The New York herald., 1876-12-06
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
Annual Report Of the Secre-
tary Of the Interior.
STATUS OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Railway Finances, Pension. and
Educational Matters.
TIE CENTENNIAL EXHIBIT.

lllIl OEN LIN NAL E<A111OAA.
The following is an abstract OF the principal points
in the annual report OF the Secretary OF the Interior
Tor tsc al year ended In June, 1876 presented
yesterday In Congrcss:-
have the honor TO submit tho following report OF
The operations vi this department. during Inc past
Tcar with such suggestions ana RECOMMENDATIONS as
in my judgment would promote the efficiency Of tne
pubic service
beg 10 call attention to tho accompanying re-
porl vi The Commissioner OF Indian Affairs, which,
together with the reports OF the superintendent and
hgcuts shows progress and steady Improvement, gv-
Ing most tory evidence the gradual advance
ment oi Indian in the habits Of industry ana de-
veopmcnt OF agricultural abiiity and disposition.
Each ycar adds greatly the total number OF
cultivated by Indian labor and most gratifying results
In the increasing number OF laborers and amount OF
products
pi the officers charge Of the agencies think that IL
II coneratuation that, In view Of the sac
r.ucc OF homo comforts and advantages which the
agents must make, enduring the hardships and sur
ruundings OF frontier lie Tor tho worry inadequate
salaries allowed, Intelligent and capable mon have
bCen For this result we are indebted to tho
various Christian organizations OF the country upon
whose recommendation OF fitness the appointments
have been made
Some few Of the reservations located mineral lands
Will be subject to the Same conditions with
which have lately had &c contcnd in the case OF the
Black Hills In The past the inevitable result Of tho
discovery Of rich mineral deposits has been the pos
session ny the minors Of the locality in which It s
found. II upon Indian ground great trouble must en-
sue unless the Indians are 70 resist Inc ag
lost sight Of Briefly the arguments are all 10 favor
pf tho consolidation Expensive agencies would 90
Abolished the Indians themselves can be more easily
watched and controlled evil designing men be the
better kept away from them and Illicit trado and barter
In urms, aminu milton ana whiskey prevented; goods
could DO supplied al great saving the military
relieved the Indians better taught and friendly
vay among nem nos9 h% %os' .ns mos
Of land now occupied as reserves reverting 10 the
general government would be open 10 entry and SALE
The COMMISSIONERS recommendations for the allot-
ment OF lands to Indians severalty--such allot-
mcnls TO bo nalienable for term OF years-must
ultimately bo adopted, and warmly iavor It's consid-
ertlOn.
In my annual report last year TOOK occasion to
luote from tho report Of the commission appointed
luring that year TO visit the Rcd Cloud and Spotted
lali agencics regard tho urgent necessity OF laws
br the protection and punishment OF indiana In
previous rerorts OF tho department the same subject
has been repeatedly alluded TO- and the absencs OF
my proper means for tho administration OF justice
entirely inadequate TO punish an Indian for
crime committed against another, either without
nun,shmcot which can be inflicted upon q whitc man
tur crime against an Indian Is to force him on the
reservation We're the jurisdiction OF the United
States courts extended the rescrvatonS and the
indian taught that sucr tho same penalty for
his white man. and AZ the same time be pro-
tected in like manner, the abors Of the department.
would be made much easier Though the plan of
uniting all the Indians upon few reservations ind
allowing thcm lands severalty may meet opposition,
must necessarily, II tavorably considered, bo
work OF time, yet the enactment oil suitable laws Tor
shc government OF Indians should be delayed no
longer beg that you will call this especially to tho
attention OF Congress- The necessity ol devisng some
simple and satisfactory form OF government ior the
Indian Territory is yearly growing more urgent, aud
must ere long, bc met AT present the eastern and
richest portion, agriculturay, Is occupied by the
Cherokees, Choctaws, Chlckasaws, Creeks aud Semi
noes numbering something over %, 600 souls, with
total 0i 800 acres, or an average OF 80 acres ior
euch man. woman and child among them 80 long as
this greatly dlsproportionatc allowance Of land to
thc huvldual the greater portion OF Il must
lie Idle and unproductve und be tho object OF desire
10 the settler The easiest way 10 secure that
territory its present occupants aud protect u IRON
Tho encrouchments oil white settlement Is TO people It
BY other Indians and, giving them all IN scvoray sui-
ccp land or each to cultivate and take or pro-
hibit any transfer to white man. and only from
indian to another under great restriction There Is
no doubt but the OF the territory lying be-
tween the 0Sth merriam and its eastern boundary Is
sucony large Tor the occupation OF all the Indians
That can DO removed therc. We're II possible 10 get
ihrm aIl there there would be average OF Is
acres Tor each OF 25 0O0 Indian men, women, and
children in the country.
