New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-03

may be very difficult, and require mucn Ratsn
shows that It is not impossible. Many Of the tribes
(which are now quiet and orderly ana seii-support
over the plans or in. the mountains of the
Far West, and were then considered mac
cessibie TO civilizng influences. 1t may
the level of the white population, of the United
States but we should not forget that they are the
aborigines of the country and called the soil then
own on which our people have grown rich, power
fnl and happy We overt to them as moral duty
to help them in attaining at least that degree oil
civilization which they may be able to reach IL Is
not only our duty-it is also our interest to DO So
Indians who have become agrIcnlturists or herds
men, and feel an interest IN property, VIII thence
forth cease to be warlike and disturbing element
1t is also well authenticated fact that Indians are
apt to he peaceable ana quiet when their children
are at school, and am gratihed TO know, from
the expressions Of Indians themselves, ana
from many cOncurring reports, that there rs
a steadily increasing desire. even among Indians
belonging to comparatively wild tribes. to have
their children educated. invite attention 10 tne
reports OF the Secretary OF the Interior ana the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs touching tine eA-
perlment recently inaugurated. in taking fifty In
dian children, boys and girls from different tribes,
to the Hampton Normal Agricultural lnstifute. IN
Virginia where they are to receive an elementary
English education and training IN agriculture ana
other useful work, to be returned to their trlDes
after the completed course as interpreters ihsruc
TORS and examples. Ii is reported that the oilceI
have mad thousands Of young Indians sent Win
him had 1t been possible TO make proylslon Tor
them. agree with the Secretary OF the Interior III
saving that the result of this interesting expert
ment If favorable may be destined TO become an
important factor IN the advancement Oh CIVILIZATION
among The Indiana -, -
the Indian service should be maze WAS, at the last
session of Congress- referred 10 committee lot III
uury and report. Without desiring 10 anticipate
that report / venture to express the nope tiat IN
the decsiOn Of so important q question. the Vle"s
expressed above may not be lost slght OIL ana tnat
the decision, whatever it may be- VIII arrest iui
ther agitation of tins subject, such agitation beihg
avt TO produce a disturbing effect upon the service
as well as on the Indians themselves.
THE not SPRINGS COMMISSION.
Tn the enrolment of the bill making approDria-
tons for sundry civil expenses, at the last session OF
Congress, that portion which provided for the con-
tinuation of the Hot Springs Commission was
omitted. As tho commission had completed the
work of taking testimony on the many conflicting
claims the suspension of their labors, before deter
mining the rights of claimants, threatened, Tor
time. to eInbarrass the interests, not only OF the
Government but also Of large number of the citi-
zens of Hot Springs, who>were waiting for final ac-
ton ON their claims before bt ginning con-
templated improvements. In order to pre-
vent serious difficulties, which were appre-
bended, and at the solicitation OF many lead
ING citizens of Hot Springs and Others Interested III
the welfare OF the town, the Secretary oil the in-
terror was authorized to request the late commits
sioners to take charge Of the records of their pro-
ceedings. and to perform such work as could
properly be done by them under such circumstances,
to facilitate the future adjudication of the claims at
an early day. and to preserve the status oi the
claimants until their rights should be finally deter
mined The tate commissioners complied with that
reouest and report that the testimony, in NIL the
eases has been wrltten out, examined, Deied, ana
80 arranged as to facilitate an early settlement
when authorized by law. II is recommeudcd that
he requisite authority be given at early day in
the session as possible. aDd that fair coinpensa-
ton be- allowed the late commissioners for the eX-
pense incurred and the labor performed by them
since the 2jth Of June last
THE PRESENTATIONS or TIMBER.
invite the attention of Congress 10 the recon-
ncndations made by the Secretary of the Interior
with re gard 10 the preservation Of the timber the
public lands of the United States. The protection
IF the public property is OF the frst duties of
he Government. The Department Of the Interior
should therefore, be enabled, by sufficient appropri-
atoms, to enforce the laws in that respect. But
this matter appears still more important a.
, question of public economy. The rapid
destruction of our forests is an evil franght
with the gravest consequences, especially IN
he mountainous districts, where the rocky
opes once denuded of their trees, will remain M
forever. There the INJURY. once done, cannot be
repaired. fully concur with the Secretary of the
Interior in the opinion that for tins reason lcgsla-
non touching the public timber in the mountainous
states and Territories Of the West should Ice
sspecaly well considered, and that existing laws,
in which the destruction OF the forests Is not suii-
GENTLY guarded against, should be speedily modi-
lied. a general law concerning tins important sub
ect appears 10 me 10 be "a matter OF urgent pubic
necessity.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
From the organization Of the Government, the
importance OF encouraging. by all possible means,
the increase Of our agricultural productions has
been ackno lodged and urged upon the attention
Of Congress and the people the surest and read-
EST means of increasing substantial and endnr-
ing prosperity. The words of Washington
applicable to-day as when. in his eighth annual
message he said: :" 1t is not to DO doubted that
with reference either TO individual National
welfare. agriculture is of primary Importance. IN
as nations advance in population and
other circumstances of maturity. this truth becomes
more apparent and renders the cultivation of the soil
more and object of public patronage. Insti-
tutions for promoting it grow up, supported by the
public purse-and to what object can il be dedicated
with greater proprietyf Among the means which
havo been employed to this end, none have been at
tended with greater success than the establishment
Of boards composed of proper characters, charged
with collecting and ditfusng information, and en-
lbIed, by premiums and small pecunIary aids, TO
encourage and assist the spirit Of discovery and i'm
this species of establishment contrbut-
ing doubly to the increase Of Improvement by
stimulating to enterprise and experiment, and by
drawing to a common centre the results everywhere
Of ndiv dual skill and observation, and spreading
them thence over the whole Nation. EXperieuco
hath shown that they are very cheap
Instruments of immense National benefit"
The great preponderance of the agricultural over
any other interest in the United States entities it
to all the consideration claimed for it by Washing
ton. About one-half of the population of the
United States is engaged in agriculture. The
Of tho anriculinraI prodncfs of Ihn IInitad