Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-21
THE REDSKINS

Ind an Commissio oner's Annual Report
WAsHINGroS, November 2O-The an
nual report of the Commissioner ct ln-
dian Affairs has been submitted. Ii
shows that during the past year there
has been among the lndiauS Iu general
a steady advance .n civilization, which
has had no parallel i'm any previous
wear. In this the OA.ialas and 3rule
Sioux have taken the lead and their
progrpss during the last eighteen months
has been simply marvellous. 1t IS no
LONGER a question whether the Indian
will work Those who are anxious 10
dO 80 are now largely in the majority.
From all except five civilized tribes
IN the lnjilu Territory there Is
call for lands IN seyeralty. There
is a largely increased desire
for houses and agricultural implements,
wagons, &c, and Tor citizens clothing.
The following figures show the sub
stautial results of Indian labor during
the year They are much larger than
ever before and but Tor the severe
drOuth in the Indian Territory and
among the NavajoeS the increase in
crops would have been much greater
especially I'm the corn, which Is less than
last year By the Indians, exclusive
of the five civilized tribes Oi the Indian
Territory, I'm 1879, tine number of acres
broken was 27,l3l; number oi acres
cultivated, lj7 ,O56; number of bushels
of wheat raised, 33S, ,63g; corn, 6i$. .2S6;
oats and barley, lS9.O5i, vegetables,
3gO, ,6JS. Tons OF hay cut, fN,3,ii.s BY
the five civilized tribes Number of
rcres cultivated, 273 900; bushels wheat
raised, 800, 1000; corn, 2,0I5,OOO; oats
and barley, 100000; vegetables, &3S,7 100;
tons of hav cut, 10000. The only sure
way 10 make the Indians advance IN
civilization under the best condition 10
promote their welfare iStu gIvccach heal
Oi a family 100 acres ot land, and % each
unmarried adult eighty acres, and 10 Is
sued patents for the same. The history
OF the Utc outbreak Is given IN detail,
without disclosing any IctS. In reler-
ence % the removal of the OtcS to some
other territory, the commissioner sug-
grStS that commissioner be appointed
10 visit the tribe and obtain It's consent
10 remove them from the State upon
payment of the full value of the lands
nov occupied. The advantages To be
obtained by removing them 20 Indian
territory are First, the abundant sup
plv of arabic land and cultivation; sec
Ond dimmunityi from whiteenCrOIchment,
and third, better security for keeping
the Indians peaceful, As the country Is
not adapted To Indian fighting, and
everywhere offers open fields for the
use of artillery and all appliances Of
civilized warfare, 50 that whatever be-
Z |rr.I
TO force should De necessary, It Cou.d be
made effective IN the interests OF peace.
The commissioner considers the enact
ment Of the bill extending the criminal
laws Oi the respective states or terri
tories over the Indian reservations OF
vital importance. Indian policemen
have shown the utmost fidelity To the
government, and have, when necessary,
arrested even friends and relatives with
absolute impartiality. Several in
stances are cited I'm proof
of their fidelity. There Is
but one draw back which should he
removed by Congress, thUt ut made
quacy Of the pay, which, by law, Is
fixed at - % per month. The Com
missioner recommends tuat % be IN
creased % $1,000 per month.
The following novel recommendations
are made: \ penal settlement for the
confinement amt reformation OF the
turbulent and troublesome individuals
among the various Indian tribes Is a
pressing want. For mu;drrers and
worst class of refractory Indians,
one settlement should be Florida,
which is lar enough from the
Indian reservation 20 make any
attempt at escape hopeless. An
other settlement should be in the north
west where considerable land can be
found upon which imprisoned Indians
NAV be taught 10 work iOr the support
OF the settlements; should be guarded
by sufficient force 10 exercise perfect
discipline, and that trades as