The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-04


tary OF the interior in saying that "the result
of this Interesting experiment, If favorable,
| may be destined to become an important
factor in lbe advancement of civilization
The question whether a change in the con-
| troll OF the Indian service should be made,
was, al me last session OF c9ngress referred TO
desiring TO anticipate that report, venture To
| expi ess the hope that in the decision of so i'm
portant a question the views expressed above
may NOS be lost sight o., and that The decision,
| whatever IL may be, will arrest farther agfta-
/ tion OF this subject, such agitation being apt
| as Wen as on the Indians themselves.
| NOT STRINGS.
In the enrolment of the bill making appro.
priations for sundry civil expenses at the last
| vided for the continuation OF the Hot Springs
commission was omitted. As the commission
| had completed the Work of taking testimony
| on the many confifctiog claims, the suspen-
1 sion of their labors, before determiaing the
rights of claimants, th hreatened, for time, to
| embarrass the interests, not only or the gov
| ernment, but also of % large number of the
| citizens of Hot Springs, who wait.
ing for hnal action on their claims
| before beginning contemplated improvements
In order TO prevent serious difficulties, which
were apprehended, and at the solicitation of
many leading citizens of Hot Springs, and 9TH
| ers Interested in the welfare of the town, the
| secretary of the interior was authorized to re-
quest the late commissioners to take charge of
| form such work as could properly be done by
| them under the circumstances tofacilitate the
| future adjudication of the claims at early
/ day, and to preserve the status of the claim.
ants until their rights should be finally deter
| mined. The late commissioners complied
with that request, and report that the testi-
mony In all the cases has been written out, ex-
| amined, brlefed. and so arranged as TO facili-
tate an early settlement when authorized by
law. 1t is recommended that the requisite an-
| thortty be given at as early day in the ses-
sion as possible, and that a fair compensation
| be allowed the late commissioners for the ex-
pense incurred and the labor performed by
| them since the 18th of June last.
PRESERVATION OF TIMBER.
invite the'attention of congress to the rec
| ommendatlon made by the secretary of the
timber on the public lands of the United states
| The protection of the pub ic property is one of
/ the first duties of the government. The de
partment of the interior should therefore, be
enabled by sufficient appropriation to enforce
/ the laws in that respect. But this matter ap-
pears pears sun a more important mp as question OF
/ forests is an evil fraught with the gravest con-
| sequences, especially in the mountainous dis
/ tricts. where the rocky slopes, once denuded of
| their trees, will remain so forever. There the
| injury, once done, can not be repaired. fully
concur with the seer tary of the interior IN the
opinion that, for this reason, legislation touch
| ing the public timber in the mountainous
states and territories of the west, should be eS-
pecially well considered, and that existing
| laws i'm which the destruction of the forests is
1 not sufficiently guarded against, should be
| speedily modified: A general law concerning
Il
| matter Of urgent pubic necessity.
| AGRICULTURE-
From the organization OF the government
the importance OF encouraging by all possible
| means tie increase of our agricultural produc
| tions has been acknowledged and urged upon
| the attention of congress and the people as the
| surest and readIeSt means of increasing our
substantial and enduring prosperity.
| The words of Wash hington are as applicable
| to-day rs when, in his eighth annual mes age,
| he said: cit is not to be doubted that with ref
aafk lad
| fare, agriculture is OF primary importance. In
| proportion as nations advance In population
truth becomes more apparent and renders the
| cultivation of the soil more and more an object
| OF public patronage. Institutions for promot-
aud TO what hJect can IL be dedicated with
greater proprietyg Among the means which
| nave been employed to this end, none have
been attended with greater success than the
establishment of boards composed of proper
characters, charged with collecting and dlfus-
ing information, and enabled, by premiums
and small pecuniary aids, TO encourage and
| assist the spirit of discovery aud improve
| ment, tins species of establishment contribut-
ing douDly o the increase OF Improvement by
stimulating TO enterprise and experiment, md
| by drawing 10 common center the results
| evei ywhere 81 Individual skill and observa-
| tcn, and spreading them thence over the
| whole nation. Experience accordingly hath
shown that they are very cheap instruments
| The great preponderance of the agricultural
over any other In crest In the United states
L
| II by washington. About one half the popu-
| lation in the United States lis engaged In agri-
culture: The value OF the agricultural pro,
| estimated at SIS 000I ,OOO. The exports of agr-
cultural products for the year lS7I as appears
| from the report OF the bureau OF statistics,
were s524, ,0OO,5C0 The great extent of our coun-
| try, with its diversity of soil and climate, en-
ables US 10 produce within our own borders,
| and By our own labor, not only the necessarles
| but most of the luxnries that are consumed In
civilized countries. Yet, Notwithstanding our
iration IL appears from the statistical state
| ments in the report of the commissioner OF
agrcni1SSe that we imp0rt "a aa Iro orfp If
agricultural products which could be raised In
| our own country.
Numerous questions arise in the practice of
advanced agriculture which can only be an
| swered by experiments, often costly ana some-
| times fruitless which are beyond the means OF
| private individuals, and are a just ard proper
charge on the whole nation for the benent oil
the nation. II is good policy, especially In
| times OF depression and uncertainty In otner
business pursuits, with vast area OF uncultl-
| waited, and hence unproducuye terrltory,
wisely opened to homestead settlement, TO en-
| courage by every proper and legitimate means
the occupation and tillage OF the SOIL. Inc
efforts OF the department OF agriculture 10
| stimulate old ana introduce new agricultural
industries. to improve the quality and Increase
| the Quantity of our products, 10 determine the
value of old or establish the importance ol
| careful and favora BILE considerati N and as.
sistance by such appropriations q OF money and
enhancement Of facilities as may seem 70 ioD Dc
! for the growth ana rapid development of this
important interest.
. MISCELLANEOUS.
| The abuse Of animals In transit is widely at
| tracing public attention. A national conven-
tion of societies specially interested In The sub
!, ject has recently met at Baltimore, and the
| facts developed, both I'm regard to cruelty TO
| animals and the effects of such crueltles upon
the public health, would seem 10 demand
| the ca reful consideration OF congres and the
| enactment of more efficient laws for the pre-
yentlon OF these abuses.
The report of the commissioner of the bureau
OF education shows very gratifying progress
throughout the country In all the interests
: committed TO the care Of this important Office
| The report is especially encour glng with re-
| spect to the extension OF the advant ges o
, the common school system in sections of the
I country where the general enjoyment OF the
/ privileges of free schools is not yet attained.
To education mere than to any other agency
2 we are to look as the resource for the advance
4 ment of the people In the requisite knowledgi
| and appreciation Of their rights and responsl
Il CIT = ,