The Forrest City times., 1900-12-07
The Navy.


 crease in the personnel of the navy sl. s1. approved. well as those of the es,eh hshment of national naval reserve ana suitable recognition for all officers who re-fered distinguished service during tbe war with Spain. s
 Progress in Hawaii
 The progress and development of Re waii is noted and attention called to tb. needs of the islands as follows: In the territorial act of April 2o ,un section of said act repeals chapter '. of the civil laws of Hawaii, whereby tbs government was 10 assist in encoursgins and developing the agricultural resourcas of the republic. especially irrigation Tbs governor of Hawaii recommends legislatio, looking to the development of such wates supply may exist on the public lands with view of promoting land settlement is invited to this important recommenda. tion and others, as embodied in the rs port of the secretary of the interior.
 The Twelfth Census.
 The work of taking the twelfth cenms Is referred to as follows:
 The director of the census states tha, the work in connection with the twelfth census is progressing favorably This gress each decade. has finally resulted fin the collection of an aggregation of statis- tical facts to determine the industrial growth of the country. its rnanufacturlns and mechanical resources. its richness in mines and forests, the number of it's agri. culturists. their farms and products if. educational and religious opportunities ss well as questions pertaining to sociological conditions.
 bureau indicate that the law of March 3, 1899. requiring the completion of the fou, important and most desired subjects, name- ly, population, agricultural. manufactur. ing and vital statistics, will be completed within the prescribed limit
 Our Public Lands
 The total area of public lands as given by the secretary of the interior is approx imately i,071 ,SS1 es2 acres of which slT 935.Ss0 acres are undisposed of. and 154 745. TSP acres have been reserved for various purposes. Thepublic lands disposed of dur ing the year amount to 13.453Ss7.s6 acres. including e2.f23o9 acres of Indian lands an increase of 4.271, 474so over the preced. ing year. The total receipts from the sale Of public lands during the fiscal year were A,37975s.1 10. an increase of a3Os,- 620 76 over the preceding year.
 The results obtained from our forest policy have demonstrated it's wisdom and the necessity in the interest of the pub propriations by the congress for the car- rying on of the work. On June 30 1900 there were forest reserves. created by 24 of the act of March 8, 1891, embracing an area of 4S.425529 acres
 Pensions.
 At the end of the fiscal year there were on the pension roll ss3 225 names net increase of 2oIo over the fiscal year 1Ssq The number added to the rolls during the year was 45A4. The amount ais
 
 was sl34,7oo, 5s7 .24. and for navy pensions s, 533.4l. total of s13s, ,462. .f30.65, leav- ing an unexpended balance of s5542.7ss3 to be covered into the treasury. which shows an increase over the previous years expenditure of SW, ,0777o. There were es4 names added to the rolls during the year by special acts passed at the first session of the Fifty-sixth congress. The act of May, 1900. among other come to widows pensoned under said act to s25o per annum. The secretary of the interior believes that by the opera tions of this act the number of persons pensioned under 1t will increase and the inereased annual payment for pensions will be between s3.0oo,ooo and s4.ooo.oOo The government justly appreciates the services of it's soldiers and sailors by making pension payments liberal beyond precedent to them, their widows and orr phans.
 Agriculture.
 The department of agriculture has been extending it's work during the past year, reaching farther for new varieties of seeds and plants; cooperating more fully with the states and territories in re- search along useful lines; making prog- ress in meteorological work relating to for ocean-going vessels; continuing in- quiry as to animal disease; looking into the extent and character Of food adul- terauon; outlining plans for the carel preservation and intelligent harvesting of our woodlands studying soils that pro- ducers may cultivate with better knowi-
 
 desert places with grasses suitable to our arid regions. Our island possessions are being considered that their peoples may be helped to produce the tropical products now so extensively brought into the United States. Inquiry into methods of improving roads has been active during the year; help has been given to many localities. and scientific investiga- ton of material in the states and ter ritories has been inaugurated. Irrigation problems in our semi-arid regions arc receiving careful and increased consider ation.
 Civil Service for Philippines. That there may be secured the best serv- ice possible in the Philippine islands, have issued, uncer date Of November lO iSo, the following order:
 The United States civil service commis- sion is directed to render such assistance as may be practicable to the civil service board. created under the act of the United States Philippine commission. for the es. Ia hlishmen and maintenance of ID honest and efficient civil service in the Philippine islands. and for that purpose 10 conduct examinations for the civil service of the Philippine islands, upon the request Of the civil service board of said islands, under such regulations as may be agreed upon by the said board and the said United States civil service commission. The civil service commission Is greatly embarrassed in it's work for want of an adequate permanent force for clerical and other assistance. Its needs are fully set forth in it's report. I invite attention to the report and especially urge upon the
  public service, which passes upon the qualifications and character of so large number of the officers and employes oi the government. should be supported by all needed appropriations to secure prompt' ness and efficiency.
 Washington Celebration. The transfer of the government to th1 city is fact of great historical interest Among the people there is a feeling oI genuine pride in the capital of the re- public.
 It is matter of interest in this con nection that in 1860 the population of tne District of Columbia was 4.093 to-day n is 27s.T1S. The population of the city 2. Washington was then 3.2i0; to-day II ]" 2lS 196.
 The congress having provided for .sn appropriate national celebration of tns centennial anniversary of the estabiisn. ment of the seat of government m n.as .as District of Columbia" the committees authorized by 1t have prepared psa pasa gramme for the 12th Of December inp. n which date has been selected as the zen niversary day. Deep interest nss ceIs- shown In the arrangements for the themit- bration by the members of the soanre tees of the senate and house oi rpnrs .rps sentatives, the committee Of gvseorn gNs corn-