# Report of the Secretary of the Interior/1896

Index
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1896.
IN FIVE VOLUMES.
VOLUME I.
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1896.
REPORT
OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C., December 3, 1896.
Sir: The Department of the Interior comprises such a variety and magnitude of interests, extending over such an expanse of territory, that its care or supervision must entail great labor and responsibility. The brief time that has elapsed since I assumed this trust has not admitted of my becoming thoroughly familiar with its duties and opportunities, but its importance and possibilities have so impressed and interested me that I have given to it all the time and thought at my command.
Herewith I have the honor to present the annual report of the work of the Department and such suggestions and recommendations as to policy and legislation as my limited experience prompts me to offer. In submitting this report, I should be untrue to my own convictions and unjust to my predecessor, Hon. Hoke Smith, whose resignation took effect September 1 last, if I failed to testify to his fidelity and efficiency as the head of this Department from March 4, 1893, to the date named.
In making this report, I must of necessity have been largely dependent on heads of bureaus and chiefs of divisions in acquiring information concerning the operations of the Department and the effect of its administration. The interest in the service manifested by the officers and employees has been earnest and commendable, the assistance rendered cheerful and intelligent, and I am pleased to bear testimony thereto.
DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS.
The comprehensiveness and diversity of this branch of the Government can be most approximately estimated by considering the amounts ​and objects of the appropriations for the last fiscal year, which aggregate $157,179,656.37 and appear in detail in the following table:
General Land Office: :
—————— 1,842,190.00 :
Indian Office: :
—————— 8,686,371.24 :
Pension Office: :
Army and Navy pensions, salaries of pension :
—————— 144,164,002.17 :
Patent Office: :
—————— 802,924.00 :
Education Office: :
—————— 94,820.00 :
Railroad Office: :
—————— 11,420.00 :
Geological Survey: :
—————— 668,490.00 :
Architect of Capitol Office: :
—————— 115,824.00 :
"3" I'DBT 01“ THE BECBETAB! OF THE INTERIOR. ‘V Hiscelkneons: Library, Department of the Interior. ... . . ... .. .... .r $500. 00 Repairs Interior Department and Pension buildings . 5, 000. 00 Payment for Supreme Court reports . 608. 00 Government Hospital for Insane. . . . 260, 740. 00 Columbian Institute for the Dent on on . 53, 500. 00 Maintenance Howard University .. . 34, 500. 00 Miscellaneous items and reliefs. 661. 21 Publishing Biennial Registerv .. . . . 4, 000. 00
Expenses special lend inspector, Department of the Interior. .. . 2, 000. 00
Postage to Postal Union countries ................... . . 3, 000.00 Rent of buildings, Department of the Interion 40, 500. 00 Yellowstone National Pork building ................. .. . 386. 75 Stationery, Deparhnent of the Interior, bureaus and ofl‘ices. . . . . 52, 500. 00 Contingent expenses, Department of the Interior, bureaus an ofl'ices .. . . 73, 000. 00 Total for the entire Department ........................... .. 157, 179,66& 37
The estimates for the present fiscal year amount to about $1,000,000 less than the amounts appropriated last year. The following table gives the total appropriations for defraying the entire expenses of the Government (exclusive of the principal of the public debt.) for the four fiscal years from July 1, 1857, to June 30, 1861, as taken from the books of the Register of the Treasury:
Fiscal year—
1357—53"... . ........ _. $5,996,806.72 1858-59... .. 65, 401, 457. 28
1860—61... . . 89, 855, 082.70
From this it appears that the cost of maintaining the Department of the Interior, including the payment of pensions, for the last fiscal year is more than two and a half times as great as the entire expenses of the Government for the fiscal year 1859—60, and $6,000,000 in excess of the total cost of defmying the expenses of the Government for the two fiscal years from July 1, 1859, to June 30, 1861, although the expenses of the latter year were largely in excess of previous years, in conse quence, no doubt, of preparations for war.
GENERAL LAND OFFICE. Tim PUBLIC now.
