Iron County register., 1899-12-14
OUR PENSIONERS.
The National Roll of Honor.

Or the 30th of June, 1899, the pension
roll of the United States numbered o.ii.-
519 These include the pensioners of the
army and navy in all our wars. The num-
Der added to the rolls during the year was
Al. .991 The number dropped by reason CT
death, remarriage, minors by l. gal limitG-
tions. failure to claim within three years
and other causes was 43, 1S6, and the num-
Der OF claims disallowed was 1O7917. Dlr-
ing the year S9,054 pension certificates
were issued, of which 3!,0T We're for new
o. original pensions. The amount dis
bursed for army ana ss 1 naXy M p Rens1on5 6ab r
81, ,651, 461.6 81 less than the sum of the ap-
propriations.
Simple Act of Justice.
With the approval of the secretary Of
the interior the commissioner of pensions
recommends that, in order to make the
practice at all times uniform and to do
justice to the dependent widow, the
amount of income allowed independent of
the proceeds of her daily labor should
be not less than $3.50 per annum, and he
urges, that the congress shall so amend
the act so as to permit the pension office
to grant penSionable status to widows uG-
der the terms of the third section of the
aci of June p, 1890, whose income, aside
from the proceeds of daily labor is not in
excess of $3.50 per annum. l believe this
to be simple act of justice and heartily
The Twelfth Census.
In accordance with the act Of congress
approved March 3, 1889, the preliminary
work in connection with the twelfth CEN
sus is now fully under way. The officers
required for the proper ADMINISTRATION of
the duties imposed have been SelecCed.
Pacific Railroad Settlement.
Under authority of the act of congress
approved July Z, 1898, the commission, con-
sistIng of the secretary of the treasury,
the attorney general and secretary of the
interior, has made an agreement of settle
nent, which has had my approval. of the
Indebtedness to the government growing
out Of the issue of bonds to aid in the
construction of the Central Pacific and
Western Pacific railroads. The agreemen!
auu interest of said bonds. amounting TO
SIS 81, Tl5. II. There has been paid thereon
s1i. .762, ,543.12, which has been covered INTO
the treasury. and the remainder, payable
within ten years, with interest at the rate
os three per cent. per annum, payable
semi-annually,is secured by the deposit of
an equal amount of first mortgage bonds
OF the Pacific railway companies.
Protection of Forests.
Protection of the national forests irau-
grrated by the department of the interior.
in 1897, has been continued during the past
year, and much has been accomplished in
the way of preventing forest, fires and the
large tracts covered by forests which
will eventually be reserved and set apa->
for forest uses. Until that can be done
congress shOUI1 increase the apprOpria-
for the work of protecting the forests.
DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE.
Consulting Public Needs.
The department Of agriculture is con-
Stantiy consulting the needs or producers
in all the states and territories. 1t is
introducing seeds and plants of great
value and prom moting fuller diversification
Of crops. Grains, grasses, fruits, legumes
and vegetables are imported for all oarts
OF the United States. Under this en-
ccura cement the sugar beet factory null
tfplieS in the north and far west, semi
tropical plants IRE 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 conditions. The IN
tt odTction of tea gardens into the south
ern states promises to provide employ
ment for idle hands, as well as to supply
the home market with tea.
Public Highway Improvement.
There is widespread interest in the i'm
provement of our public highways at the
present time, and the department of asri-
culture is cooperating with the people in
each locality in making the best possible
roads from local material and in expert
rnantincy with oGS