New-York tribune., 1900-12-04

for it's faithful and effective service IN ac+,va
military operations in the field and the diesenI+
work of civil administration.
GROWTH OF THE POSTAL SERVICE
The continued and rapid growth Of the postal
service is sure index OF the great and increas-
ing business activity of the country Its most
striking development is the extension OF
rural free delivery. This has come almost wholly
within the last year. At the beginning Of the
! fiscal year 1S99-19OO the number OF routes in
operation only 391. and most Of these had
been running less than twelve months. On No
| vember Is, 1900, the number had increased 10
2,6l4, reaching into fOrty-four States and Terri
tories, and serving population Of 1.SO1, ,524
The number Of applications 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 four thousand routes
viii have been established providing for the
/ daily delivery of mails at the scattered homes
of about three and half millions Of rural popu-
| latOn.
This service ameliorates the isolation Of farm
| life, cOnduces to good roads and quickens and
/ extends the dissemination OF general infOrma-
tion. Experience thus far has tended 20 aIIay
the apprehension that II would be 50 expensive
TO forbid it's general adoption or make IL a
serious burden. It's actual application has shown
that it increases postal receipts. and can be ac-
cOmpanied by reductions in other branches Of
/ the service. so that the Augmented revenues and
/ the accomplished savings together materially
| reduce the net cost. The evidences which point
the annual report Of the Postmaster General
which. with It's recommendations. is commended
10 the consideration of the Congress. The full
/ development of this special service however.
requires such large outlay of money that it
should be undertaken only after a careful study
and thorough understanding of all that II In
wolves.
| NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Very efficient service has been rendered by
| the Navy in connection with the insurrection in
the Philippines and the recent disturbance IN
/ China
A very satisfactory settlement has been made
| of the long pending question OF the
factuIe of armor plate. A reasonable price has
/ been secured. and the necessity for a Govern
nent arTnOr plant avoided.
| I approve of the recommendations OF the Sec
retary for new vessels and for additional officers
and men which the required increase OF the
| Navy makes necessary / commend to the ia
vorable action OF the Congress the measure now
| perding for the erection Of statue to the
memory OF the late Admiral David ID. Porter.
| I commend also the establishment OF National
naval reserve and of the grade OF vice-adrniraI
/ Provision should be made, as recommended by
the Secretary. for suitable rewards for special
merit. Many officers who rendered the most
distinguished service during the recent war with
| Spain have received in return no recognition
| The total area OF public lands as given by the
Secretary OF the Interior is approximately
are undisposed OF and ia. .745. .7S2 acres have
/ been reserved for various purposes. The public
/ lands disposed OF during the year amount to
| 1:.45a,SS7.96 acres. including 50 42309 acres
OF Indian lands. increase OF 4. .2T1. $50 over
| the preceding year. The total receipts from the
$4.379. .75S 10. an increase OF $1,3O962O 76 over
| the preceding year.
| FORESTRY,
| The results obtained from our forest policy
have demonstrated It's wisdom and the necessity
IN the interest OF the public for it's continuance
and increased appropriations by the Congress
for the carrying on OF the work On June 30.
1900. there were thirty-ssven forest preserves
created by Presidential proclamations under
/ Section "a OF the Act OF March 8. 1891, EN-
braeing an area OF 46.425.529 acres.
! During the past year the Olympic Reserve, in
the State Of Washington, was reduced 265,04G
/ The Prescott Reserve. n Arizona. was increased
/ from 1920 acres to 423,6SO acres, and the
from 1.12T. $50 acres to I.1SOsOO acres. A new
reserve the Santa Yn6z. IN California. embrac-
ing an area Of $4,000 acres. was created during
this year On October 10 1900 the Grow Creek
Forest Reserve. in Wyoming, was created, with
an area of $500 acres.
PENSIONS.
At the end OF the fiscal year there were on the
| pension roll 993,529 names, a net increase Of
| 2O10 over the fiscal year 1899 The number
| added 20 the rolls during the year was 45344.
The amount disbursed for Army pensions during
the year was $134. 200. .597 "a. and for Navy pen
sions 50, ,761 .533 Al. a total OF S13S462 1870 %,
| leaving an unexpended balance OF Soo42, I6S -
/ TO be covered into the Treasury, which shows
/ an increase over the'prevtouS years expendltuIe
| Of S1OT.O77 20. There were 6S4 names added TO
the rolls during the year by special acts passed
| at the first session of the LVIth Congress.
The act of May O. 1900, among other things,
/ provides for extension of income TO widows
| pensioned under said act to 500 per annum The
/ Secretary of the Interior believes that BY the
/ operations Of this act the number or persons
| pensioned under IL viii increase. and the in
/ creased annual payment for pensions will be be-
tween S3OOO.OOO and S4OOOOOO
/ The Government justly appreciates the ser
/ vices of its soldiers and sailors by making PEN
| sion payments liberal beyond precedent to them,
/ their widows and orphans.
| GLIDING reissues and designs, during the hseal
i year ended June 30. 1900; 1860 trademarks, b.
/ patents which expired was l9ySS The total
| receipts for patents We're S1,3jS22S 81 The
expenditures were 81 .247 S27 IS. showing sur
/ plus OF $11O 400 u.
| The attention of the Congress is called to the
| report of the Secretary OF the Interior touch
/ ing the necessity for the further establishment
OF schools in the Territory of Alaska, and favor
able action is invited thereon.
HAWAII
| Much interesting information is given in the
| report of the Governor OF Hawaii 20 the
progress and development Of the islands during
| the period from July Z. 1898. the date Of the
| approval OF the joint resolution OF the CONGRESS
providing for their annexation up 70 April SS,
1900. the date of the approval Of the act proVld-
/ ing government for the Territory and there-
after.
| The last Hawaiian census. taken in the year
/ 1896. gives total population OF lU9O-O OF
which 81 Ot9 were native Hawaiians. The num-
/ Der Of Americans reported was S,4SO. The re-
/ suits of the Federal census. taken this year.
show the islands to have a total population OF
/ 154OO1. showing an increase over that reporter
/ In 1896 Of A SSl or 41.2 per cent,
rbara has haar MAJ rLradro in 10