The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-14
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT.
Affairs of the Past Year in His De-
partment.

phrtAhehts
washington, Dec 13.-The annual re-
mort Of the Secretary of the Interior is
q voluminous one, and contains many
facts of general interest. The Secre-
tary says that existing laws relating
to the public lands in many instances
do not provide adequate protection for
the interests of the government, and
remedial legislation in the cases and
along the lines as suggested herein
should be enacted by Congress at the
earliest practicable date.
There were disposed of during the
fiscal year ended June 80 public lands
aggregating 22,S24, 1886 acres. The to-
tai cash receipts during the fiscal year
from various sources, including dis
posal of public land, $10,557 61S.66, and
Indian land, $308, 1914; from depreda-
lions on public lands, $95, 251.31; from
sales of timber on forest reserves, $751;
96624; from sales of government prop
erty, $S49S2, and for furnishing copies
of records and plants $50, 11S.4S; aggre-
gate $11024, 743.65, an increase of $4,-
2,S1647 over the preceding fiscal year.
There were 312 cases of depredations
upon public timbered lands reported
during the year, involving timber to
the value of 1922, 099.11, d decrease of
$40 907.72 from last year.
Land Frauds.
During the past year there have
been indicted and arrested in the state
of Oregon, charged with forgery and
conspiracy to defraud the government,
a United States commissioner and
three others, the first being a woman.
The United States commissioner has
been removed from her Office, and all
are awaiting trial by the court.
1t is alleged that several hundred en-
tries and final proofs were made be-
fore this commissioner under the act
of March IL, 1902 (32 Stat L., 1907, all
of which have been or are being exam
ined.
Nearly year ago information
reached the department which strong
ly indicated that frauds of a serious
nature had been and were being perpe-
trated against the government under
what is known as the forest reserve
lieu land act of June 4, 1897, by COM
bination of land spectators on the
Pacific coast. An investigation was
commenced last January.
THE investigation has proceeded
step by STEP says the secretary,
without intermision, under my per-
sonal direction, and every clew to
wrongdoing has been quietly followed
to it's source, with the result that it Is
the confident belief of those in charge
will be apprehended and speedily
brought to Justice"
while several hundred thousand
acres of public lands are involved in
the illegal transactions brought to
light, the number of acres to which
patents have been obtained by the per-
petrators of the frauds is comparative
ly small 1t is proper to say also that
some of the statements in regard to the
matter which have recently appeared
in newspapers, both in the East and
in the West. are more or less exag-
gerated and others are mere surmises.
The statements widely circulated to the
effect that five United States senators
and a large number of representatives
were implicated, and that the lands in
Volved would reach in value $15,0OO.O00
or 500 900, 900, are without foundation
in fact. cit can be positively stated
that they did not originate in this de-
partment. The details and results OF
the investigation are known only to a
few, and sensational stories based upon
statements which have heretofore APP
peared in the press must be received
with due allowance"
Indian Affairs.
The total Indian population of the
United States remains about the same
as last year, approximately about 27O,-
900. of which the Five Civilized Tribes
and New York Indians embrace about
10000, leaving about 100000 occupying
1856 reservations, containing b5,12IOOO
acres outside of the Indian Territory
and the state of New York.
Pensions.
The report of the commissioner on
pensions shows that during the fiscal
wear ended June 20, 1908, the total
number of pensioners on the roll was
1043 $685. and the number remaining
on the roll at the close of the year
was 996545, a net loss of 2,9O1 from
the previous year.
The commissioner reports that the
estimated number of survivors OF the
Civil War on June 30, 1908,
was 100000, excluding deserters. The
names of 703,456 soldiers and sailors of
that war are now on the pension rolls,
and it is estimated that 100000 surviv-
ors of the war have not yet been PEN
stoned.
Education.
The number of pupils in the common
schools enrolled during the year was
1926, SS7, the same being 20. 28 per cent.
of the entire population, estimating the
same at S,544,816 The average month
ly wages of teachers is given as $49.O5
per male and $39.77 for females,
slight increase over the previous year.
The above figures relate to the pub
llC SCuOOlS Oulys III duQlllOll IAlS PIiN
ate schools are tabulated at 1.103,901
for the elementary schools, and 1885,,
G36 for academies and other secondary
schools.
The total enrolment for the year,
including public and private, elemen-
tary, secondary and higher education,
was 17460,000. This number does not
include those attending evening schools,
business schools, Indian schools, kinder
gartens, etc.
Patents.
There were 81, S65 patents of all classes
issued during the year. OF this num-
Der, 47,654 are classed as agricultural,
1904 are Indian allotments, 1,104 are
mineral patents, zoo coal patents 276
private land claims, 1877 railroad pat
ents, and 40 swamp-land patents. This
is an increase of $500 over the agri-
cultural patents issued during the pre-
ceding year.
The Secretary has much to say
about Alaska, and the national parks
and other matters. The report makes
good sized volume.