The public domain is under the charge of the General Land Office, and has been since the creation of that Bureau in 1812. It remained under the supervision of the Secretary of the Treasury until the organi- zation of the Department of the Interior, Match 3, 1849, when it was transferred to this Department. ​VI REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. The national domain is the whole area, land and water, lying within the national boundaries known as the United States. The public domain, or public lands-the property of the nation, and subject to legislative control and disposition by Congress alone-is the area known as public lands acquired by treaty, capture, cession by States, conquest or other acquisition, and purchase. . The national domain may be increased without adding to the public domain, as was the case when Texas came into the Union. The acqui- sition of that State added to our national domain, but did not increase the public domain, because all of the lands within the limits of that State belonged to and continued in the ownership and possession of the Commonwealth of Texas, until the sale of a portion thereof by Texas to the Government in 1850. The public domain is comprised within the cessions made by the original colonies to the Federal Government, and known as the “West- ern Reserve,” with an area of 259,171,787 acres and the following purchases: Acres. Louisiana purchase, April 30, 1803- ..... _ ...... _ _ 756, 961, 280 East and west Florida, February 22, 1819 .... __ _ _ 37, 931, 520 Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848 _ __._... _ _ 334, 443, 520 State of Texas, November 25, 1850 ....._... _ _ _ 61, 892, 480 Gadsden purchase, December 30, 1853 ..... _ _ 29, 142, 400 Alaska purchase, May 30, 1867 ...._._... _ _ _ 369, 529, 600 “Western Reserve” .... __........ _ _ 259, 171, 787 Total ._..___..................._. .... ..._..__ ._.. _._.__ 1 _ _... 1 , 84 9, 072, 587 The above-named area, exclusive of the “ Western Reserve,” was pur- chased at a total cost of $88,157,389.98. The actual public domain is 1,818,462,522 acres, exclusive of the area of the State of Tennessee, which, although in reality a part of the public domain, was transferred to the State of Tennessee by act of Congress of February 18, 1841. The following figures, compiled from the records of the General Land Oliice, give interesting information concerning the disposition of the public domain: Total acres disposed of up to June 30, 1883 ___.._ ._ _._ _ ______ 620, 000, 000 Total acres disposed of up to J une 30, 1896 __.. _ ______.____.__.___.___. 946, 000, 000 Disposed of from June 30, 1883, np to June 30, 1896, thirteen years. 326, 000, 000 Or 25,000,000 acres a year; an area nearly equal to the Gadsden pur- chase of 29,000,000 acres, and equal to the area of the State of Ohio. The public domain disposed of during the past thirteen years is more than half of the amount disposed of during the preceding one hundred and seven years of our existence, and more than one-third of the total public domain disposed of since the beginning of the Government. The amount of the public domain still vacant is estimated at some- thing over 600,000,000 acres, not including the District of Alaska, with an area of over 369,000,000 acres. The location of the public domain ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/13 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/14 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/15 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/16 ​From the table of public lands undisposed of (p. 8), it will be seen that the estimated acreage of the public domain remaining the property of the Government June 30, 1896, was 600,000,000 acres, in round numbers, not including Indian and military reservations, estimated at 86,960,000 acres, and the District of Alaska. In the past thirteen years, therefore, the Government has, by patents to States, railroads, homestead and other settlers, and by sales, disposed of about 326,000,000 acres of the public domain. These figures demonstrate that the country is being settled with great rapidity, and that the public domain is being diminished by great strides.
It is desirable that our waste acres should be taken up by actual settlers, to whom every encouragement should be extended if they are of a character to assimilate with our people and become valuable citizens. Our lawmakers, however, might well consider the question seriously before disposing of any more large areas of the public domain. If the rate of disposition of the last thirteen years is continued for thirteen years to come, there will be little of the public domain outside of Alaska remaining in the possession of the Government at the expiration of that time. Moreover, it is reasonable to conclude that a very considerable portion of the public domain remaining undisposed of is undesirable, because not susceptible of cultivation and not valuable by reason of timber growth or mineral deposits.
Of the 114,000,000 acres granted to railroads but not patented, as shown above, there can be no objection to transferring possession and control of whatever portion has been earned by compliance with the grants and may be available thereunder (estimated at 70,000,000 acres) with as much promptness as the facilities of the Government will permit; but until these grants are adjusted, my judgment is that no additional ones should be made. The expenses of maintaining the land department are considerable, aggregating at present nearly $2,000,000 annually. They can be materially curtailed when the railroad land grants shall have been adjusted.
Unusual diligence has been exercised by the Commissioner of the General Land Office during the past year, as well as from the beginning of his incumbency of that office, in patenting lands granted by Congress and in facilitating in every way the settlement of the vacant lands of our public domain. During the past year there were patented to railroads under Congressional grants 15,527,844.98 acres. The following table gives the names of the roads and the amount patented to each:
RAILROAD LANDS PATENTED.
