The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-07

The report of the Secretary OF the Interior
presents On elaborate account OF the opern.
tioDs Of that Department during the past
year. IL gives nre great pleasure 10 say that
our Indian affairs appear TO be In more
hopeful condition now than ever before.
The Indians have made gratifying progress
In agriculture. herdhug, and mechanical
pursuits. MANY who were few years ago
In hostile conflict with the Government
are quietly settling down on farms, where
they nope TO make their permanent homes,
building houses aud engaging In the
occupations OF civilized life. The introduce
ton Of the freighting business among them
has been remarkably fruitful Of good re-
suits in giving many OF them congenial md
remuneraiive employment and In stimu.
lating their ambition TO earn their own sup.
port. Their honesty, fidelity, and efficiency
as carriers are highly praised. The orgaui-
Zati0n OF police force OF Indians has been
equally successful In maintaining law and
order upon the reservations and In exer-
cising wholesome moral influence among
the Indians themselves. concur with the
Secretary OF the Interior In the recommen-
dation that the pay OF this force be In.
creased as an ibducement to the best class
OF young men to enter Ii.
| btutu dOu hlttUtiDu Jus DttN utfptNu
to the enlargement OF educational facilities
for The Indians. The means available for
this important object have been very made
quaie. A few additional boarding-scho
at Indian agencies have beel established,
aud the erection OF buildings has. been be-
gun for several more. but an increase OF the
appropriations for This interesting under.
taking is greatly needed TO accommodate
the large number Of Indian children OF
school age. The number offered by their
parents from all pats OF this coun-
Jury for educltion in the Government
schools is much larger than can be
accommodated with the means at present
avsillble for that purpose. The number OF
Indian pupiIs at the Normal School at
Hampton, Va, under the direction Of Gen.
eral Armstrong, has been considerably in
creased, and their progress is highly en-.
| cOuraging. The Indian school e.tabl>h he'd
by the Interior Department in 1872 at Car
Isle, Pa, under the direction OF Captain
Pratt, has been equally successful. II has
now nearly two hundred pupils OF both
sexes, representing a great variety OF The
tribes east OF the Rocky Mountains. The
pupils in both these institutions receive
not only an elementary English edu.
cation, but are also instructed In
Homework, agriculture, and useful me-
chanical pursuits. A similar school was
Established this year at Forest Grove, Ore
gon, for The education OF Indian youth on
tue Pacific coast. In addition to this, ihir-
lty-siX Indian boys and girls were selected
from the Eastern CherOkCes and placed in
neutrality-suspicious. IN North Carolina, where
lthey are TO receive an elementary English
education and framing in industrial pur-
suits. The interest shown by Indian pa
rents, even among the sO-caled wild tribe ).
in the education OF their children, is very
Gratifying, and gives promise that the re-
suls accomplished by the efforts now max
ing will be OF listing benefit.
The expenses Of Indian educlti0n have 50
far been drawn from The permanent cyiliZi.
ton fund at the disposal of the Department
OF the Interior; but the fund is now SO
much reduced that the continuance OF this
beneficial work will In The future depend on
specific appropriations by Congress for ih6
purpo-c, and venture to express the hope
hat Congress will not permit Institutions &C
fruitful Of good results 10 perish for want
OF mtans for their support. On tie con
trary, an increase Of the number Of such
schools appears 10 me highly advisable.
The past year b9s been unusually free
from disturbances among the Indian tribes
, An agreement has been made with the Ute
, by which they surrender their large Teserya
ton in Colorado in consideration OF an an
nulty TO be paid 10 them, and agree to settle
, IN sevCraliy. on certain lands designated To-
that purpose, as farmers, holding indivdua
title to their land IN fpe-simple, inalienab
for c. rtaln period. In this way cOsti'
Indian war has been avoided, which at ont
time seemed imminent, and for the frs
I time in the history OF the cOuntr.
[ Ian Indian nation has given up II
\ tribal existence to lie settled in sew
. orally and To live as individuals under tn
p common projection OF the laws OF the coun
ltry. The conduct OF the Indians through
e out the country during the past year, wit
= but few noteworthy exceptions, has beef
I orderly and peaceful. The guerilla war
fare carried on for two years by VictOri
and bis band OF Southern Apaches has vir
p tually come to an end by tue death OF tba
chief and most OF his followers on Mexican
Z. soil. The disturbances caused on our north
b ern frontier by Sitting Bull and his men
Q who had taken refuge in the British dOmIn
h. ions, are also likely to cease. A large major
: lity Of his followers have surrendered to on
i military forces, and the remainder are ap
o parently in progress OF disintegratl0n.
|
o rior i'm express sing the earnest hope tina
i Congress will at this session take Favorable
4 action on the bill providing for the aIlOt
. ment Of lands on the different reservation
I in severalry TO the Indians, with patent
: comforting fee-simple tile inalienable for
o certain period, and the eventual disposition
4 lof the residue OF The reservations for gen
:. eral settlement, with The consent and 10
4 tue benefit OF the Indians, placing the latte
!. under the equal protection OF the laws o
q The country. This measure, together wit
a vigorous prosecution Of our educationa
q tfT,rts, will work the most important an
@ effective advance toward the solution OF Ill
Indian problem, in preparing Tor th
4 gradual merging OF our Indian populati0
d m the great body OF American citizenship
!. A large increase is reported in the dis
. posal OF public lands for settlement durln
4 the past year, which marks the prosperou
n growth Of our agricultural industry and
n vigorous movement of population towar
n our unoccuped lands. As this movement
# proceeds the cOdiicatlOn OF our land law
(. as well as proper legislation to regulate th
p disposition OF public lands become OF NOR
!. pressing necessity, and ] therefore inyit
!. the consideration OF Congress to the rep0r
o and The accompanying draft OF bill mad
s by the Public Land, Commission whic
v were communicated by me to Congress q
!. the last session. Early action upon this in
poriant subject is highly desirable.
!. The attention Of Congress Is again aske
Y to the wasttful depredations committed o
= our public Understands ana the rapid an
n lindI>crminate destruction OF our forests
n The urgent necessity for legislation 10 thi
:. end is now generally recognized. In yie'
q OF the lawless character Of the depreciation
!. committed, aud the disastrous consequence
which will inevitably follow their contr
4 nance legislation has again and again bee