The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-21

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONED
PROGRESS OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF AGENCIES RECON- MENDED-rHE UTE OUT
BREAK AND ITS RESULTS.
WASHINGTON Nov. 90 1879.
The annual report OF Mr.. t. A. Hayt. Commissioners
of Indian Affairs. has been submitted to the Secre-
tary OF the Interior. 1t shows that during the
past year there has been among the Indians
in general a steady advance in civilization
which has had no parallel in any previ-
Gus year. In this the Ogalalla and Brule
Sioux have taken the lead. and their progress dur
Ing the last eighteen months has been simply mar
yellous 1t is no longer question whether Indians
VIII work. They are continually asking for oppor-
tnnties to do SO, and the Indians who to-day
willing and anxious to work largely in the ma
jority.
TITLE TO LAND WANTED.
The Indian Commissioner says:-
The most intelligent and best disposed Indians
are now earnestly asking tor title severalty to
their lands AZ preliminary to supporting them
selves from the products of the soil. The number
of persons who be employed i'll stock raising is
small as comparatively little labor rs required and
few men can herd and take care OF thousand head
of cattle. But the cultivation of the soil
The only sure way to make Indians
advance in civilization under the best conditions
promote their welfare. is to give each mead of
family 16O acres OF land and to each unmarried adult
eighty acres, and to issue patents for the same,
making the allotments inaienabe and free from
this beneficial object submitted to
the last Congress. 1t had been carefully
prepared by the department to meet ali
the wants of the situation. and favorably re-
ported on by committees il both houses but 1t
failed to receive action The speedy passing Of such
Dill would be greater boon to Indian civilization
than any other that could be bestowed AS will be
seen throughout this report. it is no longer ques
ton az to whether tho Indian will work. Give him
the land and the opportunity. and the result is
foregone conclusion.
CONSOLIDATION OF AGENCIES.
Under the heard of consolidation OF Agencies
Commissioner Hayt says
In the last annual report the policy and economy
OF consolidating many of our Indian agencies was
urged at length. with recommendation that the
plus lands be sold and the proceeds used for the
benefit OF the Indians who had held them. During
the current year the Omaha and Winnebago
agencies have been consolidated and the Red
Lake and Leach Lake agencies have been
consolidated with the White Earth Agency. The
Fiandrau Agency has been put in charge of the
agent Of the Santees. These movements in the
like character By the concentration OF Indians the
time needed to civilize them may be shortened and
the sale OF their lands will contribute largely to their
support in the future.
THE UTE OUTBREAK.
The history of the Ute outbreak is given in detail.
and it is shown to have arisen from the causes to
which it has already been generally attributed
namely the state of bad feeling existing between the
adherents OF the two rival Chiefs Douglass and Jack.
resulting in determined opposition by faction
the agricultural improvements favored by Agent
Meekcr and the other faction; also the cncroach-
ments of miners upon the reservation and more i'm
edately the approach of the troops to the agency.
The Commissioner recommends the removal OF
the Utes from their reservation, as the character
OF their lands Is such that the white
population is constantly encroaching on them, and
if put in the market they would bring fair price,
At the same time he recognizes the ndsputable title
of the Utes to their domain and says that the first
step in the right direction will be to provide by law
for commission to visit the Utes and obtain their
consent to from the State to some other To-
cation.
The sale Of arms to the India by traders is
severely condemned and additional legislation is
suggested to prevent it..
INDIAN EDUCATION.
In regard to Indian education the Commissioner
says:-
Indian children are as bright and teachable as
white children OF the same ages. and while the
WHO have never had any educational advantages
in their youth is(a slow process ut best, the
progress of the youths trained in the Indian
schools is of the most hopeful character. Exclu-
sive of the five civilized tribes OF the Indian terri
tory there now over 100 Indian children taught
at the agency schools. The live civilized tribes have
6.25O children at school Very complimentary ref
erence is made to the education of Indian youth at
the Hampton tVa.) Institute. under the conduct Of
General s. c. Armstrong, and also the similar school
just opened at Carlisle, Pa. by Captain r. Ii. Pratt.
United States Army, where 1853 Indian children Of
wild tribes of the Indian territory. are receiv
ing common school and industrial education.
Among the other concentrations of the report
is one for the enactment OF law to prevent poly
gany and provide for legal marriages among the
Indians. For this purpose it is proposed to make
civil magistrates OF the Indian agents.