Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-11-27
The Interior Secretary Says Hid
Business Is Growing.
WANT PUBLIC LANDS FOR SETTLERS


Hitchcock calls attention to the fact
that the year has been characterized
by further increase in the volume
of business. notably in the patent
Office, general land Office, geological
survey and the secretary's Office. In
consequence of this increase in the
volume of business it has been neces-
sary to increase the hours of work
in some of the departments, and at
tention is called to the fact that an
increase in the force is necessary.
One Of the first subjects taken up
by Secretary Hitchcock is the unlaw-
full fencing of public lands. In con-
nection with this he says:
"lhe avowed policy of the govern
ment to preserve the public domain
for homes for actual settlers has no
more implacable and relentless foe
than the class that seeks to occupy
the public lands for grazing pur-
poses, by maintaining unlawful
fences thereon.
"There is now pending before con-
gress bill, entitled "A bill to pro-
vide for the leasing, for grazing pur-
poses, of the vacant public domain,
and reserving all rights of home
stead and mineral entry, the rentals
to be special fund for irrigation
Should that bill become law, the
public domain in the 16 states and
territories mentioned therein, aggre-
eating an area of 525,000000 acres,
practically all of the vacant public
domain west of the Mississippi, would
be subject to lease at two cents per
acre for ten years, with privilege
Of renewal for ten years more. Dur
ing the last fiscal year there were
made within that area 53,654 original
homestead entries and 279O4 final
homestead entries, embracing over
100000 acres and affecting s5,55s
persons; and during the present fis-
cal year indications are that more
entries will be made, affecting more
people and embracing greater acre.
age. 1t is needless to say that such
a bill, If enacted into law, would
place the last acre of desirable pub
lie land out of the reach of the home
seeker and defeat the purpose Of the
government to preserve the public
domain for homes for actual settlers.
It would also defeat the operations
of the reclamation act approved June
n last, and make possible the forma-
tion of land monopoly never con-
templated by the public land system,
but which, on the contrary, it is one
of the purposes of that system to
prevent"
Speaking about the act to reclaim
arid lands the secretary says: "On
the day following the passage of the
act plans were submitted by the d.
rector Of the geological survey for
putting it into effect; and these be-
Ing approved by me, survey parties
were at once put in the field to OBJ
tain all Of the facts concerning the
feasibility Of various projects.
"Under section 16 of the Indian ap-
preparation act Of March 3, 1893,
there was created by congress COM
mission, known as the Dawes com
gotiate agreements with the Choc-
raw, CflYckusawY UneroKrc, Urvcn ui,f
Seminole, commonly known as the
five civilized tribes, looking to the
disintegration of the tribal govern
ments and the abolition of communal
holdings, preparatory to the creation
of n state or states of the union
from the lands embraced in the ter
ritory Of these tribes, aggregating
nearly 2O,OO0,OO0 acres. The commits
sion, as created, consisted of three
members, appointed by the president,
by and with the advice and consent
Of the senate. It was contemplated
that this commission should in their
negotiations seek, first, the allotment
of the lands Of these tribes in sew
crafty, or at least sufficient guam
tity for the needs Of each member;
and, second, to procure the cession
of any surplus lands to the United
States.
"The report of the commissioner
Of pensions shows that the total
number Of pensioners on the roll dur
ing the fiscal ye,.r ended June 30,
1902, was 1,O41 ,6s7, and the number
remaining on the roll at the close
of the year was 999,446, net gain
over the previous year Of iii, and
exceeding in number of pensioners
any former year.
"The appropriation for the pay
ment of pensions for the fiscal year
was sl44,OOO,OOO. Repayments to the
appropriation made the amount avail
able for payment Of pensions $i44,-
OO4 ,35156. The disbursements for
army and navy pensions during the
year, including the amount dis
bursed by treasury settlements,
were sl37,5Oi,267.99, leaving an un-