The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15

pairs and extensions to irrigation
works in various localities.
During the year a very important
system of irrigation, conservatively
estimated to cover about 10000
acres of land on the Yakima reserva'
ton in Washington, was authorized
by the department and the same is
now being constructed under the per-
sonal supervision of the irrigation in
SpectOr
49,. Pension Statistics.
The disbursements for pensions by
the United States from July 1,s179O,
to June 80, 1866, were s96,445, 444.23.
Since 1865 the disbursements for pen
sions were $2,942, IFS, 1853, and for
cost and maintenance expenses, $685.
647,934.71, or a total of $3,037, 1885,
| 0SO.64, making the entire cost of the
maintenance of the pension system
since the foundation of the govern
! ment $3,134,271,524.S7.
OF the amount that has been ex-
| pended for pensions since the foun-
dation of the government, $40, 10000 600
was on account of the war Of the
revolutions; $45,186,197.22 on ac-
count Of service in the war of. 1912;
$6,234, 414.55 on account of service in
the Indian wars; $33,4S3,309.91 on
| dCCOuHL I'll SSIH1Cc LII Ii1S NAC@AASc1ll
war; $5,479,268.31o account Of the
war with Spain, and s9,S79,200,400.17
on account of the war Of the rebellion.
The cost of the pension system
! reached it's maximum in 1898, when
it amounted to rs2.44 per capita Of the
/ entire population. 1t, however, has
been growing less each year. and 1903
the total of pensions amounted to
only $1.75 per capita of population.
In 1898 the cost of the pension sys-
tenn per $1,000 aggregate wealth of
the United States was 1924, while in
| 1908 it had decreased to $1.32.
The commissioner expresses the
opinion that in ten years the pension
system will cease to be noticed as, a
burden to the people Of the United
States.
/ The annual value of the pension
roll, the amount required to pay the
regular pension. certificates $3.50 .
outstanding at the close, of the fiscal
year, was $133,029,09O. The average
annual value of each pension was
33.4O-an increase of $1.26 over that
of the former year. 1898
Yellowstone National Park.
The Yellowstone National park, sci
aside by act of March l, 1872, is To-
Gated in the states of Montana ano
Wyoming, and has an area of 2,l42,:
720 acres. The average altltudes
5000 feet.
Major John Pitcher, Sixth cavalry
United States army, acting ssuperin'
tendent reports that the Northern Pa.
cific Railway company has completed
, the extension of its road, and it's ter.
minus is now at Gardiner, only five
miles distant from the Mammoth Ho
, Springs. The completion of this roae
; and the building of a handsome depo
has greatly added to the comfort ane
convenience of tourists entering tn
park.
Until the present season there hal
been nothing to indicate to tourist
entering the park from the nortl
when they had crossed the boundar.
line, or actually entered the park, bu
now, soon after leaving the depot
: they pass thru q stone archWay, o
gate, which indicates to them at one
that they are within the bounds o
the park. The corner stone of thi
arch was laid April 24,41903, by tn
: president, who was visiting the park.
Tn connection with this gateway