Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-12-12
LANCASTER. WISCONSIN, THURSDAY. DECEMBER d 1878.

that there is a steadily increasing desire, eve
among Indians belonging to comparatively will
tribes, to have their children educated. / in
vite attention 10 the reports of the secretar
OF the interior and the commissioner of Indal
affairs, touching the experiment recently in
augurated, in taking fifty Indian children
] boys and girls, from different tribes, to the
Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute, in
Virginia, where they are to receive an elemen-
tary English education and training in agricul-
| ture and other useful work, to be returned TO
their tribes, after the completed course. as
interpreters, instructors and examples. 1t is
reported that the officer charged with the
selection of those children might have had
thousands of Indians sent with him had it been
possible to make provision for them | agree
with the secretary of the interior in saving that
"thc result of this interesting experiment, il
favorable, may be destined to become an
| important factor in the advancement of civil
zation among the Indians"
The question whether a change in the control
OF the Indian service should be made was, al
the last session of congress, referred to a
| committee for inquiry 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 the deci-
sion, whatever it may be- will arrest further
agitation Of this subject. such agitation being
apt to produce disturbing influence upon the
service, as well as on the Indians themselves.
| HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION
In the enrolment Of the bill making appro-
priations for sundry civil expenses, at the last
session OF congress, that portion which pro.
weed Tor the continuation of the Hot Springs
commission was omitted. As the commission
had completed the work Of taking testimony on
the many conflicting CLAIMS, the suspension OF
their labors, before determining the rights of
claimants, threatened for time to embarrass
the interests, not only of the government. but
aisc OF large number of the citizens of Hot
springs, who were waiting for final action on
their claims before beginning contemplated
improvements. In order to prevent serio us
| diihculties which were apprehended, and at
the solicitation of many leading citizens OF
| hot Springs and Others interested in the well
fare of the town, the secretary of the interior
was authorized to request the late commits
sioners to take charge of the records of their
proceedings, and to perform such work az
could properly be done by them under such
circumstances to facilitate the future adiudica-
ton OF the claims at an early dar, and to
preserve the status of the claimants until their
| rights should be finally determined The late
| commissioners complied with that request. and
report that the testimony, in all cases, has
been written out, examined, briefed and so
arranged as to facilitate an early settlement
when authorized by law 1t is recommended
that the requisite authority be given at as ear
| ly day as possible, and that a fair compensa-
ton be allowed the late commissioners for the
expenses incurred and the labor performed by
them since the 18th of June last.
| TIMBER LANDS
invite the attention of congress to the
| recommendation made by the secretary of the
| interior with regard to the preservation of the
| timber on the public lands of the United
| States. The protection of the public property
/ is one of the first duties of the government.
| The department. Of the interior should. there.
fore, be enabled by sufficient appropriations
to enforce the laws in that respect. But this
matter appears still more important as q
question of public economy. The rapid de-
structon OF our forests is an evil fraught with
the grayest consequences, especially in the
mountainous districts, where the rocky slopes,
once denuded OF their trees, will remain so for>
ever. There the injury, once done, cannot be
repaired fully concur with the secretary Of
the interior in the opinion that for this reason
legislation touching the public timber in the
mountainous states and territories of the west
| should be especially well considered, and that
existing laws, in which the destruction of the
| forests is not sufficiently guarded against.
! should be speedily modified A general law
concerning this impo rtant subject appears to
me to be matter of urgent public nece ssty.
AGRICULTURE
From the organization of the government
| the imnOrt aOpa nj ananurao;nr ~ III
| means, the increase of our agricultural pro.
| auctions, 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.
me words OF Washington are as applicable
to>day as when, in his eighth annual message.
| he said: 1t is not to be doubted that with
| reference either to individual or national
| welfare agriculture is of primary Importance.
| In proportion as nations advance in population
and other 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 promot-
| ing it grow up, supported by the public purse !;
| and to what object can it be dedicated with
greater propriety? Among the means which
have been employed to this end, none have
been attended with greater success than the
| estaoiishuieht oi boards, composed of proper
characters, charged with collecting and dffus-
| ing information, and enabled, by premiums
and small pecuniary aids, to encourage and
assist the spirit of discovery and Improvement.
| this species of establishment contributing
doubly to the increase of improvement by
stimulating to enterprise and experiment, and
| by drawing to common centre the results
everywhere OF individual skill and observation
and spreading them thence over the whole
| nation. Experience accordingly hath shown
that they are very cheap Instruments of im-
| mense national benefit"
The great preponderance of the agricultural
| over any other interest in the United States
entities it to all the consideration claimed for
1t by Washington. About one. half of the pop
| ulation Of the United States is engaged in 40
| riculture. The value OF the agricultural prod>
ucts OF the United States for the year 1878 is
estimated at 81, 900, 100000. The exports of
agricultural products for the year 1877. as an.
pears from the report of the bureau of statis-
tics, were 1924. 0o0, 900. The great extent Of
| our country, with its diversity of soil and eli,
mate, enables US to produce within our own
borders, and by our own labor, not only the
necessaries but most of the Injuries that are
consumed in civilized countries. Yet. not,
outstanding our advantages of soil. climate
| and intercommunication, it appears from the
statistical statements in the report of the com
missioner of agriculture that we import an
nually from foreign lands many millions of dol
lars worth OF 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 and SEINE
times fruitless. which are beyond the means of
private individuals, and are just and proper
charge on the whole nation for the benefit of
the nation. 1t is good policy, especially in
times of depression and uncertainty in other
business pursuits, with vast area Of unculti-
waited, and hence unproductive territory, wise.
| ly opened to homestead settlement, to en-
courage, by every proper and legitimate means.
| the occupation and tillsge of the soil. The
efforts of the department of agriculture to
stimulate old and introduce new agricultural
| industries, to improve the quality and increase
the quantity of our products, to determine the
value Of old or establish the Importance Of new
methods of culture, are worthy Of your careful
and favorable consideration, and assistance by
such appropriations of money and enlargement
| OF facilities may seem TO be demanded by
the present favorable conditions FOR the growth