The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-06

matter of economy, the greatest saving could
be made by uniting all the Indians upon a few
reservations; the fewer the better. a much
less number of employees would be required at
cOrrespondingly less expense, but greater
saving would result from the reduction
of transportation. Many of the agencies are
almost inaccessible during certain months Of
the year for the purpose of reaching them
with provisions, and IL can only be done nj
very great expense. To reach some few of
them the transportation equals, II not ex-
ceeds, the first cost of the provisions.
ervations, easy of access, the an
nual saving ip transportation alone would be
over SlOO,OOO
started in agricultural pursuits stimulates the
desire of the more ignorant who may be
brought upon the same reserve. Teaching is
rendered far easier and more successful. Good
results have invariably attended the concen-
tratiOn of Indians friendly TO each other, and
while the plan is not free from difficulty, and
may take a long time before all can be brought
together in the Indian territory upon some
three or four large reserves, yet II has Deen
demonstrated that every step taken In tlat Ill
rection is beneficial, and do not doubt the
feasibility of the plan. II, as the commissioner
recommends, the president were author
lied by law to remove. whenever in his judg-
ment it might be deemed practicable, any
tribe or band, or portion of tribe or band,
to the Indian territory or to either OF two
prominent reSeTvations-and he names the
White Earth in Minnesota and the Yakima
in the southern part of Washington territory
And suitable appropriation placed AT his
disposal to enable him to do so, there is no
doubt that the success OF such removals would
he apparent within the next two or three
years. Many of the present reservations are
entirely unfit for cultivation, and the dis
appearance of game, which is rapidly growing
scarce, leaves their occupants solely depend
ent upon the care of the government for their
support and this condition can not be inn
proved till they are located upon soil suitable
for agriculture and stock raising.
The commissioners recommendations Tor
the allotments of lands TO Indians in severalty
such allotments to be inalienable for term
- mt rlf FOL a Q6nnfn6
warmly favor its consideration. The next inn
pOrtant thing was to teach them the way to
cultivate and produce their own food, ana SO
be able to supply their own wants when re-
stricted TO a limited territory, and educate in
them a taste for such pursuits and relinquish-
ment of the natural desire to roam. This is be-
ing accomplished, and we have every reason
to be satisfied with the progress attained.
The necessity of devising some simple and
satisfactory form of government for the Indian
territory is yearly growing more urgent, and
must soon be met.
The sooner the idea of considering and
treating the various tribes in the Indian ter
ritCry as possessing q sort of independent
power and nationality is done away with, the
earlier will we reach some practical solution
the question of their government. The most
of these people have made great advancement
The e mi dyonisaes Of eitizenship TheS are
under the care of the government as much as
any other portion of its people, and 1t Is as re-
sponsible and i'm some respects more response
bic for their welfare. There is no reason why
the laws and Jurisdiction of the courts should
not be extended over them and they be treated
the same as any other like portion of our pop
ulation, and some form of territorial govern
ment devised which shall secure for them, as
guaranteed, the exclusive occupancy OF theil
territory by Indians, and. while protecting
them from the encroachments Of the whites
provide the necessary means for the
| protection and government OF themselves
Public LANDS.
During the year ending June go 1876, public
/ lands yert. diSDOSed of aS follows: