River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-04
Supp|ennen
Report of Commissioner of Indian At
fairs.

Report OIL commissioner Oh IHuiiu Al
fairs.
The annual report of Indian Com
missioner Hayt shows that during the
past year there has been among the
Indians in general steady advance in
civilizatian which has had 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 a question
whether the Indians will work-those
who are anxious to do so are now large
ly in the majority. From all except
the five civilized tribes in Indian Terri
tory there is a call for lands in several
ty. There is a largely increased desire
for houses and agricultural implements,
wagons, ETC., and also for citizens cloth
ing. Tables exhibit the agriculture
labor in detail performed during the
year. The number of acres cultivated
by the uncivilized was 157, 056; by the
five civilized, $4,000, producing good
and varied crops. The commissioner
suggests that each head of a family be
given 100 acres of land, and each I'M
married adult eighty acres.
The history of the Ute outbreak is
given in detail, without disclosing any
new facts. | reference to the removal
of the Utes to some other location, the
commissioner suggests that q commits
sion be appointed to visit the tribe and
obtain its consent to remove from the
state upon payment of the full value of
lands now occupied.
The commissioner considers the en-
actment of the bill extending the GRIM
inal laws of respective states or terri
tories over Indian reservations, of vital
importance. The Indian policemen
have shown the utmost fidelity to the
government, and have when necessary
arrested even friends and relatives with
absolute impartiality. He recommends
a penal settlement for the confinement
and reformation of the more turbulent
and troublesome individuals among the
various Indian tribes-one in Florida
for murderers and the worst class of
refractory. indians, and another in the
Northwest, where considerable land can
be found, upon which imprisoned In
dams may be taught to work for their
own support. The settlements should
be guarded by sufficient force to exer-
else perfect discipline; and trades, as
we'll as agriculture, should be taught.
There is no statute against parties
outside of the Indian reservations SELL
ing firearms and ammunition to non
civilized Indians, and the commissioner
recommends that legislation be es-
pecially directed against such sales by
congress, prohibiting, under severe pen
atty, the sale of both firearms and fixed
ammunition, and further legislation re-
curing non-civilized Indians to be dis
armed.
The Poncas are reported as doing
we'll on their new reservation, and
rapidly advancing in ways of civillza-
ton. The progress of the youths train
ed in Indian schools is of the most hope
full charactc-. Exclusive of five civil
lied tribes of the Indian Territory there
are now over 7,100 Indian children
taught at the agency schools. The five
civilized tribes have $3.50 children at
school.
Among the other recommendations
of the report is one for the enactment
of law to prevent polygamy, and pro-
vide for legal marriages among the In
dams. For this purpose it is proposed
to make civil magistrates of Indian
agents.