The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-12-08
THE MESSAGE.
Contlnned frum Fir,t Page.

~ 7I-
elementary English educaiion aud training in I'm
dustrial pursuits. The interest shown by indian
parents. even among the so-called wild tribes in
the education of their children Is very gratifying
and gives promise that the results accomplished
by the efforts now making win be. OF lasting
abeneft. '.
The expenses of Indian education have so far
been drawn from the permanent civilization fund
at the disposal OF the Department OF the Interior
but the fund Is now much reduced that the
continuance of this beneficial work will In the
future depend on specific appropriations by Con
gress for the purpose, aud venture 10 express the
hope that Congress will not permit institutions
fruitful OF good results 10 perish for want OF
reas os I'M a ~ cb scnonls an 10
me highly advisable
The past year has been unusually free from dis
turbances among the Indian tribes. An agree
,-Inent has been made with the Utes, by which
Whey surrender their large reservation in COlora-
do in consideration of annuity. to be paid to
lands designated for that purpose, as farmers,
holding individual title 10 their land in fee sim
pie, inalienabe for a certain period. In this way
costly Indian war has been avoided, which. at
one time, seemed imminent. and, for the firSt
time in the history OF the country an Indian
ton has given up its tribunal existence TO b. set
Tied In seryeralty, and To live as individuals IN
der the common protection OF the laws OF the
fcOuntry. the co lduct OF the Indians throughout
the country, during the past year. with but lew
noteworthy exceptions, has been orderly and
peaceful. The guerilla warfare carried on for
two years by Victoria and his band of Southern
Apaches has virtually come 10 an end by the death
of that chief and mast OF lis followers on Mex
lean soil. The disturbances caused on our North
ern frontier by Sitting Bull and his men, who had
taken refuge in the British DOminiOns. also
likely 10 cease. A large majority of his followers
have surrendered to our military forces and the
remainder are apparently in progress OF disinter-
alton
concur with the Secretary of the Interior in
expressing the earnest hope that Congress will at
this session take favorable action on the bill pro
viding for the allOwment OF lands on the differ
ent reservations i'm severalty TO the Indians, with
patents comforting feesimple title inaienable for
for certain period and the eventual disposition
Element with the consent and for the benefit Of
tne Inaians, placing tne later unae. the eaH h
measure. together with vigorous prosecution OF
educational efforts. will work the most i'm
pOrtant and effective advance toward the solution
gradual merging of our Indian population in the
great body OF American citizenship.
large increase is reported in the disposal OF
public lands Tor settlement during the past year,
which marks the prosperous growth OF our agri.
4 cultural industry, and vigorous movement OF
population toward our unoccupied lands. As
this movement proceeds, the coditcatioD OF our
land laws as we'll a. proper legislation to regulate
the disposition of public lands become of more
pressing necessity, and therefore invite the CON
sccompsnving drafi Of bill made by the Public
Lands Commission. which were communicated
by me To Congress nj the last session. Early
ion upon this important subject is desirable.
The attention Ui congress l. again asked TO the
wasteful depredatiOns committed on our public
timber lands. and the rapid aud indiscriminate
for legislation to this end is now generally recog
nized. Ia view of the lawleSs character OF the
depredations committed, aud the disastrous CON
sequences which will inevitably follow their con-
tinuance, legislation has again and again been
recommended 70 arrest the evil, and to preserve
for the people of our Western States and Terri
tories the timber needed for domestic and other
essential uses
The report of the Director Of the Geological sur
Vey is "A document of unusual interest The con-
sOlidatiOn OF the various geological and geo.
graphical surveys and exploring enterprises, each
of which has heretofore operated upon an indie
pendent plan, Without concert, can not fail TO be
of great benefit to all those industries of the eOuu
mineral resources. The labors of the scientific
men, of recognized merit. who compose the
eOrps of the Geological Survey, during the first
season of their field operations and iyquiries. APP
pear to have been very comprehensive. and will
soon be communicated to Congress in a number
of volumes. The Director of the Survey
recommends that the investigations, carried on
by his bureau. which. 20 far, have been confined
To the sOcIlled public land states and Territories,
be extended over the entire country and that the
necessary appropriation be made for this purpose.
