Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-12-06
PUB. DOCS.
A FEARS Operations of the Ma
tiO7I's SERVANTS.


REPonT OF TIE SECRETiRY Of THE IN.
TERIOR.
Secretary Schurz, in his report devotes con-
siderable space to the subject of tmber-ands
referring to the measures taken by the depart
anent for the suppression of timber depreda-
lions upon Government lands, lie says:
1t wac to be expected they would meet with
stubborn opposition on the part of the lumber
men, and others directly or indirectly interested
an those depredations. Here and there the pro-
eceedlngs of the special agents of the depart
;snent were complained of as oppressive and
otherwise improper. and in every instance care
iul inquiries into the facts were instituted
such Inquiries resulted almost uniformly in a
indication of the agents employed We can
not close our eyes to the fact that anything like
complete success in suppressnS unlawful prac-
tees IL impossible unless the efforts made BY
This department for the protection of public
property meet with hearty cooperation on the
part OF the legislative branch of the Govern
ment Actual experience enables me to say
that the want OF such cooperation has been,
land Will always be, an ragcment to depre-
siatorSs to persist in their lawless operations, and
10 dcfythe authorities.
The Secretary expresses his opinion that the
disastrous consequences which ALWAYS follow
the destruction OF the forests of the country
will inevitably come upon us, i'll comparative
by short period of time considering the rapi(lity
with which the timber growth of this country
is beng swept away, unless legislation be en-
acted 10 arrest this indisoriminate spoliation.
To this end he earnestly rencws his recon-
mendaiion for the passage of bill already in
sroduced III Congress at his suggestion, which
provides that al the timber bearing lands,
chiefly valuable for the timber upon them,
shall be withdrawn from sale or other DISPOSE
lion under the existing laws, and be held by the
WIT yyay 10 .,,.1i
-crlmnate destruction and waste. and to the
preservation of young timber and the rorroduc-
'tion of forests.
The Secretary devotes considerable space to
the discussion of the Indian problem. He SAYS
It was found necessary to remove a number of
indian Agents on account of improper prac-
tees or lack of business efficiency and that
great care has been taken in filling the places
with now men. He is free to say, however,
shat the present condition Of Indian affairs is
not what it ought to be, and says:
The experience gained in earnest efforts to
overcome difficulties and to correct abuses has
enabled me to appreciate more clearly the task
still to be accomplished In my last annual re-
port stated frankly. and have to repeat now,
hat IN pursuing policy ever SO wise and with
machinery ever SO efficient, gradual improve
ment can be effected only by patient, energetic,
=tnd well-directed work in doiail
|. An eitirei, satisfactory state Of things can
be brought about only under circumstances
which are not, and cannot be, under control of
the Indian service alone If recurrence of
trouble and disturbance is to he avoided. the
appropriations made b. Congress for The sup
port of the Indians who arc not self supporting
must be liberal enough to he sufficient for that
purpose, and they must he made early enough
in the year to render the purchase and delivery
of new supplies possible before the old sup
plies are exhausted.
,. The Indian service should have at its dis
posal a sufficient fund. to be used with proper
accountability, at discretion in unforeseen omer-
gences.
). The citizens of the Western States and Ter
ritorics must be made to understand that if the
indians are to cease to be troublesome paupers
and vagabonds, are to become orderly aud self
supporting, they must have lands tit for agri-
culture; that on such lands they must be pc"
mitted TO reign and establish permanent homes.
and that sucha result cannot be obtained if the
white people insist upon taking from them by
force or trickely every acre OF ground that is
good for anything.