Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-11-29
indian Affairs commissioner Report.
WASHINGTON. Noyemhcr 20.

wAsHINGToS November 20.
The annual report of the Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs has been submitted. IL shows
that during the past year there has been
among the Indians In general steady advance
previous year. In this the oral.,IIa and Brule
progress during, the last eighteen months
has been simply marvellous. 1t is no
longer question whether the Indians
will work - those who nre anxious
to do so are now largely in the
majority. From all, except the five civilized
tribes in Indian Territory, there is n call for
lands I'm sevcralty. There Is a largey-increased
dcsiie for houses and agricultural implements,
wagons, etc, and also for citizens clothing.
The following table 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, espe-
cially in the corn crop, which is less than that
of last year:
By Indians exclusive of the five civilized
| tribes of Indian Territory, in 1879.
Number of acres broken... ............. 2,131
Number of acres cultivated ........ Isl, ,058
bushels of wheat raised. ..3 S,6o7
Oats and barley, bu......................1 .1S9,054
Vegetables, bu. bu...............-...... 80, 69S
.By the five civilized tribes: -'>0
Acres cultivated. Observation-Disclosures. 273,000
Bushels of wheat raised ............ 565, 400
Oats and barley, bu..................... 40 900
negctnDes, bu.. ...-...--............... S6,OOU
The only sure way to make the Indians ad.
| vance in civilization under the best condition
| to promote their welfare Is to give each head
| of family l60 acres of land, and to each un-
married adult eighty acres, and to issue pat
| ents for the same.
THE UTE OUTBREAK.
The history of the Ute outbreak Is given in
detail without disclosing any new facts. In
| rSference to the removal of the Utes to some
| other location, the Commissioner suggests
| that commission be appointed to visit the
| tribe and obtain its consent to remove from
| lands now occupied. The advantages to be OBJ
tanned by removing them to the Indian Terri
| tory are: I. An abundant supply of arabic
land and cultivation. 2. Immunity from white
encroachment; and, g. Better security for
neepng adans ai the aSS
where offers open fields for use of artillery
and all the appliances of civilized warfare,
| so that whatever be the disposition of the
| Indians, If resort to force should be necessary
| it could be made effective in the interests of
peace.
| The Commissioner considers the enactment
| of the bill extending the criminal laws of re-
| spective States or Territories over In5ian
reservations of vital Importance. The Indian
| policemen have shown the utmost fidelity to
| the Government, and have when necessary ar
| rested even friends and relatives with absolute
| impartiality. Several instances are cited in
| proof of their fidelity. There is but one draw
back which should be removed by Congress,
fixed at IS per month. The Commissioner
recommends that it be increased to SIS per
NOVEL RECOMMENDATION.
The following novel Recommendation IL
| made: "A penal settlement for the confne-
ment and reformation of the more turbulent
| and troublesome individuals among the vari-
GUS Indian tribes Is a pressing want. For
murderers and the worst class OF refractory
Indians, one settlement should be in Florida,
| which is far enough from the Indian reserva-
tions to make any attempt at escape hopeless.
| Another settlement should be Mt some point in
the Northwest where considerable land can be
| found upon which imprisoned Indians may be
| taught to work for their own support The
no
force to exercise perfect discipline, and trades,
| as well rs agriculture, should be taught, and
| when the time arrived for them to be returned
home the captives would have reached an ad-
vnnced stage of civilization.
| TIE SALE OF FIREARMS.
| Outside the Indian reservations men are
| everywhere found driving thrifty business
| in selling the latest and best patterns of arms
and fixed ammunition to non-civilized In
| dams. The sales thus made are limited in
purchase. Previous to the late outbreak In
| dians were amply supplied with Winchester
and Spencer rifles and fixed ammunition, OBJ
| tanned from traders outside their rcscrva-
| tions. There is no statute against this crime,
| and the Commissioner recommends that
| legislation be specially directed against such
| sales by Congress. 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-scnse and practical methods of
| putting an end to this dangerous traffic.
| THE PoNCAs.
The Poncas are reported as doing well on
| their new reservation and rapidly advancing
| in ways of civilization. The progress of tho
| 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 7,100 Indian children
taught at the agency schools. The five civ
| ilized tribes have {, 80 children mt school.
INDIAN MARRIAGES..
Among the other recommendations of the
report is one for the enactment of law 20
prevent poygamy, and provide f.: legal
| marriages among the Indians. For this pur-
pose IL is proposed to make civil magistrates
| of Indian agents.