Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-12-18
SECRETARY CHANDELIERS RE-
PORT.


In his annual report the Secretary of
the Interior gives some interesting sta.
.stics relative to the various departments
under his charge. He reports that dur
ing the year ending June 30, 1875, 7,071,-
27ll9s acres of public lands were sold or
otherwise disposed of; 26,077, 53l acres
were surveyed, leaving yet unsurveyed
1,l5G, All 1852 acres.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
In relation to the Indians the 5, Gre
tary says:
The general situation of the Indian
service may be regarded Is encouraging,
and progress has been made during the
year in perfecting and extending the
Indian policy. Wherever all the ele-
ments of success have been available, the
result has clearly vinjicated the pro-
priety and efficiency of that policy in the
increased interest taken by both agents
and Indians in the acquisition of indus
trial pursuits. and in the increase of
peaceful disposition toward the whites.
terest; farming, wherever the soil is suit-
able, Is being prosecuted more yigor-
ousiy and in,elligently, and the desire of
the Indians TO prepare for themselves
more comfortable and fixed abodes is be-
coming more general. At the important
agencies, Red Cloud and Spotted Tail in
the Dakota or Sioux Nation, however,
one of the principal elements of success
a productive soils wanting, and no
progress has been made, and none can
be expected, while the present condi
tions by which they are surrounded shall
remain. The problem of how to deal
with these Indians seems as far from
solution rs ever, and, in fact, it has been
still further complicated the present
year by the discovery of gold in the
Black Hills and the emigration OF large
numbers of miners thither. The sug-
gestions of the Commissioner in regard
to this numerous people are practical and
worthy of consideration. There can be
no doubt whatever that so long as the
great bulk of the Sioux are encouraged
to occupy their present locations near
the Red Cloud and MILESTONE, or
Spotted Tail, agencies, and to roam at
will over their vast reservation, and west
and northwest to the Big Horn Noun.
tains and to Powder River and the Vel.
lowstone, they can make no progress
whatever and must be fed year after
year by the Government The recon.
mendation by the Commissioner that the
two agencies above mentioned be re-
moved to the Missouri River meets with
my unqualified approval.
The removal Of these agencies to the
Missouri River at some point or points
between the mouth OF the Cheyenne
River and Fort Randall, to be hereafter
determined upon, will result in greater
economy and convenience of supply, and
greater facilities to restrain and coerce
refractory Indians whenever the necessity
arises. 1t will also locate them where
there are arabic lands, good water and
abundance of timber and grass. there.
fore suggest that the appropriations in
future shall be made conditional upon
this removal and that none o! the sup
plies or annuities hereafter granted by
Congress shall be issued to these Indians
excepting at some point or points on the
Missouri River, where those agencies
shall be permanently located. If this
suggestion shall receive the favorable
action of Congress, proper location viii
be selected, and those agencies removed
prior to the beginning of the next fisca
year.
In reference to the appointment O
those who dispense supplies to the Indi.
ans, Secretary Chandler says;
II would ka beneficial J., A. Iol;,,
service in my opinion, and would tent
to promote its efficiency, il the laws pre-
venting the detail of army officers TO
civil service were so far modified as t
allow their employment in the Indial
service at the discretion of the President
in case of emergency. Such a chang,
would place at the disposition of tn,
Executive corps of disciplined, intelli
gent officers, whose familiarity with tn,
entire Indian country and the needs o
the service would render them invaua
BILE in an emergency such as has ariseI
during the present year, and such AS i
liable to arise at any Time in the treat
ment OF large bodies OF wild Indians.
His suggestions in this connection ar
most commendable, and worthy of at
hrmative action on the part Of those I,
whom the suggestions are made. Thu
United States army officers are almos
universally men with high sense o
honor, and spirit far above such low
trucking devices as those with which
this branch of public service has been sc
often and grievously defled. The way
the thing stands now it is simply max
ing of hay while the sun shines, and GOV
ering up of tracks SO that detection O.
pursuit is rendered almos. impossible
With the disbursements in the hands o
army officers business, not cant wouli
be the order of the day, and prospective
promotion an additional incentive t.
zeal for the public good and due appre
citation of the requirements of the posi-
ton as mediator between Government
and'i its wards.