There were patented (or certified with the effect of patenting) for the benefit of railroad companies under Congressional grants during the ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/18 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/19 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/20 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/21 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/22 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/23 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/24 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/25 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/26 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/27 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/28 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/29 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/30 ​Page:U.S. 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Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/46 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/47 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/48 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/49 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/50 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/51 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/52 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/53 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/54 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/55 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/56 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/57 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/58 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/59 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/60 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 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Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/92 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/93 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/94 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/95 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/96 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/97 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/98 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/99 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/100 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/101 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/102 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/103 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/104 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/105 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/106 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/107 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/108 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/109 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/110 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/111 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/112 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/113 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/114 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/115 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/116 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/117 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/118 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/119 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/120 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/121 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/122 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/123 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/124 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/125 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/126 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/127 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/128 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/129 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/130 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/131 ​and the others, of which thirty were colored, representing geological scenery with particular reference to the Southern States, and two large relief models of the United States, made with proper curvature as segments of a globe, one topographic only, the other showing the ice sheet of the glacial period, setting forth the essential difference between the northern and southern portions of the country, together with cases of minerals, fossils, etc. In the mineral exhibit a comprehensive showing was made of the mineral products of the South, their quantity, quality, and the conditions governing their production and those now limiting the usefulness of the economic minerals, etc.
In addition, the department of mining of the entire exposition, as shown in the building devoted to mining and forestry, was organized and controlled by representatives of the Survey, with Dr. D. T. Day in charge. In this exhibit the economic geology of the Southern States was comprehensively shown.
THE MARITIME CANAL COMPANY OF NICARAGUA.
By an act approved February 20, 1889 (25 Stat. L., 673), the Congress chartered the Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua “to facilitate commercial intercourse by water between the Atlantic and Pacific States, as well as with foreign nations.” The act provided, however—
That nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to commit the United States to any pecuniary liability whatever for or on account of said company, nor shall the United States be held in anywise liable or responsible in any form or by any implication for any debt or liability in any form which said company may incur, nor be held as guaranteeing any engagement or contract of said company, or as having assumed by virtue of this act any responsibility for the acts or proceedings of said company in any foreign country, or contracts or engagements entered into in the United States.
The act requires the company to make a report on the first Monday in December in each year to the Secretary of the Interior, to be verified on oath by its president and secretary. A preliminary statement has been submitted by the canal company showing that no work has been done on the canal since August, 1893. The corporation has held its regular annual meetings at its office in the city of New York, and at its last annual election on May 7, 1896, selected Messrs. Joseph Bryan, James Roosevelt, Hiram Hitchcock, and Thomas B. Atkins as directors to serve for three years and to fill the places made vacant by the class whose term of oflice expired on that day.
It appears from the statement that the Maritime Canal Company entered into a contract with the Nicaragua Canal Construction Company for the construction of the canal, but that the latter company became financially embarrassed in August, 1893, and subsequently made an assignment of its construction contract and all its assets to the Nicaragua Company, a corporation chartered by the State of Vermont. The latter company “has not yet found itself in a position to resume the work of construction under its contract.” ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/133 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/134 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/135 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/136 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/137 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/138 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/139 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/140 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/141 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/142 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/143 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/144 ​SEC. 2. That after the passage of this act it shall be unlawful to dispose of or appropriate for any purpose whatsoever any timber on such public lands except as herein provided and as authorized by Congress for railroad and telegraph purposes.
SEC. 3. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to dispose of by sale, from time to time, upon proper application therefor, so much of the timber growing or being on public lands not embraced within forest reservations as may be, in his judgment, demanded to supply the actual necessities of bona fide settlers and others engaged in legitimately developing the resources of the country, provided the removal of such timber will not injuriously affect the water supply or other public interests. It is further provided that such applications shall be made in the form of sworn statements, duly corroborated, setting forth in full the facts and circumstances that create the necessity for the use of the timber and the reasons for concluding that the removal of the same will not injuriously affect the water supply or any other public interests.
SEC. 4. That no timber, lumber, or other timber products shall be disposed of under the provisions of this act except for use within the State or Territory where cut, and that no sales of such timber or other material shall be made except to bona fide residents of such State or Territory.
SEC. 5. That the Secretary of the Interior shall prescribe such rules and regulations as shall be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act.
