Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-11

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ana happy We owe it to them as moral duty to
help them IN attaining at least that degree of civil
our duty it is also our interests to do So indians
who have become agriculturists or herdsmen and
warlke and disburng eement II IS a etass
well authenticated fact that Indians are apt to be
school, and am gratifed to know from the EXPIRES
curing reports, that there is strongly increasing
deSdTe even even among Indians belonging to COMPARE
invite attention to the reports of the secretary of
the interior and the commissioner of Indian at
rated in taking fifty indian children. BOYS and
girls from different tribes to the Hampton normal
are to receive an elementary English educa alfS
and training in agriculture and other useful work
to be returned to their tribes after the completed
course as interpreters, instructors and examples
Of seat hG Gfr w the
| of young Indians sent with him had it been pos
he to seer sks f the for he T With
that the result Of this interesting exPeri
became an in portant factor in the advancement
| of civilization among the Indians. The question
OF whether change in the control Of t re Indian
service should be made, was at the last session of
congress referred to committee for enquiry and
| report Without desiring to anticipate that re-
port L venture to express the hope that in the
pressed above may not be lost sight of, and that
the decision whatever it may be, will arrest the
further agitation of this subject, such agitation
being apt to produce a disturbing effect of the
service as well as on the Indians themselves.
AN OMISSION.
In the enrolment of the bill making appropria-
tons for sundry civil expenses at the last session
OF congress, that portion which provided for the
continuation Of the Hot Springs commissioner
was omitted. AS the commissioner had com
planned oil the work of taking testimony on many
conflicting claims. suspension of the labors be-
fore determining the rights of claimants threat
ened for time to embarrasS the interest, not on
ly of the government, but also of large number
of the citizens of Hot Springs who were wait
final their claims
templated improvements. In order to prevent
serious difficulties which were apprehended, and
at the solicitation of many leading citizens
of Hot Springs, and others interested in
the welfare of the town the secretary of the in
sioners to take charge of the records of their pro
ceedlngs and to perform such work as could prop
facilitate the future adjudication of the claims at
an early day, and to preseve the status of the
determined The late commissioners O comp pid
with that request and report that the testmoney in
all cases has been written out examined carefully
and 50 arranged as to facilitate early settlement
when authorized by law. 1t is recommended that
the session possible and that a fair compensa-
ton be allowed thelate commissioners for the eX-
pense Incurred and labor performed by them
since 18th of June last
TIMBER LANDS
dations made by the secretary of the interior with
of to a of timber on the public
pnblic property is one of the first duties of the
Should therefore be enabled by suficient appropri-
ations to enforce the laws in that respect but this
matter appears still more important as question
OF public economy. The rapid Destruction of
our forests is an evil iraught with the gravest
consequences. especially in mountainous dis
triCts where the rocky slopes, once denuded of
their trees, will remain so forever There the
injury once done, cannot be repaired. l 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 forests is not sufficiently guarded
against should be speedily modified. A general
law concerning this important subject appears
to me to be a matter Of urgent public necessity.
AGRICULTURE.
From the organization OF the government, the
Importance of encouraging, by all possible
means. The increase of our. agricultural produc-
tons, has been acknowledged ard urged upon
the attention of congress and the people as the
Surest means Of increasing our substantial and
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 i'm
portance," In proportion nations advance
in population aud other circumstances of ma
1urity, this truth becomes more apparent,
and renders the cultivation Of the soil more and
more an object of public patronage. institutions
for promoting 1t grow up supported by the public
purse, and to what object can 1t be dedicated
with greater PROPHECY? Among the means which
have oeen employed to this end none have been
attended with greater success that the establish
ment of boards composed of proper characters,
ton aud enabled by premiums and small pecunl-
airy aids to encourage and assist the spirit of dis
coyeEy and mPToSement n in this
tributing doubly to the increase of i'm
provement by stimulating to enterprise and ex
pertinent, and by drawing to common centre
servation, and spreading them thence over the
whole nation. Experience accordingly hath
shown that they are very cheap instruments of
ance of agriculture over any other Interest emit
ties it to all the consideration claimed for it by
Washington. About one half Of the population of
the United States is engaged in agriculture. The
value Of the agricultural products of the United
States for the year 1878. is estimated at SO Co.,
O00OOO the exports of agricultural products for the
year 1877, appears from the report the bureau
of statistics 1924 OOO 600 The great extent of
country with its diversity of sail and climate,
enables to produce within our own borders and
by labor not only the necessares but most
of the luXures that are consumed in civilized cOun
tries Yet, notwithstanding advantages of soil,
climate and water communication, it appears from
the statistical statements in the report of the COM
missioner of agriculture, that we import annually
from foreign lands many millions of dollars worth of
products which could be raised in our own country
Numerous questions arise in the practice of advanced
agriculture, which can only be answered by eXper-
iments often costly and sometimes fruitless which
beyond the means of private individuals and are
a just and proper charge on the whole nation for
the benefit of the nation. 1t is good policy, es
pecally in times of depression and uncertainty of
other business pursuits with vast of unculti
waited and hence unproductive territory, wisely
opened to homestead settlement, to encourage by
every proper and legitimate means, the occupation
and tilage of the SOIL Ehe efforts of the department
of agriculture to stimulate old and to introduce new
in dustries to improve the quality and IN
crease the quantity of our products;
TO determine the value of old or TO establish the
Importance of new methods of culture are worthy
of your careful and favorable consideration and
assistance, by such approproprlaton OF money
and enlargement of facilities as may seem to be
demanded by the present favorable conditions for
the growth and rapid development of this i'm
portant interest. 5 ....rs .
ANIMALS IN TRANSIT. ...
The abuse of animals N transit is widely at
tracing public attention. national convention
of societies specially interested in the subject has
recently met at Baltimore, and facts developed,
both in regard to crueltieS to animals,
and the effect of such cruelties on the public
health, that would seem to demand the careful
consideration Of congress, and the enactment of
more efficient laws for the prevention Of these
abuses.
.H.5. = t..-- EDUCATION.
The report Of the commissioner Of the bureau
of education shows very gratifying progress
throughout the country in all the interests com
mitted to its care Of this important othce the
report is especially encouraging, with respect TO
the extension of the advantages of common