The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-25
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
SALIENT FEATURES OF sECRETA-
RVS ANNUAL REPORT.

Nearly $11 100000 Indian Expendi-
tures-Pensions Reach Highwnter
Mark in the History of the Bureau.
Increase of American Ingenuity
as Seen at the Patent Ontce-In-
crease i'm school Enrollment-Por-
to Rico.
Washington. Nov. 24.-The annual
report of the Secretary of the Interior.
made public to-day, is a voluminous
document of 267 printed pages. More
than 65 pages are devoted to Indian
affairs. 1t shows that the total In
dian population of the United States,
exclusive Of the New York Indians and
those in the Indian Territory, en-
braced in what is generally known as
the five civilized tribes, is approx
mately 1889: they are located on 156
reservations in various sections of the
country containing about 55,12I 900
acres. Sums were expended on ac-
count of the Indian service for the ifs
cal year ending June 80, 1901, from
moneys appropriated, from trust funds,
including principal and interest. and
from grazing moneys, in all aggregat-
ing S1o,S96.O79. S5.
The report of the Commissioner of
Pensions shows that the total number
of pensioners on the roll during the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1901, was l.
Gal, 1871, and the number remaining on
x.on Of 0f xx,aS
997, 735, an increase of 4,206 as compared
with the number of pensioners at the
close of the fiscal year 1900. This is
over 1900 in excess of any previous
year, and constitutes high water
mark" in the history of the bureau.
The additions to the roll during the
year consisted of 44.225 new pensioners
and 1867 restorations, a total of 47,792,
while the losses to the rolls during the
same period from deaths and other
causes were 1855.
Pensions.
The amount disbursed for army and
navy pensions during the year was
$13S, 531, 4S384, of which amount $751;
1857 ,233.S4 was paid on account of pen
sions under the general law; $50, 973,
4S1.15 on account of pensions under the
act of June 81, 1890; $1,175, 225.76 for
pensions on account the war with
Spain, and 81, SS9 ,21S.99 for pensions on
account of wars prior to March 4, 1861
The amount disbursed by treasury set
Element was S126, 324.10. The amount
disbursed for navy pensions was SO, TS7,-
$780, The increase over the expendi-
lures for the previous year was $50,
1851
Patent Office.
The report of the Commissioner of
Patents upon the business of the pat
ent office shows that there were re-
ceived during that year 420S2 appica-
lions for mechanical patents, 2,36S ap-
| plications for designs, 101 applications
for reissues, 1850 caveats, 2,312 applica-
| tons for trade marks, 1,036 applications
| for labels, and 176 applications for
prints. There were 26,4S1 patents
! granted, including reissues and de-
signs; 1926 trades marks, S24 labels
and 124 prints were registered The
number of patents that expired was
20,690. The number of allowed appli.
cations which were by operation Of
law forfeited for nonpayment of tn,
final fee was 4,2SS. The total receipts
of the office were $1,40S, SIT 81; the to
tai expenditures We're $1,2SS, 97013, anC
the surplus of receipts over expendi
lures, being the amount turned int
the treasury, was Sis, 907.54
The volume of work of the patent
| office has reached unprecedented fig.
ures, and the regular character of Its
increase indicates that it is likely tc
continue.
/ Education.
The total enrolment in all schools
elementary, secondary, and higher
public and private. during the year
was 11O2O,710 pupils, an increase oi
2S2,34S over the previous year; the en-
rollment in public institutions support
ed by general and local taxes was IS
| 1882; including special institutions
About Il per cent. of the population
of the United States attend some school
supported by taxation, while but 2 per
cent. attend private schools. There
has been notable increase in the
number of public high schools through
out the country; 2,526 were in opera.
ton in 1890, which increased to 6.00E
| in 1900 In the North Atlantic states
in 1890 there were 1856, and in 1900 1. 44s
In the South Atlantic states in 1896
there were but lis high schools, where
as in 1900 they had increased to 44g.
| The South Central Division of states
shows still greater ratio of Increase
their public high schools being 1856 in
number in 1890 and 675 in 1900.
Porto Rico.
Notwithstanding the deplorable con
dition of the laboring classes at the
time of the cession of Porto Rico to the
United States, the awful destruction OF
life and property and consequent mis-
cry and woe wrought by the hurricane
of 1899, the injury to trade and com
merce caused by the necessary change
in the circulating medium, and in spite
| of pernicious opposition to and mali
cious representation of the methods and
policies adopted and pursued, there are
| in all matters relating to the depart.
ment of the interior, evidences of sub
stantial progress made, and the pros
poets for the future are reasonably
bright. There remains much to be
| done; indeed, IL would seem that only
a fair beginning has been made, YET
the commissioner expresses the belief
that with the exercise of patience, in
dustry, wise discretion, ana zeal, the
speedy Mobilization of Porto Rico as a
veritable garden spot, rich and pros
porous, and the people fully employed
contented and happy are conditions
that may be confidently predicted
Capital is needed for restoration of old
all nt.k