Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-12-06


tary of War unite in the recommendation that pro
vision be made by Congress for the organization Of
a corps of mounted Indian auxilaries," to be
under the control of the army and to be used for
the purpose OF keeping the Indians on their reser
vatons and preventing or depressing disturbance
on their part. l earnestly concur in this recon-
mendation It is believed that the organization Of
such body of Indian cavalry. receiving moderate
pay from the Government would considerably weak
EN- the restless element among the Indians by with
drawing from it q number of young men and giving
them congenal employment under the Government,
ii being matter of experience that Indians in
service almost without exception faithful in the
performance of the duties assigned to them. Such
an organization would materially aid the army in
the accomplishment OF task for which its
merical strength is sometimes found insufficient.
| But, while the employment of force for the pre-
yention repression of Indian troubles is of
sional necessity, and wise preparation should be
made to that end greater reliance must be placed
on humane and civilizng agencies for the ultimate
solution OF what is called the Indian problem. It
may be very difficult, and require much patient
effort to curb the unruly spirit of the savage In
dian to the restraints of civilized life but expert
ence shows that it is not impossible Many of the
tribes which quiet and orderly and self
supporting were once as savage as any that at pres
ent roam over the plains in the mountains of the
far West. and were then considered inaccessible to
civil:zing influences. II may he impossible to raise
them fully up To the level of the white population
OF the United States; but we should not forget that
they the aborignes OF the country, and called
the soil their own on which our
people have grown rich. powerful. and
them in attaining at least that degree of civilization
which they may be able to reach. 1t is not only
our duty II is also our interest to do 3d. Indians
who have become agriculturists or herdsmen and
feel an interest in property will thenceforth cease to
BE- a warlike and disturbing element. 1t is also
wei! authenticated fact that Indians apt to be
peaceable and quiet when their children at school,
and am gratited TO know, from the expressions
of Indians themselves and from many concurring
reports. that there is steadily increasing desire,
even among Indians belonging to comparatively
wild tribes to have their children educated. in
yte attention to the reports of the Secretary of the
Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
touching the experiment recently inauGurated,
in taking fifty Indian children. boys and
girls, from different tribes, to the Hampton
Normal Agricultural Institute, i'll Virginia,
where they are to receive an elementary
English education and training In agriculture and
other useful work, to be returned to their tribes,
after the completed course. as Interpreters, in
structors and examples. II is reported that the
officer charged with the selection of those children
might have had thousands of young Indians sent
with him had il been possible to make provision
for them. l agree with the Secretary of the III
terror in saying that the result of this Interesting
experiment. If favorable, may be destined TO be-
come an important factor in the advancement Of
civilization among the Indians"
The question whether change In the control of
the Indian service should be made at the last
session Of Congress, referred to committee for in
quiry and report. Without desiring to anticipate
that report venture to express the hope that, in
the decision of so important question: the views
expressed above may not be lost sight Of and that
the decision, whatever 1t be will arrest further
agitation of this subject, such agitation being apt
10 produce disturbing effect upon the service as
we'll as on the Indians themselves.
Hot Springs Commission.
In the cnrollm. mt of the bill making appropria-
tons for suIdry civil expenses at the last session
OF Congress. that portion which provided for the
continuation II the Hot Springs Commission
omitted. As the commission had completed the
work OF taking testimony the many conflicting
claims. the suspension Of their labors. before de
ter1nnng the rights of claimants, threatened Tor
! time to elnbarrass the interests not only
number OF the citizens Of Hot Springs,
who wer" waiting Tor final action
On their claims before beginning contemplated i'm
provcmcnis. In order 10 prevent serious difficulties
which Were apprchended, and at the solicitation
many leading citizens Of Hot Springs. and others
Interested in the welfare of the town. the Secretary
of the Interior authorized to request the late
Commissioners TO TAKE charge OF TIL. records oi
, their proceedings. and 10 perform such work as
could properly bc done by them under such cir
curstan,e>. to facilitate the adjudication of the
claims at early day and To preserve the status
NJ tho claimants until their rights should bt
finally determined. The late Commissioners com
piled with that request and report that the t,et-
money in All the cases. has been written out
amlned hrieIcd, and so arranged as to facilitate
early settlement when authorized by law. IL il re
! commended that the requisite authority b. given
! ut a. early day i'll the session possible. and
that tair compensation be allowed tn. late Com
nissicpcS for the expenses incurred aud the labor
performed by them since the 18th Of June last.
Timber Lands.
invite the attention Of Congress 10 the recon-
fluctuations made by the Secretary OF the Interior
with regard 10 the preservation Of the timber on
the public lands OF the United States. The pro
lection of III" public property is OF first duties
of h Government. The Department of the Interior
should therefore, be- enabled by sufficient arpro-
piations 10 .nforcc the laws In that RESPECT But
this mater appears still nIor~inportant as IA q,,cs
ton oil pnblic economy. 1he rapid destruction Of
or forests il an evil iraught with The
GraN.st consequences. especially in the
mountainous districts. where the rocky slopes one.
denud"d Of their trees, will remain forever.
Their the injury. once done. cannot IN repaired 1
fully concur with the Secretary of the Interior in
IN" opinion that for thus reason legislation touch
ing the public timber in I'll" mountainous States
and Territories If The West should I've especially
We'll considered, and that existing laws. IN which
the destruction ot the ats Is NOT sufficiently
guarded against, should be speedily modified. 4
general law concerning this important subject
appears 20 me TO be matter of urgent public ~"
c,asity.
Agriculture.
From the organization Of the Government the i'm
portaneo OF Encouraging by all possible means. the
Increase of orr agricultural productions has been
knowledgtd and urged upon the attention Of Con
gross aud the people the surest and readest
means of increasing our substantial and enduring
prosp. rity.
The words Of Washington are ~ applicable to-
day when, in his eighth annual message he said:
= 1t is not to be doubted with reference either to
individual or national welfare agriculture is of
primary importance III proportion as nations ad
|. vance in population and Dther circumstances of
maturity this truth becomes more apparent. and
renders the cultivation OF the soil more and more
an object Of public patronage. Institutions for
promoting ii grow up, supported by the public
purse and 10 what object can it be dedicated with
greater prupriety. Among the means which have
been employed to this end, none have been attended
with greater than the establishment of
boards. composed of proper characters. charged
with collecting and diffueng information. md
ahled. by premiums and small pecuniary aids to-
encourage and assist the spirit Of discovery and i'm
prrNemnt. this species of establishment contribut
ing douhy to the increase of improvement by stin
ulatini, to enterprise and experiment, and by draw
ing 10 a common center the results everywhere of
individual skill and observation and spreading
them thence over the whole nation. Experience ac-
cordingly hath shown that they very cheap i'll
strunents of immense national benefit"
The great preponderance Of the agricultural over
any other interest in the United States entities 1t to
all the consideration claimed for it by Washington.
About one-haf of the population Of the United
States is engaged i'll agriculture. The value of tho
agricultural products Of the United States for the
year 1878 is estimated at $3.UOO, 100000. The
ports of agricultural products for the year 1877,
as appears from the report of the Bureau of
Statistics, 1924 900. The great extent of
country, with its diversity Of soil and climate,
bles us to produce within own borders, and by
our labor not only the necessaries but most of
the Injuries that are consumed in civilized cOun-