Morris tribune., 1880-12-02

many OF them congenial and remunerative en-
pl0yment and stimulating their ambition TO
earn their own support. Their honesty,
fidelity and efficiency as carriers are highly
praised. The organization of police
force of Indians has been equal
" successful in maintaining law and
order upon the reservations and in EXERCISING
wholesome moral infiuenoe among the Indians
themselves. concur with the secretary of
the interior in the recommendation that the
pay of this force be increased as an indictment
to the best class of young men TO enter ID. l1 g
Much care and attention has been devoted TO
the enlargement Of educational facilities for
the Indians. The means available for this i'm.
p0rtant object have been very inadequste.
A few additional boarding schools at Indian
agencies have been established, and the erec-
tlon of buildings has been begun for several
more, but an increase of the appropriations
for this interesting undertaking il greatly
needed 60 accommodate the large number of
Indian children Of school age. The number
offered by their parents from all parts of the
country for education in the government
schools is much larger than can be accommo- 4
dated with the means ct present
available for that purpose. The number Of In.
dian pupils at the normal school at Ham pton,
Va, under the direction of General Armstrong.
has been considerably increased and their pro-
gress is highly encouraging. The Indian
in 1879, at Carlisle, Penn, under the direction
Of Capt. Pratt, has been equally successful
It has now nearly 200 pupils Of both sexes,
repr eeenting great variety OF the tribe
east of the Rocky Mountains. The pupils in
both these institutions receive mot only an ele-
mentary English education, but are also in
structed in house work, agriculture and useful
mechanical pursuits. A SINH lar school was
established this year at Forest Grove, Oregon,
for the education of Indian youths ON the Pa,
cific coast. In addition to this thirty-six In.
dian boys and girls were educated from the
Eastern Oherokes and placed in boarding
schools in North Carolina, where
they are to receive an elementary English
education and training in industrial pursuits.
The interest shown BY Indian parents, even
among the so-oalled wild tribes, in the education
Of their children, IL very gratifying, and gives
efforts now making will be of lasting benefit.
The expenses of Indian education have 90 far
been drawn from the permanent civilization
fund at the disposal of the department of tine
interior but the fund u now 90 much reduced
that the continuance of this beneficial work
will in the future depend on specific appropri.
ations by Congress for the purpose, and ven-
ture to express the hope that Congress will not
permit institutions 30 fruitful of good results
to perish for want of means for their support.
On the contrary, an increase of the number of
such schools appears to me highly advisable.
The past year has been unusually free from
disturbance among the Indian tribes. An
agreement has been made with the Utes, by
which they surrender their large reservation ia
Colorado in consideration of an annuity to be
paid TO them, and agree to settle on certain
lands designated tor that purpose, as farmers,
holding individual title to their land in fee
simple, inalienable for certain period. In
this way q costly Indian war has been avoided,
| which at one time seemed imminent and for
the first time in the history of the country an
Ind hom skS~ln
be settled in severalty and live rs individuals
| under the common protection Of the laws Of the
country. The conduct Of the Indians throughout
the country during the past years, with but Q
few noteworthy Interruptions, has been ORDER
| " and peaceful The guerrilla warfare Carried
on for two years by Victoria and his band of
Southern Apaches has virtually come to an end
| by the death or that chief and most Of his fol-
lowers on Mexican soil. The disturbances on
the northern frontier caused by Sitting Bull
and his men, who had taken refuge in the
| British dominions, are also. likely to cease. A
| large majority of his followers have surren-
dered to our military and the remainder are
| apparently in progress of disintegration. .
concur with the secretary of the interior In
expressing the earnest hope that Congress will
| at this session take favorable action on the
| bill providing for the allotment of lands ON
different reservations in severalty to the In.
dams, with patents comforting fee simple
| title. inalienable for certain period, and the
eventual disposition of the residue of the res
ervations for general settlement, with the
| consent and for the benefit of the Indians,
| placing the latter under the equal protection
of the laws of the country. This measure,
| together with vigorous prosecution of our
educational efforts, will work the most i'm.
pOrtant and effective advance towards the
solution of the Indian problem, in preparing
| for the general merging of our Indian poprf1a-
ton in the great body of American citizen
/ ship. q
PUBLIC LANDS.
/ A large increase is reported in the disposal
of public lands for settlement during the past
year. which marks the prosperous growth Of
our agricultural industry and Q vigorous
movement Of population toward our unoccu-
| pied lands. As this movement proceeds the
| codifcation of our land laws. as well as proper
| legislation to regulate the disposition of pub
lie lands, become of more pressing necessity
| and / therefore invite the consideration Of
Congress to the report, and the accompanying
| draft of bill, made by the public lands COM
mission, which were communicated by me to
Congress at the last session. Early action
upon this important subject is highly desir-
| able. 1850 - za....
The attention of Congress is again asked
to the wasteful depredatiOns committed on our
public timber lands, and the rapid and indiF-
ciiminate destruction of our forests. The
| urgent necessity for legislation to this end is
| now generally recognized. In view of the
lawless character of the depredations COM
mitted and the disastrous consequences which
will inevitably follow their continuance, legis-
lation has again and again been recommended
10 arrest the evil and to preserve for the peo-
pie of cur Western States and Territories tn
timber needed for domestic and other essential
| uses.
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The report of the director of the geological
survey is document of unusual interest. The
consolidation of the various geological and
geographical surveys and exploring enterprises
each of which has heretofore operated upon an
independent plan without concert, cannot fail
to be of great benefit to all those industries OF
the country which depend upon the develop
ment of our mineral resources. The labors OF
the scientific men of recognized merit whs
compose the corps of the geological survey
during the first season of their field operations
and inquiries, appear to have been very com
prehensive, and will soon be com
municated to Congress in q nunbel
of volumes. The director of the survey recon
mends that the investigations carried on By
his bureau, which so far have been confined t
the SO called public land States and Territories
| be extended over the entire country and that tbs
| necessary appropriation be made for this pur
pose. This would be particularly beneficial kc
the iron, coal and other mining interests ol
i the Mississippi valley and of the Eastern anC
Southern States. The subject il commended
i to he carefal consitlerakinn of Cnu Upesa ~ =