The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04

Secretary for new vessels and for addi
tional officers and men which the requir
ed increase of the navy makes necessary
I commend to the favorable action of the
Congress the measure now pending for
the erection of a statue TO the memory of
the late Admiral David d. Porter l COM
mend also the establishment of nation
al reserve and of the grade OF vice-ad
miral. Provision should be ma Re, as re-
commended by the Secretary, for suit
able rewards for special merit. Many of
fcers who rendered the most djstin-
guished service during the recent war
with Spain have received in return no
recognition from tie Congress.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The total area of public lands as given
BIZ the Secretary of the Interior is ap-
proximately 1.07l ,531, o32 acres, of which
or. 1876. $50 acres are undisDoscd Of ard
1874. 745, 1872 acres nave baen reserved for
various purposes. The public lands dis
posed of during the year amount TO 49,
453. SS7. SO acres, including 62,432 % acres
of Indian lands, an increase OF 4,2Il 414.S0
over the preceding year. The total re-
CENTS from the sale Of public lands dur
ing the fiscal year were $l'.9,I1S1G. ali
increase of 81, 800 TO. IS over the preceding
yea-.
The results obtained from our f.rest
nolicv have demonstrated lis wisdom and
the necessity in the interest of the pub
lie for its continrance and increased c,p-
preparations by the Congress for the car
rying on of the work On June go 1900,
there were thirty seven forest reserves,
created by Presidential proclamations
under section "a of the act of March 8,
1891, embracing an area of 46,625, 529
acres.
During the past year the Olympic Re-
serve. in the State of Washington was
reduced 265 ,040 acres, leaving it's pres
ent area at 1928, $40 acres The Prescott
Reserve, in Arizona. was increased from
10. 240 acres to 423, $50 acres, and the Big
Horn Reserve, in Wyoming, was increas-
ed from 1,127, $50 acres to 1.1S0,S00 acres.
A new reserve. the Santa Ynez. in Call
fornia. embracing an area of $4,000
acres, was created during this year On
October 10. 1900. the Crow Creek Forest
Reserve, in Wyoming, was created, with
| an area OF So 800 acres
INCREASED NUMBER OF PENSIONERS.
AT the end of the fiscal year there were
on the pension roll 1898, 529 names, net
increase of 900 over the fiscal year 1899.
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 1894. The amount
disbursed for army pensions dur
| ing the year was $134 zoe, 1924, and
| for navy pensions So, 761, 59941. total OF
| $13S, 462, 1906, leaving an unexpended bal
ance of So, 542, 1857 % to be covered into
the Treasury, which shows an increase
| over the previous years expenditure OF
| S1O7, 077.70. There were 684 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 8, 1900, among other
| things provides for an extension OF in
come to widows pensioned under said act
| to $3.50 per annum. The Secretary of the
Interior believes that by the operations OF
this act the number of persons pensioneo
under it will increase and the increased
annual payment for pensions will be be-
tween SO, 900 900 and $4,O00,O00.
The Government justly appreciates the
| services of it's soldiers and sailors by
making pension payments liberal beyond
precedent to them, their widows and or
phans.
PATENTS GRANTED.
There were 26,540 letters patent grant
ed, including reissues and designs, during
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1900; 166t
trademarks, 682 labels. and 90 prints
registered. The number of patents which
| expired was 1888. The total receipts
for patents were $1,35S, 22S.35. The ex.
penditures were $1,247 ,S27.58, showing {
surplus of $40, 40O.77.
SCHOOLS IN ALASKA.
The attention of the Congress is called
TO the report of the Secretary of the In
| terror touching the necessity for the fur.
Their establishment of schools in the Ter
| ritory of Alaska, and favorable actor
is invited thereon
AFFAIRS IN HAWAII.
Much interesting information is give1
in the report of the Governor of Hawai-
as to the progress and development o
the islands during the period from Jul!
Z. 1898, the date of the approval of the
Joint resolution of the Congress prOvid
ing for their annexation, up to April 30
1900, the date of the approval of thu
| act providing a government for the Terri
tory, and thereafter.
The last Hawaiian census, taken in the
| year 1896. gives a total population o
| 100 .020, of which 81 ,019 were native Ha
| waiians. The number of Americans wa