The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-10
ONLY 269,0O0 INDIANS LEFT
Statement in Secretary Of the In.
ter;or's Annual Report.
H,2s9,23O SCHOOL CHILDREN

Ths Commissionsr Of Education Furnishes
Facts About the country's Schools
The Pensioners on tho Rolls Number
Over 1000 yooo-Last Psnsiouer Of this
Revolutionary War Dead.
Washington, D. C.-In his ANIMAL re.
port to the President. Secretary OF the
Interior Hitchcock makes but few rec.
concentrations for legislation. and the
major part Of the document Is devoted
to the technical reports of the various
bureaus under the Department. The
principal matters called to the atten.
tlon OF Congress are In regard to the
fraudulent entry and fencing Of public
lands. the cutting Of timber on public
lands and the outlook for the reclama-
ton Of the arid lands OF the West.
Secretary Hitchcock reports that the
total Indian population of the United
States Is approximately 260.3D6. Of
which the New York Indiana and the
five civilized tribes embrace S3.I23.
leaving 170.57i. occupying 15G reserva.
tions having 55. 127. 900 acres. outside OF
New York and the Indian Territory.
Progress toward civilization has been
marked. more Indians having engaged
in civilized pursuits and In efforts 4;
self.support than ever before.
The New York Indians are located
on eight small reservations. having an
area Of about $4,000 acres. in the north.
western part Of New York They mum.
ber about 5232, to some Of whom small
sums Of money and apnuitles are dis
tributed under treaty stipulations.
Little progress has been made during
the year In the operation Of the asphalt
mines In the Indian Territory. The
lessees continue to prospec. and expert.
ment, but the results are unsatisfac-
tory.
The report Of the Commissioners os
Patents for the fiscal year ended June
30. 1902, shows that during that year
there were 27.3S1 patents granted. The
number Of patents that expired was
2O.335. The total receipts Of the office
were 81 .491 .53S.S5: the total eSDend'.
lures were Sl.329. .924.G3. n surplus Of
S16l l.G1i.22. The volume OF work Is
greater than ever before. the total
number OF applications filed having for
the first time exceeded 10000.
The Commissioner Of Education re-
ports that the total number OF pupils
In schools. elementary. secondary and
higher. public and private. during the
year ended June 80. 1902. was 1I.@9..
23O, an increase Of 2IS.520 over rhe
previous year. OF this number the en.
rollment Of pupils in institutions sup.
ported by general and local taxes fur.
nished by States and municipalities
was 15.110.394. as against 13.443. 4Ga
for the previous year. The value OF
property used for public school pur.
poses for the scholastic year 1901 has
risen to S57G, ,9G3. .0S9 from 30.3S0. .00S
in 1870.
In his annual report. included in that
Of the Secretary OF the Interior. MT.
Ware. the Pension Commissioner. gives
the number Of pensioners on the rolls
FOR the fiscal year ending June 30. 1902.
rs l.O4l.GS7. 4 net gain OF I'LL over
las: year. 1t Is the greatest number
ever on the rolls. The pension roll is
growing each year. During the fiscal
year ended June 30 there were 3I.1i1
deaths among pensioners. while 1905
were dropped from the rolls for other
causes. The gain for the year. iEclud.
Ing new pensions. renewals and restora.
items, was 43.05e.
The records show that only eight
widows ard daughters OF Revolution
ary War soldiers are carried on the
rolls. while there yet remain 1918 sur.
vivors and widows Of the War OF 1879
who are drawing pensions. The only
Revolutionary War pensioncr died last
year.
During the year 2iG.353 claims were
received, OF which l!S,iGi were re-
ierted. The amount disbursed for
pensions was 1854. .267.99. to which
Is added S3..S6. 1G0.0l. making the total
cos. for the maintenance Of the pension
system S141. 900. .71T.03.
Commissioner Ware recommends that
Congress pass law prohibiting the
giving Of pensions to widows who
marry soldiers after the soldier be.