Among the general recommendations Of tho Com
missioner beg TO call your attention TO that lor
iurtncr appropriation for the removal 20 ana esaosh
appropriated S GOO Tor this purpose at It's lust ses-
sion, which not sufficient Tor thor removal,
and the purchase from other tribes OF the land
upon which 70 locate them. The curly settlement Of
this tribe IN tue indian Territory Is desirable LeRs-
laton by Congress is rccommt nded authorizing the
allotment 10 tic La Point band OF Chippewa Indians
OF some twenty-five sections OF lana known as tho
Red Cliff reservation, ~ order TO carry out me terms
OF the treaty made with them September 20, 1854.
large portion Of The Quapaws are living with the
Osuges the Indian Territory, and are desirous OF
consolidating with them Their lands are desirable Tor
ne poucas of whose removal to the Territory have
pokeu and authority Is asked 10 nc2otiac the sale OF
hs reservation 10 the Poncas aud the sottcmcnt oi all
sringent legislation Is required 10 prohibit the sale
OF liquor Indians or their reservations, and u is
recommended that II Ce made penal offence 70 SOIL
liquor 10 an Indian anywhere
i would cali attention to the claim OF the Sioux for
t25 600, tor which they accepted the pledge Of tho
Secretary OF The Interior the OF their here
In May 1875 that should they consent to the cession
OF the,r right TO hunt in Nebraska and such rights
thew possessed in Nebraska south divide Of tho
NIObrara River which, by the treaty OF 1865 was 10
remain Indian territory he would urge that such an
spproprialiou be made for them This pledge WAS
Cd upon by them equivalent to promise OF the
money and the failure ast session to provide it has
been Il source OF embarrassment to the commission
now engaged securing the moving OF portions OF the
Sioux to the Indian Territory. has been regarded
by tho Indians as oreacn OF al.n. Inc Commssoner
The removal OF tho Pawnees from Kansas to the
Indian TERRITORY has been compcted and this tribe IS
now upon valuable reservation coded by tho Cncr
okccs Three hundred and fifty acres have been put
under cultivation, twenty-eght buildings have pecn
ere cted and two schools established.
Tho report OF tho present condition of the Chey-
ennes and Arnpahoes and the Ki0was and Comanchcs
who SO atcy as last year were disnounteo and dis
intractabe and violent as the SIOUX - remarkAbo Tor
the progress 1t they have made In peaceful pur
suits and the desire evncoa or 'no cducaon o. tnc
i have lately named n commission, consisting OF
thrcc civilians and army officers, to examine cor
tain questions OF disagreement between tho Ncz Pcrc6
Inoans in Idaho the settlers Ia thor ncighbor
hood and also report upon the subject OF reducing
tho number Of reservations Oregon and Washington
and Idaho Territories Sufficient time has not elapsed
70 receive any report OF their action.
The Osages, numbering some 1900. are in a condi-
hon of great dcstution. They have bccu great sur
lerers BY Hood which carried away their fences and
Tho greater part OF their crops They have boon in tho
habit Of supplying their wants great part rom ,nc
:hase OF the buffalo; but during the last season this
aas becn failure They have abundant funds IN tho
hanas OF the government TO supply AL their require
ments In the way oil ood, .vining and
necessary farming implements, and ssk that
in their pressing need they be allowed to use
H. The time Of payment by tho settlers upon thor
lands in Kansas extended ty the government or
tbc interest would now supply their wants. respect
fully that urge upon Congress us carly
consideration OF this mottcr ut It's coming session
In accordance with the requirements Of the act OF
June 10, 1896 within the time prescribed all stocks
bonds and other securities held In trust for Indian
trbos we're transferred the custody OF tho Treasurer
o, the United States In this connection l would