The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-23

law. PSI, 592 81
Acres disposed of during the year. g, PSI ,s6552
During the quarter ending Septem-
! Der 50, 1864, the aggregate guam .'
tity taken for the same purpose .....
was. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. J39, 4IC. ~
Making total of. ............ 1921, 342. AZ
The cash receipts for sales, homestead
and location fees for the same five quar-
ters, were $1,O19, 446 A.
The aggregate quantity Of public lands
surveyed, but not disposed Of on the 30th
of September last, was 1873, 517, 567 acres.
This has been the average quantity for
several years past. The amount surveyed
annually has been about equal to that dis
posed of annually.
The annual receipts from ordinary sales
for four years past have been as follows:
For the year ending June 80, 1861, 1854, 1887 o3
do do do 1862, '125, o4s 80
do do do 1863, 136,O77 90
do do do 1864, C78,O07 p
Nineteen States have accepted the pro
visions of the acts donating lands &c for
| the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic
arts, and have received land and land
scrip amounting to 4, 100000 acres.
| THE MINER.
The reports of the mining interests are
very encouraging Additional discoveries
of the precious metals have been made
| during the year in the region fanking the
ranges of the Sierra Nevada on the east,
! in Idaho and Nevada and Arizona, and the
| Secretary recommends the appointment Of
experienced and skillful minerologists to
make scientific examination of the prin.
cipal mining localities, and of tho mineral
regions generally, and to report the result
An appropriation would be required for
these purposes. The report says:
| In that portion of Nevada through which
| the Pacific railroad will pass, many rich veins
! have been found. and it is estimated by per-
| sons familiar with the subject that ifthe mines
| now opened there were supplied with the pro-
| per machinery, they would yield ten millions
| of dollars per month. In the same region vast
| beds of salt have been found, which from its
| value in the process of separating the silver in
the ores, has given fresh impulse to mining.
| When we reflect that the region of country in
! which deposits of the precious metals abound,
| includes large portions of three States and six
territories, and that the richest veins of ore
heretofore discovered are Us yet but slightly
| developed, whilst new discoveries are con-
stantly made, it will be perceived that the an
nual product of the mines in the United States
must soon reach magnitude without prece-
dent in the history of mining operations.
The mines of New Mexico and Arizona,
though regarded as inferior to no others,
are now nearly Inaccessible and Indifferent
| ly wrought. 1t is therefore suggested
whether it would not be expedient to grant
all or such portions of the lands as are re-
| quisite to insure the construction of the
necessary railroads, and the conversion of
| the sterile lands to condition of fertility.
INDIANS.
The management of the Indians during
the past year has been attended with diff
Guilty. In addition to the war against that
| portion of the Sioux that committed the
'massacres in Minnesota in 1862, and who
are yet UNPUBLISHED and unsubdued, mill
| tary operations have been carried on
against the combined bands of the Sioux
of the plains and Of the Upper Missouri,
as well as against considerable portion of
the Oheyennes aud Arapahoes, particular
| ly those who have been accustomed to in
habit the country of the Upper Platte
River, and who were parties to the treaty
of Fort Laramie. 1t is not necessary to
inquire whether, by adopting conciliatory
measures, these military operations might
not to a great extent have been avoided.
Those who desire to investigate the sub
ject may, with advantage, consult the re-
| port of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
The question of interest is, what course
shall hereafter be pursued with these In
dians, in order to reduce them to suhjec-
ton, and to afford all needful protection to
our citizens. The overland mail to Colo
RADIO, and to the States and territories west
thereof, as we'll as large proportion of the
carriers of goods, and of the elnigrants to
those regions, passes over the Laramie
plains, which are infested during a large
portion of the year by these Indians The
route of the Pacific railroad passes through
the same country, and the government is,
by act of Congress, under obligation to
extinguish the Indian title. The govern
ment has but one treaty-that of Fort
Laramie-with the Sioux (of Dakota and
with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes be-.
tween the forks of Platte River, which
these latter Indians have ever acknowl-
edged. This treaty was ratified by the
Senate with amendments, and it's benefits
to the Indians, by virtue of the limitations
imposed by the Senate, are about to termi-
nate. A sufficient reservation for the
Cheyennes and Arapahoes has been estab-
lished on the Upper Arkansas, in the vi
cinity of Fort Lyon, and efforts have been
made which promise success to make it a
suitable and permanent home for them.
The treaty referred to forbids the occupa
ton Of the Platte country by the whites,
and only permits their transit through it.
To enable the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pany to establish its line of road through
this country, it is necessary that the United
States shall have the unmolested possession
of the route, and of much Of the adjacent
country. To secure that object, however,
lido not think it important that any further
treaties should be made with these Indians.
Their violation of the existing treaty, in
making war upon our people, renders
this unnecessary, if the views which
are hereinafter expressed shall be ap-