New-York tribune., 1876-12-06
THE INTERIOR.

| --rHg HOSTILE sIOUX-fHE CONSOLIDATION On
| THE INDIANS on A FEW LAIGg RESERVATIONS
| UNDER THE JURISDICTION or UNITED sTArsa
COURTS ADyoCATED--PUBLIcL LaNDs--PaPEyIs-
| WESTERN SURVEYS
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON, ID. C.. Oct ~, 1876.
SIR: have the honor to submit the follow
ing report operations OF this department. daring
the past year. with such suggestions and recommends
tons as In my Judgment would prouote the eceucy Of
tho public seryice
beg to call your attention 20 tue accompanyingre-
port OF the Commissioner Of indian Afirs which, to-
Qetbsr with the reports Of the superintendent and agen
shows progress and steady Improvement giving most
satisfactory evidence of the gradual advancement OF the
Indian In the habits OF industry and development Of
agricultural ability and disposition. Each year adds
greatly to the total number OF acres cultivated by Indian
labor and gratifying results in the increasing num-
aborers aud amount Of products Personal Indus
try with its practical lessons OF the benefits and in
creased comforts 1t secnres, AMI growing tasle and
desire education be relied the great
elements IN working out the problem Of Indian cviliza
on The evidence conveyed by careful persal Of tho
reports Of the different agents most gratifying, as
showing what steady advancement 10 being msde In this
direction Relying the sincerity Of purpose and in
tegrity OF the officers IN charge OF the acnsies Thank
that Is matter for congratuation that In view Of tho
sacrifice of home Srts and advantages which tho
agents must make, enduring the hrdships and surround
Jugs e frontier lif for the very inadequate salaries
allowed so intelligent and capable men have been
cured For this result indebted 10 the various
CHRISTIAN organizations Of the country, upon whose
recommendation OF fitness the appointments have been
made
The seif,saerieng spirit CT TIE missionary has to be
united practical business ability and secured
the slow and often dsbeagtenpg task OF Indian ednsa
On should be properly Acknowledged and compensated.
The commissioner makes earnest recommendations
upon this subject, which I most heartily commend;
especially that appropriation be made to be distnb.
uted additional compensation TO those having in
charge the most important and difficult agencies. No
matter what particular policy may be pursued m regard
to the Indian. believe that the feature OF educating
him aud making him sefsupporng or as nearly so as
possible must always DO steadily adhered co. The alter
native fail to be gradual extinction OF the
H he is TO be taught TIE mast depend upon tho
teacher. and the best material attaabie should be
cured and paid accordingly fhe he is taught to
provide for his support the earlier the Government
will oe relieved therefrom.
SITTING BULLS REVOLT.
With the exception OF the troubles in Dakota with che
hostile Sioux, may that practicaly, all OF the n'
dans are upon reservations entirely under the control OF
tho department. and making commendabe Improvement
1t Is believed that by Spring TIE sroubein Dakota viii be
ended. and all liability Of Indian IL the future
moved. Trouble with the nOn-treaty Indians, consisting
principally or rencgades Jin various tribes under the
leadership Of Sitting Bali, had been foreseen for long
,hne and the services of the army finally invoked
put stop to the pillagns and Outragea perpretaed
by hem upon the white settlers and friendly Indians in
their vicinity Reports had been received showing that
60 white men had been killed and 100000 worth Of
property destroyed by theH and their dePedaons hld
become simply anbearabe.
The unchecked course Of this band was one OF Tie
greatest drawbacks to the OF our agents among
tho remaining Sioux and otl,er bands in Dakota anil
MONTANA and Il became necessary turn hsn TO
rtynqn m he I'M
tions This being rapidly dose, ard, but for the dis
asrous and sad fate Of Gen. Custer and bis brave COM
mand. would have been contaminated, in all probability
with slight loss to our forces The snsr trouble with
bands tie Southwest, few years snee, was success
fully removed and to-day the Kiowas, CeInanehes, and
Apaches fully under control and realize their better
condition sufficiently make Il entirely improbable that
any iuture difficulty will arise which cannot readily be
disposed OF by our civil officers
To what extent the difficulties in the North in
creased by the tary passage by Congress OF the annual
appropriations aud the consequent dissatisfaction and
suspicion OF many OF those Indians before friendly IN
ducing Join the hostes, 1t would be diealt to
determine; but thas tile effect to materially
strengthen Sitting Buls baud is undoubtedly true. fhe
Indian Bareau deserves great credit for its efforts to
prevent dissatisfaction and discontent among the
Indians at the reservations and did ali that could be done
10 prevent the recent troubles be h0pe that she
results of the visit of the present commission % the Red
Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies and the agencies on tho
Missouri River win aid most materially in solving the
Sioux problem. They have certainly secured the re-
noval of the Northern Nebraska to either the
Indian Territory the Missouri River, with full rcn-
quishment OF any claims TO the Black Hills rghts in
Montana and the establishment OF rONs hc re-
dueed reservation the Missouri River to tho Black
HIS The northern line OF the. reservation Is 10 DO
changed from the forty six h parallel, which is bodnd
arg line unntelgi5e e. the IHdian, 80 the natural
boundary OF the South Fork OF aud main Cannon Ball
River The commission will not complete ts labor and
make a report for some tmo come but when their
report received ii will be transmitted to you, with
sucn further views upon the Sioux question may be
suggested thereby. desire express my appre-
citation OF the hearty cooperation Of She War Depart
and aid and assistance a; the various Sioux ana
other agencies Dakota at all OF whch quiet and order
have been maintl
THE TRUE INDIAN POLICY.
Fer the general government OF the Indians the Cem'
missioner recommends three principles of policy, which
he supports by able and convincing arguments and in
which most heartily Tie concentration Of all
the Indians upon few reservations acceptance by them
OF lands IN seyeray and the extension them Of the
United States Law and jurisdiction OF the United States
courts and consequent ss0u.ic OF tribal Organization
For several years th number ol agencies has been DC.
creased has been fonnd That their occupIns could
be removed and consolidated WIN otneF tribes rpoa ono
reserve could be settled IN tue Indian Terrier;
Within the last four years one srpcrnteniency ana
twenty agcnees have been abolished, Win eofc'
s1ouGug reduction OK agents and employees and an an
nua saving in salaries and wages amounting % ever
$60OOO As matter of economy, the greatest sasiDg
could he made by uniting al the Indians upoa few es.
eryatiOns the fewer the bcter much less number ol
employ would be required 1T corresp0ndngy less er
pnsr lut greater saving would result from the re-
ductOn o. transportation Many OF tie agencies are al
mass inaccessible during certain msRtbs of the year
for the purpose oi reaching ,hem with pro
visions aud it can ony be dcnc very great expense
not rxreeds the 1st cost O the prUysoi. Were there
bat five large reservations. easy OF access he an
SiOO,OOO. The good example of those successfully