Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-08
scHvRz's SUGGESTIONS.
Extracts from the First Annual Rcport OF
the Secretary of the Interior

Extracts from the First Annual Report OF
the Secretary of the Interior.
DESERT LANDS
large majority Of the lands west of the
Tooth meridian are unfit for agricultural
purposes without artificial irriga ion and
the area on which artificial irrigation an.
pears possible is very small. Extensive
tracts on the "plains," however, can be made
useful as pasturage for the raising of cattle,
which interest is gaining immense propor-
t,ons,. but is carried on upon the public
domain without the authority or protection
OF law, and the government derives no ben.
eft from such use of the public lands.
DESERT LAND LAW.
The secretary recommends that the act
passed at the last session of congress. entitled
an act to provide for the sale Of desert lands
in certain states and territories, lie 20 n mend.
ed az to require, before the entry is allowed.
that the desert character and quality Of the
tract sought to be entered shall be establish
ed by competent testimony to the satisfac.
zion Of the register and receiver of the
district in which the land is situated. after
notice by publication for four successive
weeks to adverse claimants, if ary there be:
that the quantity or portion of the land in
the tract to be irrigated, cultivated, and i'm
proved shall be specifically defined; that a
neglect or failure to irrigate and improve
the quantity or portion of the land in said
tract specified, for the period Of six months
at any one time, shall he considered an
abandonment of the same.
PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS.
The enactment of some law providing for
a more speedy settlement of the privote
land claims in the territory (except Cali
formal acquired from Mexico bv the treaty
Of Guadalupe Hidalgo in lS4S, and the
Gadsden treaty Of 1858, is imperativelv
demanded. During the last twenty-three
years in which this law has been in force,
the surveyor general Of New Mexico has
reported to congress for confirmation l27
of said claims. of which II have been con
firmed, leaving Sc now pending before that
body for confirmation.
LApsED LAND GRANTS.
also desire to invite special attention to
the fact that large number Of the grant. of
the public lands made to aid in the con-
Of internal improvement, have expired by
limitation. The lands embraced within the
limits of these grants have, in most cases,
been withdrawn from sale and disposal by
the government, and must necessarily re-
main in that condition until some action
is taken to declare forfeiture of the grant,
and restore the lands Of the public domain.
A less expensive and more expeditions
mode Of diuposing of these lapsed grants
would be to authorize the land department.
by an act of congress, under proper restric-
tions and limitations, to take possession Of
the lands in the name Of the United States,
and declare them subject to sale after pro
per notice Ivy publications.
SURVEYS.
l respectfully invite attention to the
recommendations made by the commissioner
of the general land office concerning the
surveys of public lands. He suggests; al
The consideration OF all offices of surveyors
general into one, which shall be located in
Washington 2. The abolition of the
contract system. 3. The appointment of
surveyor general of the United States, who
shall be authorized to appoint as many
assistants as may be required to make the
surveys as fast as may be deemed necessary
or provided by law"
ROCKY MOUNTAIN LocUsTs.
Professor c. V. Cilley. of Missouri Pro-
fessor Cyrus Thomas, Of Illinois, and Pro-
fessor A. S. Packard, of Massachusetts, were
chosen commission authorized to report
upon the depredations of the Rocky noun
tain locusts in the western states and terri,
tories, and the best practicable methods Of
preventing their recurrence or guarding
ag ,inst their invasions The locust area
between longitude 940 and 120 was sub
divided into three districts, one of which
was assigned to en- h member, who, at least
once, and in some cases several times, visit
ed important points where the locusts were
most numerous. ~
1t is believed that the diffusion of useful
knowledge, the personal aid rendered by
the commissioners and their assistants, has
already saved t, the west many times the
amount Of the funds appropriated by con-
gress, while the survey that has been made
of the locust area, the study Of the migra-
tions habits, parasites, and means Of preven-
tion, has laid the way for future inves iga-
cations which will eventuate in the abate-
ment Of the evil.
| INDIAN AFFAIRS
| The secretary is Of opinion that, while
some progress has been made in the adjust
ment Of difficulties. and that the danger of
disturbance OF large scale seems remote,
yet the general condition of our Indian Of,
fairs seems by no means satisfactory. The
perfect solution Of the Indian problem is,
in our days at least, fraught with pcrpexi.
ties that cannot he solved by mere stroke
of legislation We are frequently remind
ed Of the fact that the character Of our In-
dians does not materially differ from that
of the Indisns in the British possessions on
this continent, and that, nevertheless, peace
and friendly relations are maintained there
between the Indians and the whites This
is true But the condition Of things in the
British possessions is in some very impor-
tant results essentially difieren, from that
which exists in the United States One oi
these is that the Indian population in the
British possessions occupies an immense
area ~lmnst untouched by settlements o
whites; they have the fullest freedom
with no danger of collision, aud the lines
dividing them can he easily controlled by
well organized police, who maintain pcac,
and order In the United States II :. alto
sc;her different, and far morc Atfticnli.