Union Pacific, cash $58,448,223.75
Kansas Pacific, cash 6,303,000.00
Central and Western Pacific, cash 11,798,314.14
Notes, secured 47,050,172.36
Kansas Pacific—­dividends for deficiency
due United States, cash 821,897.70
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Making a total of 124,421,607.95

The whole indebtedness was about $130,000,000, more than half of which consisted of accrued interest, for which sum the Government has realized the entire amount less about $6,000,000 within a period of two years.

On June 30, 1898, there were thirty forest reservations (exclusive of the Afognak Forest and Fish Culture Reserve in Alaska), embracing an estimated area of 40,719,474 acres.  During the past year two of the existing forest reserves, the Trabuco Canyon (California) and Black Hills (South Dakota and Wyoming), have been considerably enlarged, the area of the Mount Rainier Reserve, in the State of Washington, has been somewhat reduced, and six additional reserves have been established, namely, the San Francisco Mountains (Arizona), the Black Mesa (Arizona), Lake Tahoe (California), Gallatin (Montana), Gila River (New Mexico), and Fish Lake (Utah), the total estimated area of which is 5,205,775 acres.  This makes at the present time a total of thirty-six forest reservations, embracing an estimated area of 46,021,899 acres.  This estimated area is the aggregated areas within the boundaries of the reserves.  The lands actually reserved are, however, only the vacant public lands therein, and these have been set aside and reserved for sale or settlement in order that they may be of the greatest use to the people.

Protection of the national forests, inaugurated by the Department of the Interior in 1897, has been continued during the past year and much has been accomplished in the way of preventing forest fires and the protection of the timber.  There are now large tracts covered by forests which will eventually be reserved and set apart for forest uses.  Until that can be done Congress should increase the appropriations for the work of protecting the forests.

The Department of Agriculture is constantly consulting the needs of producers in all the States and Territories.  It is introducing seeds and plants of great value and promoting fuller diversification of crops.  Grains, grasses, fruits, legumes, and vegetables are imported for all parts of the United States.  Under this encouragement the sugar-beet factory multiplies in the North and far West, semitropical plants are sent to the South, and congenial climates are sought for the choice productions of the far East.  The hybridizing of fruit trees and grains is conducted in the search for varieties adapted to exacting conditions.  The introduction of tea gardens into the Southern States promises to provide employment for idle hands, as well as to supply the home market with tea.  The subject of irrigation where it is of vital importance to the people is being carefully studied, steps are being taken to reclaim injured or abandoned lands, and information for the people along these lines is being printed and distributed.