Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-02


pay their notes either in coin or legal-tender
notes; and then our COED fortune will clearly APP
Pear, IN this, that our paper currency is not eI-
OF United States notes.
GEO. s. BOUTWELL,,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
non. JAMES q. BLAINE,
Speaker Of the House of Representatives
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
The INTERIOR
Secretary Delano reports that the Indian
once Is working in the most satisfactory man
ner; the Patent office reports important i'm
provements in the details of management; the
Land Office has brought up the large arrears of
Work which had embarrassed its operst for
years, the Pension Office has materially reduced
the number OF claims OIL file at the beginning of
the year, for the first time since the close OF the
war; the ninth census is completed in a shorter
iime and in a more satisfactory manner than
ever before; and the Bureau OF Education Is
rapidly increasing its field OF usefulness.
:, In calling attention to the able report of the
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs the Secretary
says that, measured by any true standard, the
present Indian policy of the government has
proved success, inasmuch as for three years il
has secured the largest aud freest extension aud
development of onr railways and frontier settle
ments which was possible under the circum-
stances, Win far less loss OF lie and property
than would have been suffered under any other
plan 81 dealing with the hostile and rowing
tribes beyond the Missouri river. The feeding
system adopted with the dangerous and hostile
tribes has reduced the loss OF lite and property
to degree which must be termed inconssd.
cradle, when the extent OF territory and the
exposure OF our settlements are fairly taken into
account.
The Secretary has no donbt but that the
civilZing portion OF the policy has exerted a
most wholesome influence upon the entire ques-
ton. Many, II not majority, of the causes
which in years past excited Indian hostilisie,
have ceased to exist. The Indians are becoming
convinced OF the entire good faith Of the gov
eminent IN Its peaceful overtures. That a
semi hostile condition still exists in SC me remote
localities il no doubt properly attributable to
the non extension of the policy in its entirety
over those sections as to its ineficiency or fail
ure. 1t lie but reasonable, therefore, to request
the Withholding of unfriendly criticism relative
to the efficiency of the policy until the depart
ment Is prepared to announce that il is thor
oughly inaugurated in eli its parts over ali the
tribes under control OF the Indian ONCE. The
organizing of the Indian territory lying south of
Kansas under q territorial form of governnent
apportioning the lands Into farms of proper
area among the Indians now thereon, and using
all proper influences to settle other tribes
therein, IN the same way, s recommended.
the advantage of our form of life and abandon
their present habits. This must be the WORK of
time; but the Secretary confidently believes the
result will indicate the wisdom OF the policy in
force. There Is but little In the past to encOur-
age the belief that the adult Indian OF to-day
can be very thoroughly civilized. We can hope
for little more than to hold him in restra int,
confine him TO smaller reservations, and induce
him to remain at peace, while we devote the
energies of the Department to the improvement
OF the rising generation. The policy of reducing
the area of present reservations, and consoli-
dating friendly tribes or bands, may be regarded
as the first step toward the establishment of the
Indian upon farms. Twenty tubes of the south
ern superintendency have In years increased
in population II per cent; in schools $50; In
stock raised l 900 per cent, &c. The increase
in value OF property is from $751; ,1S3 in 1868 TO
Sl,S10,2S5 in 1872.
There is nothing in the sporadic incursons
OutraQeS weaken m Ia inoI
success of measures now in force for the treat
ment of the Indian tribes. So far from anv
change of policy being decided upon, or besDy
indicated as necessary by the events of the
year, there IL abundant reason to take all proper
steps to render the policy more efficient whar-
ever IL may br found necessary, and to extend
II over uib1s where ii has not yet been estab-
lished
The aid snd cooperation OF the various re-
ngious associations of the country have been Of
the highest value. In no case has there been
the slightest misunderstanding between them
and the department. The missionary authori-
ties have done well in their portion Of the work.
They have not only generally nominated, as
agents, good men, whose hearts are in the work
but they have nodded and directed a healthy
public sentiment favorable to the Indian policv
without which no measure of governme Mt al poll
cy in this country can be entirely successful
The Secretary comedies in the view of As
sistant Secretary Cowen that only men who
heartily sympathiZe with the government in its
policy towards the Indians should be appointed
rs agents, &c.
During the year II ,se4 ,975 81 acres OF public
,snds ma nave been disposed OF, quantity greater
by 1,Us9, 21O25 than the amount sold in IsII.
The Secretary endorses the Commissioners sug.
gestons in reference TO the propriety of con-
sohdating into one statute the principal fes-
lures OF the presumption and homestead laws,
and says the necessity of a REORGANIZATION of
the clerical force in his Office, and of vesting
him with authority to appoint special agents
VINO shall bring the subordinate land-officers
more Immediately under his supervision, is
clearly and forcibly stated, and he hopes will
receive the early and favorable action ct Con-
gress.
Needed reforms have been made in the con-
diton of the Patent Office during the past year,
the most noticeable and important OF which Is
the abolition of the old form of Patent Office
reports, and the substitution therefor OF the
Omciai Gazette OF the Patent Office. The fees
received during the year amounted to
soy, 553 80. The office has outSrown the n,aO
OF organization that was suffic ient for il then,
and new organization has become absolutely
necessary. The Secretary invites attention to
the communication forwarded to Congress sug-
costing reorganization of the Patent Once.
There are now on the pension rolls the name IS
OF 5is widows Of soldiers who served in the rev.
olutonary war, q decrease of So since the last
annual report. The names OF 1 1857 wido VS. and
children OF soldiers who served in the wars SUBJ
sequent to the Revolution, and prior to the late
on the rolls, being g. less than the preceding
year. The number of claims, original and
increase, admitted during the year was Is,s43,
was 81 So, 1888. The amount paid during said
year for pensions Of all classes, including the
expenses OF disbursements, was $50. log $40 90,
being 8, 90S ,0i3.03 less than the amount paid
during the preceding year. The Commissioner
estim ates that the claims for pension Oh account
of the war of 1872 will be disposed of by the 1st
of May next. 1t is estimated that $50 ,iS0, go
will be required for the pension service daring
the next fiscal year.
The Secretary refers to the growing import
ance OF the Bureau of Education, aud says the
he arty orsement ;of the office, by educators
OF every section and every sort of institution is
a fitting recognition. The report Of the commits
Toner will contain q mine of educational facts
and statistics. The Secretary recommends in
creased appropriations and the passage of the
bill, introduced at the last session of Congress
by the Committee Of the House on Education
and Labor, providing for the expenditure Of the
net proceeds OF the sale OF public lands in es-
tablishing an educational fund and i'm assisting
the States in the universal education of their
youth.
The completion of the great nationl work, the
9Th census, is announced, and the Secretsy says
the Population volume will, it is anticipated,
he laid upon the desks OF members ON the as
sembling of Congress, in Decemper. The other
volume will follow with only such interval as Is
required for press-work and binding. He
further says no authority or appropriation
exists for maps and charts TO accompany the
compendium in octave and as the expense
would be very considerable, he does not feel