Gilpin observer., 1900-12-06

expenditure of $1O7, OTTO. There were
6S4 names added to the rolls during
the year by special acts passed at the
first session of the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress.
"The act of May, 1900, among other
things provides for an extension of in
come to widows pensioned under
said act to $3.50 per annum. The Sec
retary of the interior believes that by
the operations of this act the number
of persons pensioned under it will in
crease and the increased annual pay
ment for pensions will be between
81, 100000 and $4,000,00O.
''The government justly appreciates
the services of its soldiers and sailors
by making pension payments liberal
beyond precedent to them, their wild
ows and orphans
PATENTS.
"There were 26.54O letters patent
granted, including reissues anu de-
signs, during the fiscal year ended June
30, 1900; LEGO trade marks 6S2 labels
and % prints registered The number
of patents which expired was 19,9SS.
The total receipts for patents We're
$1,35S, ,22S.35. The expenditures We're
$1,247 ,S27.5S, showing surplus of
$110, ,40O.TT.
ALASKA AND HAWAII.
"The attention of the Congress is
called to the report of the secretary of
the interior touching the necessity for
the further establishment of schools in
the territory of Alaska, and favorable
action is invited thereon,
Much interesting information is
given in the report of the governor OF
Low
ment of the islands during the period
from July 4, 1898, the date of the ap-
proval of the joint resolution of the
Congress providing for their annexa-
ton, up to April 30, 1900, the date Of
the approval of the act providing IA
government for the territory
1.-The census, taken in the year 1896.
gives n total population of lO9,020, of
which 81 ,019 We're native Hawaiians.
The number of Americans reported
was S,4S5. The results of the federal
census taken this year show the
islands to have n total population of
| 154,001, showing an increase over that
reported in 1896 of 44,9S1, or 41.2 per
| cent.
.There has been marked progress in
the educational, agricultural and rail
| road development of the islands.
In the territorial act of April 30,
1900, section of said act repeals chap
ter "a of the civil laws of Hawaii.
whereby the government was 20 assist
in encouraging and developing the ag-
rcultural resources of the republic, es-
pecially irrigation. The governor Of
| Hawaii recommends legislation looking
to the development of such water sup
ply as may exist on the public lands,
with a view of promoting land settle
i Si
Congress is invited to this, as will be
embodied in the report of the secretary
of interior.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT..
"The Department of Agriculture has
been extending its work during the
past year, reaching for new varieties
of seeds and plants; cooperating more
fully with the states and territories
in research along useful lines; making
progress in meteorological work rela-
tive to the lines of wireless telegraphy
and forecasts for ocean-going vessels;
continuing inquiry as to animal dis
ease looking into the extent and char
acter of food adulteration; outlining
plans for the care, preservation and
| intellectual harvesting of our wood
| lands; studying soils that producers
may cultivate with better knowledge
of conditions, and helping to clothe
the desert places with grasses suitable
to our arid regions. Our island pos
sessions are being considered that
their people may be helped to produce
the tropical products now so eXten-
sively brought into the United States.
Inquiry into methods of improving our
roads has been active during the year:
help has been given to many locali-
/ tiaS and scientific Investigation of ma
terial interests of states and terrific
ries has been inaugurated. Irrigation
problems in our semi-arid regions are
receiving careful and increased consid-
Grafton.
LABOR QUESTIONS.
"In my annual message of Decem-
Der ., 1898, l called attention to the
necessity for some amendment of the
anti-contract law. There still remain
important features of the riShtful APP
plication of the eight-hour law for the
benefit of labor and of the principle
of arbitration, and | again commend
these subjects to the careful attention
of the Congress.
'That there may he secured the
best service possible In the Philippine
| islands, / have issued, under date OF
| November 10, 1900, the following or
der:
1.-The United States civil Service
commission is directed to render such
assistance as may be practicable TO
the civil service board created under
the act of the United States Philip
pine commission for the establishment
and maintenance of an honest and eff
ficient civil service in the Philippine
islands, and for that purpose TO con
duct examinations for the civil service
of the Philippines islands, upon the
request of the civil service board of