The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-11-28

The Report OF Commissioners Hayt.

The Report OF Commissioners Hayt.
The annual report OF the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs shows that during the past year
there has been among the Indians in general q
steady advance in civilization, which has no
parallel In any previous year. In this the
Ogalalla and Brule Sioux have taken the lead
and their progress during the last eighteen
months has been simply marvellous. 1t is no
longer . question whether the Indians will
work. Those who are anxious to do 80 are now
largely in the majority From all except the
five civilized tribes in the IndiAc Territory
there Is call for lands in severalty The,c Ia
largely increased desire for houses and agSi-
cultural implements, wagons, ETC., and foA
citizens clothing. The following shows the
substantial results of Indian labor during the
year. They are much larger than ever before,
and but for the severe drought in the Indian
Territory and among the Navajoes the increase
In crops would have been much greater, es-
pee ally in the corn crop, which is less than that
of last year. BY Indians, exclusive of the five
civilized tribes Of the Indian Territory in 1879:
Number Of acres broken, 27,13l; number of
acres cultivated, 157, 056; number Of bushels of
wheat raised, 32S,637; bushels of corn, 643, 2S6;
bushels of oats and barley, iS9, 054; bushels of
vegetables, $3.50, 1858; tons of hay cut AZ, 1888.
BY the five civilized tribes: Number of acres
cultivated, 273,OOO; bushels Of wheat raised,
565, 400; bushels Of corn, 2,0l5,0O0; bushels OF
oats and barley, 20O, 600; bushels of vegetables,
336, 900; IONS of hay cut, 176,5OO.
The only sure way to make tho Indians ad-
vance In civilization under the best condition
to promote their welfare is to give each head
Of family 100 acres of land, aud to each I'M.
married adult eighty acres, and to issue pat
epts for the same.
The history of the Ute outbreak is given in
detail without disclosing any new facts. In
reference to the removal Of the Utes to some
other location, the Commissioner suggests that
q commission be appointed to visit the tribe
and obtain its consent to remove from the State
upon the payment of the full value of the lands
now occupied. The advantages to be obtained
by removing them to the Indian Territory are
first, the abundant supply Of arabic land anu
cultivation; second, immunity from white en-
croachment; and, third, better security for
keeping the Indians peaceable, as the country
is not adapted to Indian fighting, and every
where offers open fields for the use of artillery
and all appliances Of civilized warfare, 50
that, whatever be the disposition Of the Indians,
il resort to force should be necessary, it
could be made effective in the interests of
peace. The Commits -ioner considers the en-
actment of bill extending the criminal laws
Of the respective States or Territories over the
Indian reservation of vital Importance.
The Indian policemen have shown the ut
most fidelity to the Government, and have,
when necessary, arrested even friends and
relatives with absolute impartiality. Several
instances are cited in proof Of their fidelity
There is but one drawback, which should be
quacy OF the pay, which by law is fixed at So
per month The Commissioner recommends
that Il be increased to $l5 per month.
The following novel recommendation is
made: penal settlement for the confinement
and reformation of the more turbulent and
troublesome individuals among the various In
dian tribes is pressing want For murderers
and the worst class of refractory Indians one
settlement should be in Florida, which is far
enough from the Indian reservations to make
any attempt at escape hopeless. Another set
Element should be at some point in the North
west where considerable land can be found
upon which imprisoned Indians may be taught
to work 70 their own support The settle
ments should be guarded by sufficient force to
exercise perfect discipline and trades as well
as agriculture should be taught, and when the
time arrived for them to be returned home the
captives would have reached an advanced
stage Of civilization Inside Of Indian
driving . thrifty business in selling the
latest and best patterns of arms and fixed
ammunition to nOn-civiliZed Indians. The
sales thus made are limited in amount only by
the ability of Indians to purchase. Previous
to the late Ute outbreak the Indians were amply
euppleu Will WluCuestef diiu bptDCcr TluGs
and fixed ammunition, obtained from traders
outside their reservations. There is no
statute against this crime, and the Commits
eioner recommended that legislation be e.
pecially directed against such sales, by Con-
gress prohibiting under severe penalty the
sale of both firearms and fixed ammunition,
and further legislation requiring non-civilized
Indians to be disarmed are the only common
sense and practicable methods of putting Ill
end to this dangerous traffic.
The Poncas are reported as doing we'll on
their new reservation, and rapidly advancing
in the ways OF civilization. The progress of
the youths trained in the Indian schools is OF
the most hopeful character. Exclusive Of the
five civilized tribes Of the Indian Territory
there are now over 100 Indian children taught
at the agency schools. The five civilized tribes
have $50 children at school
Among other recommendations of the report
is one for the enactment of the law to prevent
polygamy and provide for legal marriages
among the Indians. For this purpose it is
proposed to make civil magistrates Of Indian
Agents.