The New York herald., 1875-12-08
T HE INTE r 10 r.
Progress Toward Civiliz-
ing the Indians
THE BLACK HILLS PROBLEM.
The Removal Of The White River Sioux TO
the Missouri Urged.
Seizure OF the Gold Country by the Gov
eminent Hlnted.
THE BLACK HILLS PROBLEM
PENSIONS AND SUBSIDIES.

4 I1N kO1OLNo A4No oOoO40AAINOs
WASHINGTON Dec 7, 1875
The annual report OF the Secretary Of the Interior
gives the following interesting statements Of facts
PUsMc LANDS.
During abe year ending June 80 1875, TOT, 271M
acres OF public lands sold or otherwise disposed
OF; 2e,o775a1 were surveyed, leaving yet un-
surveyed ], ,l54, All, 1872 acres
INDIAN APPAIRs.
In relation TO the Indians the Secretary says
The general situation of the Indian service may be
regarded encouraging and progress has been made
during the In reriecting and extending the Indian
policy Wherever all the elements OF success have
been available, the result has clearly vindicated
the proprety and efficiency OF that policy in
the increased interest taken by both agents
and Indians in the acquisition OF industrial pursuits,
and in the increase OF peaceful disposition toward the
whites Schools increasing in number and Interest,"
farming, wherever the soil is suitable, Is being prose-
cuted vigorously and inellgently and the desire
of the Indians 70 prepare for themselves more comfort
able and fixed abodes is becoming more general. At
the important agencies of Red Cloud and Spotted TAIL in
the Dakota Sioux Nation however Of the princi
pal elements OF successa productive Soils wanting,
and no progress has been made, and none be
pected while the present conditions by which they are
surrounded shall remain. The problem of how TO deal
with these Indians far from solution ever
and fact has still further complicated the
present year by the discovery gold Black Hills
the emigration of large numbers of miners thher
The suggestions of the Commissioner in regard to this
numerous people are practical and worthy of consider
alton There can be no doubt whatever that so long
the great bulk OF the Sioux encouraged to oc
cupy their present locations near the Red Cloud and
Milestone, Spotted Tail agencies and to roam at will
their vast reservation and west and northwest to
| the Big Horn Mountains and to Powder River
| and the Yellowstone. they make
progress whatever must be fed year after year by
| the government The recommendation by the Com
missioner that the two agencies above mentioned be re-
moved TO the Missouri River meets with my unqua
fed approval
The removal of these agencies to the Missouri River
| at point points between the mouth OF the
Cheyenne River and Fort Randall to, be hereafter de-
termined upon will result in greater economy and
vcnience of supply and greater facility restrain and
refractory Indians whenever the necessity
arises. II will also locate them where there
arabic lands, good water and abundance OF timber
and grass. therefore suggest that the appropria-
tions in future shall be made conditional upon this
annutes hereafter granted by Congress shall be issued
these Indians excepting at some point or points on
the Missouri River whore those agencies shall be
manenty located If this suggestion shall receive the
favorable action Of Congress- proper location WI be
| ginning of the next fiscal year. 1
PROBLEM.
The failure of the negotiations for the REIMBURSEMENT
OF the Black Hills necesstates the adoption of some
measures relieve the department OF the great
barrassment resulting from the evident determination
of large number of citizens upon that portion
OF the Sioux reservation to obtain the precious metals
which the Official report of the geologist sent out
by the department shows to exist therein.