This would be particularly beneficial To the iron,
coal and other mining Interests OF the Mississippi
Valley aud of the Eastern and Southern states.
The subject is commended to the careful consid-
Grafton of Congress
| The Secretary uf the Interior asks attention to
the want of room in the public buildings of the
Capital now existing aud In progress Of con-
structiOn. for the accommodation of the clerical
force employed and OF the public records Ncces-
sity has mpelled the renting of private build
ingS in different paris of the city fOrfhe location
OF public offices. for which large amount OF rent
is ana ually paid, while the separation of offices
belonging 10 the same Department imPedes the
transaction If current business. The Secretary
suggests that the blocks surrounding Lafayette
Square, ON the east, north and west, be pur-
chased rs the sites for new edifces for the accom-
mediation of the Government Offices leaving the
square itself intact: and that, If such buildings
were constructed upOa a harmonious plan of
architecture they would add much 10 the beauty
OF the NatiOual Capital, and would. together with
the Treasury and the new State. Navy, and War
Department bailding, form one Of the most i'm
posing groups of pubic edifiees in the world.
The Commissioner of Agriculture expresses the
confident belief that his efforts in behalf of the
prOduc lou Of our own sugar aud tea have been
eneourlginely rewarded. The Importance of the
results attained have attracted marked attention
at home. and have received the special cOnsldera
tisn of foreign nations The successful cultiva-
ton of our own tea. and the manufacture of our
own sugar. would make a difference OF many
milliOGs Of dollars annually In the wealth OF the
Nation.
The report Of the Commissioner asks attention
particularly TO the continued prevalence of an
infectious and contagious cattle disease, known
Il and dreaded in Europe and Asia as cattle plague
pleurO-pneumOnia. \ mild type OF this disease
in certain sections OF cur country is the occasion
of great loss to our farmers and OF serious disturb
ance 10 trade with Great Britain, which fur
nishcs a market for most Of our live stuck and
dressed meats. The value of neat cattle exported
from the United States for the eight months ended
August 81 $50 was more than SI2 600 900, and
nearly double the value for the same period in
1872, uuexampled increase of export trade.
Your carly attention Is solicited TO this important
matter
The Commissioner of Education reports a con-
tinued Increase of public interest i'm educational
UulAtNs anu Alldt lllC puDilt NtHOOlc EElitldiA9
throughout the country are well sustained. In
dustra training is attracting deserved attenti N
and colleges fIr instruction. theoretical and prac
tieal. IN agriculture ana the mechanic arts, llicud
ing the Government schools recently established
for the instruction of Indian youth, are gaining
steadily in public estimation. The Commissioner
asks special attention 10 the deprCdaiiOus com
mitted on the lands reserved for the future sup
port Of public instruction. aud TO the very great
need of helD from the Nation for schools in the
Territories and in the Southern States. The
recommendation heretofore made. i repeated
and urged. that an educational fund be apart
from the net proceeds of the sales of the pubic
lands annually the income of which, and the re-
mainder of the net annual proceeds to be dis
tributed ON some satisfactory plan To the States
and Territories aud to the District OF Columbia.
The success of the public schools Of the District
of Colum bia. and the progress made. under the
intelligent direction of the Board of Education
and the Superintendent, In supplying the eCuca
tiOnal requirements of the District with thorough
ly trained and efficient teachers is
very gratifying. The of Congress, from time
to time, donating public lands to the several
States and Territories in aid of educational inter
policy, resulting in great and lasting benefit 1t
would seem 10 be matter of simple justice To
extend the benefits Of This legislation, the Wis
dom OF which has been so fully yindicated By ex-
perience, to the District of Columbia.
again commend the general interests of the
District of Columbia u the favorable cOnsidera-
ton of Congress. The affairs of the District.
shown by the report of the Commissioners are in
a very satisfactory condition.
In my annual message heretofore, aud I'm my
special message of December 10, 1879. have urged