The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report Of the Secretary
of the Interior.
DISCUSSION OF THE INDIAN QUESTION
Pacific Railways, Public Lands,
Patents and Pensions.
PRESERVATION OF THE TIMBER LANDS.

PRESERVATION UF The TIMBER LANDS.
Tho report OF the Secretary OF tho Interior begins
with sketch OF the operations of the Indian Bureau
for the year, which, through the dispatches and lot
tors Of correspondents are already familiar TO the
readers Of the HERALD. After briefly detailing tho
principal points the against the Sioux, the
suit or tho commission TO Sitting Bull, the struggle
with and 6na surrender Of the Ncz Pcrces tho trou
bios with Apaches In Arizona and transfer Of
the Poncas TO tho Missouri River the Secretary out
lines what, In his opinion, Indian policy ought to
be, as follows:-
l. The nrst thing necessary is that We should keep
good faith with the Indians In every respect; wo
should never promise them more than we are able and
willing 10 perform, and then perform what we havo
promised.
2 The pursuit Of hunting is rs much as possible 70
be discouraged among tho Indians. +to.
AS number of Indian tribes are still depending,
In part At least upon hunting Tor their sustenance,
their wants must he provided tor In another way.
They should DO gradually gathered together upon
cattle raising can be carried with ana where
they can easily 90 supplied with heir necessares until
they are sell-sustaning.
L. While Indians cannot be expected TO become
ccssful farmers at once several tribes have already
made apprccabe progress In that respect and others
are likely TO do SO under favorable ances and
juLicious management II Will probably be found
tat many tribes are. moro adapted to pastoral pur
SUITS IN such agricu lure ali houah not TO
be neglected. should DO made subordinate 70 the rails
ing OF cattle. aI
s. lndans who can furnish sufficient evidence that
they have supported their families Tor certain
years should be admitted TO the benefits oil the
homestead act, and, II they are wiling TO dstach
iicges OF citizenship 9 tH 6l
q. To protect the security OF lie and property
among the lndians the laws OF the United States to
DO enforced by proper tribunals should DO extended
over the reservations, and BODY OF police, composed
Of Indians, aud subject to the orders Of tho govern
menl officers, should be organized on zach OF them.
Z. The establishment OF schools Tor the instruction
OF the young is gradually being extended among tho
Indian tribes under our control The ndvana TO be
derived from them Will greatly depend upon their
discipline and the course OF Instruction. AS far as
practicable the attendance OF Indian children should
8. Az many Of the agencies farmers arc employed
and salar,od by the governments But In some II not
most cases, the farms have been worked by white
agencies and the indians. They 10 be turned 70
In tho frat place Tor the instructiop OF the
youths al school Besides This. tho farmers are to
visit the farms cultivated by Indians, to gvet lat
ter practical instr In their work ana them
as Tar as may be IN their power.
9. On tho reservations the labor or white men 10 to
be dispensed with ana Indian labor 10 DO employed
much as possible
a ABUSES IN THE SERVICE Was tft
The Indian service has IN some OF It's branches long
been the subject OF popular suspicion. Without at
laching undue Importance to vague rumors or aega-
lions, IT must be said that frequent Investigations
have shown that suspicion be without good rea-
son. Inquiries Instituted by myself since charg
with the conduct OF this department havo convinced
me Of this fact As q result III such inquiries,
Of a gross character came 70 my no.
OF cases 10 the Department OF Justice tor criminal
prosecution we'll civil action. 4 do not deem the
present machinery OF the Indian service sufficient
the prevention discovery OF abuses and fraudulent
practices. The inspectors and superintendents xho
are charged among other tuings, with such duty have
III but instances boon succasslu terrelug
tho willy expedlens resorted TO oy dishonest
agents The records OF the Indian Once bear
this assertion. When superintendent pecor
visits an agency, his coming Is almost always know
beforehand, that there time enough 10 conceal
evidences oil fraud and mismanay eineDt IL is very
ike s,atching BIRDS with a brass band" What
the Indian Bureau needs perhaps than any otner
branch OF the government, Is special service, com
control OF tho department. can move secretly and
pouncc upon the point to be investigated without pre-
monitor. at4- ae8 lEs4#EM .saa ta
NECESSITY OF A BETTER CLASS OF AGENTS
That tho Office OF an Indian agent Is very rcsp0n
perior business capacity, aud that salary OF 81, 800
ayear, without lair prospect OF advancement. Is,
under ordinary circumstances, inadequate TO induce
men OF such cal,bfc to expose themselves and
their families TO the discomlorLs ana priva
tions oil frontier life, has too frequently been
stated by my predecessors In their reports TO noed
repetition mere The consequences to which sucn
false economy Is apt to lead need scarcely be de-
scriped The report OF the Com IN ssioner OF indian
Affairs furnishes some Interesting illustrations. I
cannot too urgently commend 10 the attention OF con-
gross the graaaton IN the salaries Of indian agents
which no suggests. Even higher salaries than he
recommends might DO paid, and prove wisc economy
10 the ond
During the year Abe public lands disposed Of
amounted In all TO Si9 1910 acres, decrease Of
1914, DOS. 10 acres as compared with the preceding
year. The total cash receipts were 452 06y % Tho
total area Of the land States ana Territories amounts
10 l.Sl4, $40 acres There wore surveyed during
the nsca year TO- SAT 0S2 acres previously surveyed
702 1885, 655 acres; remaining unsurveyed, 1873
acres nnw4
Wholesale PLUMBER THE LANDS.
The report discusses very fully tho question OF tho
timber lands. 1t says:Thc statements made by tho
Commissioner OF tho General Land Office IN his re-
port. show tho quantity Of timber taken IRON the pub
lie lands without authority oil law TO nave been OF
enormous extent IL PROBABLY lar exceeds IN reality
any estimate made upon the data before US.
1t appears, from authentic Information before
this department, that IN many instances
the depredations have Ueen carried the
way OF orghnlsed and systematic enterprise, not
only to Iurnisn timber, lumuer and arewood Tor tho
home market, but. a large scale, commercial
expectation to foreign countries. Tue rapldmy with
winch ths country Is being stripped OF It's forests
alarm every thinking man. II has been estimated by
good authority that II VIC on at tue present
supply oil timber the United States wi In less
twenty years. fan considerably short OF our home
csstcs How dNastrousy the destruction VI the ioests
OF country affects the regularity OF Tho water supply
Ia its necessary for navigation, increases tho
frequency OF freshots and inundatons dries up
springs and fertile agricultural Districts
into barren wastes, matter oil universal experience
the world over IL Is the highest time that should
turn our earnest attention 10 TINS subject, which
rioasly concerns national prosperity. The gov
crntnent cannot prevent the cutingoi timber land
owned by private citizens. IL Is only To be hoped
that private owners wlll grow careful OF their
timber II rises IN yaluo But tho govern-
meat can do Two things: l. Ii can take determined
ana, think. cnectpai measures arrest the steal
ing OF timber from pubic lands on large scale,
winch 10 always attended With tho most reckless
waste and, IL preserve The forests stu la us
POSSESSION ny Keeping them under IFS control and by
SO regulating the cutting and sals OF timber its
lands the renewal Of the forest by natural
growth and Tho careful preservation OF the young
timber At f
REMEDIAL MEASURES PROPOSED.