New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-06

has had NV approval of the indebtedness 70 the
Government growing out OF the issue oi LIZA LIZA
TO aid In the construction or the Cehtrai rainy .
and Western Pacific railroads The agreement
secures TO the Government the principal ana 10 ~
terest of said bonds, amounting to 40 30
There has been paid thereon SlL'o@,ofo -,
which has been covered into the Treasury ana
the remainder payable within ten years, WIN
interest at the rate OF 3 per cent per ahnuln,
payable semi-annually, Is secured py the oepos,s
or an equal amount Of first mortgage ponos OF
the Pacific Railway companies. Inc amounts
Maid and secured to be paid to the Government
on account Of the Pacific Railroad subsidy Claims
are:
Union Pacific cash. ........." ssaos 6eS ~
Central and Western Pacinc, CASH. os ~ q
K Koes s Paeiac dividends for deficiency
due United States. cash......''''''" '-i'''' ~
making total OF 24,421. G01 90 .ooooo
The whole indebtedness was ABOUT 9,"o,"o,
00O more than half OF which consisted vi ac
crued interest, for which sum the Government nnd
has realized the entire amount less about So'VVV'-
600 within period Of two years.
FOREST RESERVES.
on June 30 1898 there were thirty forest
reservations Exclusive Of the Afognak FOREST
and Fish Culture Reserve in Alaska) efnpracins
an estimated area OF 4O,il3,4if acres Dulins
the last year two OF the existing forest reserves,
the Trabuco Canyon California; and Black HIS
(South Dakota and Wyoming). have been con-
siderably enlarged the area OF the Mount RAIN
Ter Reserve. In the state or WaSnlHBl oI HdS
been somewhat reduced. and six additional re-
serves have been established, namely, the san
Francisco Mountains (Arizona), the BACK Mesa
(Arzona), Lake Tahoe (Cahtornla)' "aia.ii
(Montana) ella River (New Mexico ana FISH
Lake Utah), the total estimated area OF when
Is , 2O5 77J acres. This makes at the present
time O. total Of thirtysx forest reservations, EN-
bracing an estimated area or 45,OZl,oJJ acres
This estimated area is the aggregated areas
within the boundaries of the reserves the
lands actually reserved are however, only the
vacant public lands therein, and these nave Deeh
set aside and reserved for sale or settlement In
order that they may be Of the greatest use 10 the
people. $500
Protection OF the National forests inau-
gurated by the Department OF the Interior IN
1897, has been continued during the last year,
and much has been accomplished in the way OF
preventing forest fires and the protection OF the
timber There are now large tracts coveieu py
forests which will eventually be reserved and
set apart for forest use. Until that can be done
Congress should increase the appropriations for
the work Of protecting the forests
The Department of Agriculture Is constantly
consulting the needs of producers In all the
States and Territories. 1t Is introducing seeds
and plants Of great value, and promoting fuller
diversihcation of crops. Grains grasses, fruits:
legumes and vegetables are imported FOR all
parts of the United States. Under TINS en-
enlargement the sugar beet factory multlpiies
I'm the North and Far West, mi-troplcal plants
are sent to the South, and congenial climates
are sought for the choice productions or the Far
East The hybridizing Of fruit trees and grams
to exacting conditions. The introduction OF tea
gardens into the Southern States promises to
provide employment for idle hands, as Wen as
to supply the home market with tea. the SUD-
ject 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 THESE
lines is being printed and distributed.
NEW MARKETS FOR FARM PRODUCTS.
Markets are being sought and opened UP for
surplus farm and factory products In Europe
and in Asia. The outlook for the education OF
the young farmer through agricultural coiege
and experiment station, with opportunity given
to specialize, in the Department OF Agriculture,
is very promising. The people Of Hawaii, Porto
Rico and the Philippine Islands should be helped
by the establishment Of experiment stations TO
a more scientific knowledge Of the production OF
coffee, india rubber and other tropical products
for which there is demand in the United States
There is a widespread interest in the Improve
ment of our public highways at the present time
and the Department of Agriculture is co-operat-
ing with the people in each locality in making
the best possible roads from local material and
in experimenting with steel tracks. more in
tellgent system Of managing the forests or the
country is being put in operation, and careful
study OF the whole forestry problem Is being
conducted throughout the United States. very
extensive and complete exhibit of the agrcult-
ural and horticultural products of the United
States is being prepared for the Paris EXPOSE
ton.
on the 10th Of December, 1885, the Treaty of
Peace between the United States and Spain was
signed 1t provided among other things that
Spain should cede to the Unit / States the ar
chipelago known as the Philippine Islands; that
the United States should pay to Spain the sum
Of 500 600 0O0 and that the civil rights and
political status Of the native inhabitants OF the
territories thus coded to the United States should
be determined by the Congress. The treaty was
ratified by the Senate on the 9th OF February,
1890 and by the Government Of Spain on the
exchanged on the 18th Of April and the treaty
publicly proclaimed. On the I'd of March the
Congress voted the sum contemplated by the
treaty and the amount was paid over to the
Spanish Government on the 1st OF May.
THE ACQUISITION OF THE PHILIPPINES.
In this manner the Philippines came to the
United States. The islands were ceded by the
Government OF Spain, which had been in unds
puted possession Of them for centuries. They
were accepted not merely by our authorized
commissioners in Paris, under the direction Of
the Executive, but by the constitutional and well
considered action Of the representatives Of the
people Of the United States in both houses OF
Congress. | had every reason to believe, and
still believe. that this transfer Of sovereignty
was in accordance with the wishes and the
aspirations Of the great mass or the Filipino
people.
From the earliest moment no opportunity was
lost Of assuring the people OF the islands Of our
ardent desire for their welfare and OF the In
tention of this Government to do everything
possible to advance their interests. In my order
of May 49, 1898 the commander Of the mill
tary expedition dispatched to the Philippines
was instructed 20 declare that We came not
to make war upon the people Of that country
nor upon any party or faction among them,
but to protect them in their homes, in their en-
Payments and in their personal and religious
rights" That there should be doubt to
the paramount authority there on August II
It was directed that "there must be no joint
occupation with the insurgents; that the United
States must preserve the peace and protect per-
sons and property within the territory occupied
by their military and naval forces that the
insurgents and all others must recognize the
military occupation and authority of the United
States. AS early as December 4, before the
cesson and in anticipation Of that event the
commander In Manila urged to restore
peace and tranquility, and to undertake the
establishment OF a beneflcent government which
should afford the fullest security for life and
property.
On December 81 after the treaty was signed,
the commander OF the forces q oCcupation WAC