The times., 1899-12-06

with iBterest az the rate OF per cent
per annum. payable semiarnuslly. is Sc
cured by the deposit OF an equal amou
Of first mortgage bonds of the Pacific
Railway companies. The amounts paid and
secured 10 be paid Co the Government ou
account of the Pacific Railroad subsidy
claims are:
Union Psc.6c ca,l............... SIS. .fiS ee3 IS
Kansas Pacific. ts-u.....-.. .....-. aFEgts ul
Central and Western Pacific. cash. II.11s.sfI "a
Notes. secured s1.rJI I-I af
Kansas Pscia, dividends .ar h.
1cicugy tuc United States ,s-.-- S2I SgI 90
Making total o5......-..--..... IsLlsl.6l7 -
The whole Indebtedness was about $780,
GOO, 900. 'more than half OF which consisted
CT accrued interest. for which sum the
Government has realized the entire amount
less about $6G00 GOO within period OF
two years.
Alaska Forests.
On June 80 ISgS, there were thirty forest
reservations exclusive ct the AfogUak For
est and Fish Culture Reserve in AlaskaE
embracing an estimated area of 40.1l9,474
acres. During the past year two OF the ex-
Isting forest reserves. the TrabUeo Canyon
California; and Black Hills (S0uth Dakota
and Wyomine) have been considerably en-
serve in the State OF Washington. has been
somewhat reduced, aud six additional re-
serves have been established namely, tbs
San Francisco Mountains tArizOuaJ. the
Black Mesa (AriZOual. Lake Tahoe (CaliiOr-
MAJ Gallatin (NontanaA, ella River (New
Mexicol. and Fish Lake (Utahj. the total
estimated area Of which is 5.205. lI5 acres.
This makes at the present time a total Of
thirty-siX forest reservations, embracing an
estimated area Of 45.02l ,S9g acres. This es-
timatsd area is the aggre gated areas within
the boundaries OF the reserves. The lands
actually reserved are, however only the
vacant public lands therein. and these have
been set aside and reserved for sale or set
uemsut iU order that they may be OF the
greatest use 10 the people.
Protection OF the national forests, inaug
urated 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
protection of the timbzr. There are now
large tracts covered by forests which will
eventually be reserved and set apart for
forest uses. UTtii that can De done Congress
should increase thr appropriations for the
work of protecting the forests.
The Department of Agriculture is con-
slantly consulting the needs Of producers
in all the States and Territories. Il is in
PRODUCING seeds and plants of great value
and promoting fuller GiverSidcaUOn Of
crops Grains grasses fruits legumes
and vegetables are imported for all parts
of the United states, Under this cEeOuT-
agement the sugay-beet factory muit!plies
in the North and far West semi-tropic0l
plants are sent 90 the South. and cCESsDigi
climates are sought for the choice produc-
tiOns Of the far East. The hybridiziuS Ct
fruit trees and grain is conducted in The
search for varieties adapted 10 ezac,jng
conditions. The introduction Of tea gar
Geus into the Southern States promises to
provide employment for idle hands, as we'll
as to supply the home market with tea
The subject of irrigation where it is OF
vital importance 10 the people is being care
fully studied. steps are being taken to re-
claim injured or abandorcd lands. and il-
formation for the people along these lines
is being printed and distributed.
Markets are being sought aud opened up
for surplus farm and factory products iu
Europe and in Asia. the outlook for The
education Of he young farmer through agri-
cultural college aEt experiment station
with opportunity given 90 specialize in the
Department of Agriculture, is very prJmis-
ing Tire people OF Hawaii. Porto Rico and
the Philippine Islands should b. helped, b.
the establishment of experiment. stations to
a more scientific knowledge Of the prGduc-
tiOn of coffee, india rubber, and other trop-
ieal products for which tHCrG is demand
in the United States.
There is widespread interest in the i'm
provement Of our public highways at the
present time, and the Department OF Agri-
culture is cooperating with the people IN
clch locality in making the best possible
roads from local material and IN expert
meuting with steel tracks A more intelli-
gent system OF managing the forests OF Jhe
careful study Of the whole forestry prob
lem is beiag conducted throughout the
United States. A very extensive and com
pIete exhibit OF the agricultural and horJi-
cultural products Of the United States is
being prepared Tor the Paris Exposition.