tional progress.
The Pacific Roads
Under the authority of the act of
congress approved July I, 1898, the
commission, consisting of the secre-
tary Of the treasury, attorney general
and secretary of the interior, has made
an agreement of settlement which has
had my approval of the Indebtedness
of the government growing out of the
issue of bonds to aid in the construction
of the Central Pacific and Western Pa
cific railroads. The agreement secures
to the government the principal and in
terest of said bonds, amounting to
S5SS12715.4S. There has been paid
thereon S11, 762, 543.12, which has been
covered into the treasury. and the re-
mainder payable within 10 years, with
interest at the rate of per cent. per
annum, payable semi-annually, is Sc
cured by the deposit of an equal
amount of first mortgage bonds of the
Pacific railroad companies.
The amounts paid and secured to be
paid to the government on account OF
the Pacific railway subsidy claims are:
Union Pacific, cash, s5S, 44S, 223.75; Kan
sas Pacific. cash. s6,3oS, 900; Central and
western Pacific, cash, s11,79S,314.14;
notes secured, $47,05o,172 SO: Kansas Pa
cific dividends for deficiency due US,
cash, 1921, S91. TO- making total of $l24-
16O791 The whole Indebtedness was
about s130,OO0,0O0, more than half of
which consisted of accrued interest,
for which sum the government has rea-
lized the entire amount, less about
Sc, 200, 900, within a period of two years.
S Forest Reserves.
pOn June 80, 1898, there were 80 forest
reservations exclusive of the Afognak
forest and fish culture reserve in Alas
ka) embracing an estimated area OF
4o,l9174 acres. During the past year
two of the existing forest reserves, the
Trabuco canyon, %California, and Black
Hills, South Dakota and Wyoming,
have been considerably enlarged; the
area of the Mount, Rainier reserve, in
the state of Washington, has been
somewhat reduced and six additional
reserves have been established, namely,
San Francisco mountain, Arizona; the
Black Mesa Arizona; Lake Tahoe,
California; Gallatin, Montana; ella
River, New Mexico. and Fish Lake,
Utah, the total estimated area. of which
is 5025,772 acres. This makes at the
present time a total of SO forestry res
ervations, embracing an estimated area
of 6,021, S99 acres. This estimated area
is the aggregated areas within the
boundaries of the reserves. The lands
I actually reserved are, however, only
the vacant public lands therein. and
these have been set aside and reserved
for sale or settlement in order that
they may be of the greatest use to the
people,
Protection of the national forests was
inaugurated by the department of the
interior during the past year, and much
has been accomplished in the way OF
preventing forest fires and the protec-
ton of the timber. There are now large
tracts covered by forests which will
eventually be reserved and set apart for
T,,tt done
congress should increase the appropria-
tions for the work of protecting the for
ests.
Department of Agriculture.
The department of agriculture is con-
stantly consulting the needs of pro-
ducers in all the states and territories.
1t is introducing seeds and plants OF
great value and promoting fuller di-
versification of crops. Grain, grasses,
fruits and vegetables are imported for
all parts of the United States. Under
this encouragement the sugar beet fac
tory multiplies in the North and far
West, semi tropical plants are sent to
the South and congenial climates are
sought for the choice productions of the
far East. The hybridizing of fruit trees
and grains is conducted in the search
for varieties adapted to exacting condi-
tons. The introduction of tea gardens
into the Southern states promises to
provide employment for IDLE hanos, as
well as to supply the home market with
tea. The subject of irrigation where it
is of vital Importance to the people is
being carefully studied steps are being
taken to reclaim injured or abandoned
lands and information for the people
along those lines is being printed and
distributed.
Markets are being sought and opened
up for surplus farm and factory pro-
ducts in Europe and in Asia. The out
look for the education Of the young far
mer through agricultural college expert
ment stations, with opportunity given
to specialize in the department of agri-
culture, Is very promising. The people
of Hawaii Porto Rico and the Philip
pines have been helped by the estab-
lishment of experiment stations to a
more scientific knowledge of the produc-
ton of coffee, India rubber and other
tropical products for which there is de-
nnand n the limited States.