Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-04

November, 1900, the number had in
creased to 2614 reaching into forty four
states and territories and serving a pop
ulation of 1901, ,524. The number of ap-
pllcations now pending and awaiting
action nearly equals all those granted
up to the present time, and by the close
of the current fiscal year about 1000
routes will have been established, pro-
Vlding for the daily delivery of mails
at the scattered homes of about three
ana half millions of rural population.
1his service ameliorates the isolation of
farm life, conduces to good roads and
quickens and extends the dissemination
OF general Information. Experience
thus far has tended to allay the appre-
henson that it would be so expensive
as to forbid it's general adoption or
make it general burden Its actual
application has shown that it increases
postal receipts and can be accompanied
Wy reductions in other branches of the
service. 50 that the augmented rev-
enues and the accomplished savings to-
2ether materially reduce the net cost,
The evidences which point to these
conclusions are presented in detail iA
the annual report of the postmaster
general, which, with recommendations
is commended to the attention of con-
gress. The final development of this
service, however, requires such a large
outlay of money that it should be un-
dertaken only after a careful study and
thorough understanding of all that it
involves.
Very efficient service has been rem
dered by the navy in connection with
the insurrection in the Philippines and
recent disturbance in China.
very satisfactory settl <nent has
been made of the long-pending question
of the manufacture of armor plates. A
reasonable price has been secured and
the necessity for government armor
plant avoided.
1 approve of the recommendations of
the secretary of the navy for new ves-
sells and for additional officers and men
which the required increase of the navy
makes necessary. commend to the fav-
orable action of the congress the meas
ure now pending for the erection of a
statue to the memory of the late David
D. Porter. 1 commend, also, the estab-
lishment of national navy reserve. and
of the grade of vice-admiral. Provisions
should he made, as recommended by the
secretary, for suitable rewards for spe-
cial merit. Many officers who rendered
the most distinguished service during
the recent war with Spain have received
in return no recognition from the con-
gress.
The total area of public land as given
by the secretary of the interior is APP
proximately 1,01.S .SS1 ,662 acres. of which
9l19S5, $50 acres are undisposed of. and
154 l45, 1872 acres have been reserved for
various purposes. The public lands dis
posed of during the year amount to 49,
453 SS1.96 acres, including 81 423.O9 acres
of Indian lands. an increase of 4,271. .75S 10
over the preceding year. The total re-
ceipts from the sale of public lands dur
ing the fiscal year were $4379. 1853 10, an
increase of 1909, ,62O76 over the preced-
ing year.
FOREST RESERVES.
The results obtained from our forest
policy have demonstrated it's wisdom
and the necessity, in the interest of the
public for it's ma intenance and increased
appropriations by the congress for the
carrying on of the work On June 80,
1900, there We're thirty-seven forest re-
serves created by presidential proclama-
tons. under section "a of the act
March 3, 1891, embracing an area of 49,
425, 529 acres. During the year the Olym-
pic reserve, in the state of WASHINGTON,
was reduced 609,0S0 acres, leaving its
present area 1913, ,S40sacres. The Prescott
reserve, in Arizona, was increased from
lO,24O acres to 423, $50 acres, and the Big
Horn reserve, in Wyoming, was increas-
ed from 1,121 $50 acres to 1,1S0,S00 acres.
A new reserve, the Santa Ynez in Cali
fornia, embracing an area of la, O0O
acres, was created during this year. On
October 10. 1900. the Crow Creek forest
reserve, in Wyoming, was created. With
an area Of $500 acres.
Al the end of the fiscal year there wer
on the pension roll 993. 225 names, a net
increase of 2,G10 over the fiscal year of
1899. The number added to the rolls
during the year was 1914. The amount
disbursed for army pensions during this
year was $l34, 700 594.24 and for navy pen
sions So, 161, 533.41, total of $13S, ,462 80 60
leaving an uneNpended balance of $5,542,
T6S.25 to be covered into the treasury,
which shows an increase over the pre-
vious years expenditures of s1o7 OF. 20.
There We're 6S4 names added to the rolls
during the year by special acts passed
The act of1May, 1900. among other things,
provides for an extension of income to
widows. pensions under said act to be
$50 per annum. The secretary of the
interior believes that by the perations
of this act the number of persons pen
stoned under it will increase and the in
creased annual payment for pensions
Will be between $4,000, 900 and 1900, 900.
The government justly appreciates the
services of it's soldiers ana sailors by
making pension payments l.beral beyond
precedent to the men. their widows and
orphans.
There We're 26.540 letters patent grant
ed, including reissues and designs, dur
Ing the fiscal year ended June 80, 1890;
1860 trade marks, 6S2 labels and 93
prints registered. The number of pat
ents which expired was 1898. The
total receipts for patents We're 81, 1,35S 2SS.-
81. The expenditures We're $1247, ,S21. 5S,
showing surplus OF $l1Oi00.77
The attention of the congress is called
:. |, g L,