The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-08
Interior epartment-Annual Report

Interior Observation-Disclosures Report
The report of Hon. J. ID. Cox, Secretary
of the Interior, is dated October 81. Upon
the subject of public lands, there is clear
statement of the various classes Of Mexi-
can grants now giving the Land Office so
much trouble The Patent Office is repre-
sented as in excellent condition. On the
subject of Indian affairs the Secretary
says:
During the past year the department
has habitually pursued that policy which
was inaugurated by your direction. The
results have proven most cOnclusively its
wisdom, and shown that even under cir
cumstances Of more than ordinary irrita-
ton, a peaceful policy appeals with great
power even to the widest savage. The
labors of the unpaid commission of citi-
ZenS who have been cooperating with the
Indian Agencies, have been very valuable
during the past year, they personally SUI
perintending the purchase of Indian goods,
a work requiring more than a month OF
their time in the early summer. n sub
committee Of the body were present at
the payments of moneys to the civilized
nations in the Indian Territory, and aided
in the negotiation which has resulted In
the final settlement of the Usage difficulty.
with the Sioux, and have since visited
them, as we'll as the wild tribes in Wyo-
ming and Dakota. Their work of inspec-
ton has been extended to Oregon and
Washington Territory. They have shrunk
from no self-sacrifice, toll or danger, in en-
deavoring to make the policy you have
adopted toward the Indians an entire sue
cess. The healthful effect of their infu-
ence and advice is cheerfully acknowledged
by the department and Indian Bureau,
and has inspired Just confidence in the
honesty of the transactions which have
been concluded under their supervision.
Friends, 20 whom agencies IN the
Northern AMI Central Superintendencies
were originally assigned, have most faith
fully and industriOusly continued their be-
nefcent work with success even greater
than could have been reasonably expected.
Since the passage of the act of Congress
making it impracticable to continue mill
tary officers in charge of Indian Agencies,
under your direction the field has been
subdivided and the various missionary as
sOciati0ns of the country invited TO occupy
the same relations TO them as those which
the Friends have TO the agencies under
their control The objections which
would naturally arise TO the cooperation
of religious bodies in governmental work,
have been Obviated, So far as possible, by
inviting the assistance CT all missionary
associations which have taken part in the
work of ciyilizing the Indians. 4 prefer
ence of any denomination or sect has thus
been avoided, and the labors already per-
formed arc utilized to greater extent than
would otherwise be possible. Wherever a
missionary school has been established, ii
has been understood that you would ap-
point an agent in sympathy with the mis-
sion, 50 that its influence for good might
be increased by the whole force Of the gov
ernmental patronage. If the Indians are
to be improved in condition, our policy
must be essentially changed SO that pro
vision for the wants of the -naturcd and
aged shall be treated merely as a temporary
expedient, while the training Of the
children in WAYS of civilization shall be Il
controlling and permanent feature Of the
system. On this point will add that the
Commissioner of Education is earnestly
endeavoring to procure such information
with regard to The proper and successful
modes of Indian government as may ena-
bic this bureau 10 cooperate most Thor
oughly with the Indian Office.
The estimated expenses of the Indian
service for the coming fiscal year, includ-
ing appropriations which may be necessary
10 meet the interest on nOn-paying stock
held il trust, will be 5000. 900. against an
appropriation Of S6.1JO,0O0 for the current
year. showing reduction of 81 0S0,G0o.
THE preliminary report Of the census
is now printing, and VIII appear during
the earlier days Of the next Congress.
This will necessarily be confined to gen
eral statistics, and exhibiting the popula-
ton 5y aggregates and by classes OF each
county in the United States. from 1890 to
1870 inclusive Somewhat over $500
counties Will appear The tables of the
smaller civil subdivisions embrace over
10000 items. The volumes containing ag-
Ticultgral manufacturing, social and mis-
CsllaneOuS statistics will be ready by April.
THE organization of the bureau has at
forded sn opportunity of applying the
principle Of competitive examinations
Those who desired clerical employment
were sent before the commission and re-
quired 10 answer in writing a series OF
written questions, and were accredited ac-
cordingly. The clerical force empioyed
las been as large as possible with con-
venience, in the belief that the statistics
furnished by the census will lose much of
their value unless they are presented to
the country at the earliest day possible.
The subscriptions to the stocks OF the
Union Pacific Railway Company amount
TO s33, $4,000, of which s33, 762, 800 has
been paid. The local receipts of the road
for the year ending June 80, 1870, were
SS,344311.7S; expenses, S5,G49, 57345; net
earnings, 2,G9t, 79763
The following statistics are given con-
corning the public lands:
During the last fiscal year public lands
were disposed of as follows:
Acres.
Cash saes-.-.----.--- --.....-...-..... Isis
Located with military warrants .....-.... 23GD
Taken for homesteads OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 3,etS 90
Located With college scrip. .........-.. 10 81.
Grants to railroads. .--.--.......... oasi asa
Grants TO wagon roads. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 35i2S
Appropriated to States &c swamp. -....-- 4Si G3G
indian scrip locations OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1887