SEC. 6. That before any timber, lumber, or other timber product shall be disposed of as herein provided the Secretary of the Interior shall cause the same to be appraised and advertised for sale for not less than thirty days in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the State or Territory in which the lands, on which the timber or other material stands or lies, are situated; and like publication shall also be made for the same period in a newspaper published in the county or counties in which the land lies. Such advertisement shall offer the timber or other material for sale at not less than the appraised value and in limited quantities to each purchaser, specifying that payments therefor shall be made to the receiver of public moneys of the local land office of the district wherein the said timber or other material is situated, subject to conditions prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. It is further provided that no timber or other material disposed of as herein provided shall be either cut or removed until payment in full therefor has been made and receipt for such payment has issued by the receiver of public moneys. It is further provided that the proceeds of all such sales shall be accounted for by the receiver of public moneys in a separate account, and shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States as a special fund to be expended in protecting the timber on public lands not embraced in forest reservations, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior or as Congress may provide.
SEC. 7. That in disposing of timber, lumber, or other timber products under the foregoing provisions the sale shall be made conditional upon the removal of the timber or other material within a period of twelve months from the date of purchase. It is further provided that the limit of twelve months herein named may be extended by the Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion, upon good and sufficient reasons for such action being shown.
SEC. 8. That homestead claimants who have made bona fide settlement upon public land, and who are living upon, cultivating, and improving the same in accordance with law and the rules and regulations of this Department, with the intention of acquiring title thereto, may cut and remove, or cause to be cut and removed from the portion thereof to be cleared for cultivation, so much timber as may be actually necessary for that purpose or for buildings, fences, and other improvements on the land entered. It is further provided that in clearing for cultivation, should there be a surplus of timber over what is needed for the purposes above specified, the entryman may sell or dispose of such surplus. But nothing herein contained shall be construed to permit the cutting or removing of timber from lands covered by unperfected homestead entries for purposes of sale or speculation. ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/146 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/147 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/148 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/149 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/150 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/151 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/152 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/153 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/154 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/155 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/156 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/157 ​Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1896.djvu/158 ​courtesies accorded to them by you. We hope that no act of ours has caused you unnecessary trouble or annoyance; that the kindly feeling you have manifested for our nation will go with you in the further discharge of your onerous duties.
We deeply regret that the language of the law under which we are acting does not confer upon us the necessary power to negotiate with you upon the important questions affecting the welfare of our people; but trust that the wisdom of our legislators will direct the return to you of a commission sufficiently empowered to finally settle the destiny of a defenseless people, relying alone upon the justness of their cause, the honor of your Government, and the integrity of yourselves. ln all of these we have implicit confidence.
With our best wishes to each of you, we beg leave to subscribe ourselves as your friends,
OVERTON LOVE, Chairman. RICHARD McCLISH, Secretary. WM. L. BYRD. W. B. JOHNSON, Attorney.
FORT SMITH, ARK., November 25, 1896.
This action of each of these tribes is a marked contrast with the attitude of these governments toward this Commission and its work, heretofore mentioned, and which have been submitted in previous reports of the Commission.
The work of determining all questions of disputed citizenship among these Five Tribes, required by law to be completed in ninety days after September 10, 1896, the limit of time for filing such application, has exceeded all expectations. It is a judicial proceeding, and requires a separate judicial examination and consideration of the evidence filed in support of each, upward of 7,000 cases, as well as the answers made by the tribes, respectively, to each of such applications.
It requires also an immense amount of clerical work in correspondence, filing papers, numbering and indexing cases, and putting in form for permanent record and preservation all the proceedings pertaining to each case, far in excess of any anticipation or provision for assistance to the Commission. At the request of the Commission, the Department detailed one clerk to assist in this work; still it was found that the most diligent and assiduous application of this one clerk and this assistant could not, within the time required by law, complete the necessary work, and the Commission has been compelled to call in another assistant, for whose compensation provision is yet to be made. The amount of necessary labor thus performed by these three clerks, and the manner in which it has been done, will, in the opinion of the Commission, fully justify the expenditure thus incurred.
The Commission will, as soon as it shall have completed its work pertaining to citizenship in the Five Tribes, and the negotiations with the official in progress, proceed without delay to the discharge of the other duties which recent legislation has devolved upon them.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
HENRY L. DAWES, Chairman, FRANK C. ARMSTRONG, A. S. McKENNON, T. B. CABANISS, A. B. MONTGOMERY, Commission to Five Civilized Tribes.
Hon. D. R. FRANCIS,