prevent the influx of miners into the Black Hills by
OF the display of military force in that neghbor
hood operate the surest safeguard OF the miners
against the attacks OF Indians The army expels the
miners, and, while doing So protects them from In
dams The miners return as soon as the military sur
veillance is Withdrawn, and the same steps
are taken again and again. Some of the
g'' iary ofcsrs % tos % iase imprsonnent, and much
embarrassment both the Army and the Interior De-
fessor Jenney which accompanies the report of the
dian Commissioner nregard 10 the geological and agri
cultural wealth of the Black Hills indicates clearly the
great temptation held out TO emgrants and miners To
occupy that country and will greatly enhance the diff
cutes which have already surrounded the question of
protecting the Sioux their treaty rights to that terri
tory. The opening of the next summer season will un-
doubtedy witness great increase of emigration
thther and the question urges itself upon the aten
the department and OF Congress for early solu-
ton IL s true that the Indians occupy that reserva
tion under the provisions Of treaty with the United
States IL is also true, general proposition, that
treaties should be maintained lnvolae and the Indians
protected their rights Hereunder But for two years
the government has been appropratng about $50 600
subsistence of the Sioux tribes which
amount rs gratuty that the government is under no
legal obligation TO give them, and for which 1t receives
| no com pensatng advantage. The amount thus ap-
propratcd is hve per cent annum Of $25 000 000
which the government s giving without an equivalent.
This amount must be annually gwen them for some
years come, they will starve. 1t is submitted,
therefore, under these circumstances for the considera
ton Of Congress, whether 1t would not be justihabe
and proper make future appropriations Tor supplies
10 this people contingent their REIMBURSEMENT OF
gold fields in the Black Hills and the right Of way
thereto.
The suggestions OF the Commissioner in regard to
laws for the benefit Of the Indians and turning over
the Indians in the states CT New York, Michigan,
Wiscousin and portion of those in Minnesota 10 The
control Of the States in which they live deserv-
OF the careful attention or Congress being steps
IN advance npon the question of Indian management
His remarks upon the necessity of law for the pun
shment and protection of the Indians also OF inn
portance as tending IN the direction Tho condi-
ton OF the Indian Territory south Of KanEas has not
changed dn-ng the year, and will materially
change for tho better until steps taken
10 give ITS Inhabitants more efficient government.
The necessity for the establishment Of of justice
Tor the trial OF all offences against persons
property becomes pressing year by year and the
spectnly but urgently pressed upon the attention OF
Congress
II would be bepencial 10 the Indian service in my
opinion and would tend 70 promote ts efficiency IL the
laws preventing the detail of army officers for civil
service were SO iar modified as to allow their employ
| Incnt in the Indian service the discretion
/ OF the President 10 Of emergency. Such q
1 change would place at the disposition Of the
Executive corps Of disciplined, intelligent officers
whose familiarity with the entire Indian country and
the needs OF the service would render them invaluable
in an emergency such has arisen during the present
year, and such as liable ie ARISE Al any time In ihe
| treatment Of large bodies Of Wild indians
| MDiAS FUNDS
The Secretary Of tie Interior now holds in his posses
sion in trust FOR various Indian tribes bonds OF the
United Sates and Of several OF the States the par value
of which iG about So 00O 900 Authority has been
ferred upon the Secretary Of the Interior IRON time 70
time by Indian treaties and OF Congress
l the proceeds OF the sdlos Of lands cedcd to the
| United States by Indian tribes The authority so
strued as implying also the authority 10 hold snch
curteE IN possession by the Secretary OF the Interior
in trus. and he holds such stocks and bonds TO
the amount OF SIS lOT 5l6 Whether the right 10 hold
those securities is conferred BY the laws and treaties
referred 10 or not recommend that The neeossary
legislation be made authorizing their transfer 20 the
Treasurer " the United STATES by whom the interest
thereon, as II accrues shall bc placed 10 the credit OF
the proper tribe 10 be drawn on requsition Of the
Secretary Of the Interior the case OF apprcpra-
tons. Such disposition OF these securities will
leve the SECRETARY OF tho Interior Of disagreeabc
responsibility and drty not In any way homogeneous
tothe general duties OF tho Office and place the bonds
where all such wRluables should be kept
The cooperation OF the religious bodies having IN
charge the duty Of nominating Indian agents has been
harmonious and satisfactory and they have evidently
been careful in her selection OF proper fer those
positions.
JEB AGENCY
The commission, which appointed during the year
to investigate the management OF affairs at the Red
Cloud and Spotted Tau agencies made some valuable