Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-16


than can be accommodated with the
means at present available for that pur.
pose The number OF Indian pupils at
the Normal School at Hampton, Va,
under the direction of General Armstrong,
has been considerably increased, and
their progress is highly encouraging. The
lnaian school established by the Interior
Department in 1879, at Carlisle, Pa,
under the direction of Captain Pratt has
been equally successful. 1t has now nearly
two hundred pupils of both sexes, repre-
senting great variety of tribes east of
the Rocky Mountains. The pupils in
both these Institutions receive not only
an elementary English education, but are
also instructed in Homework, agriculture
and useful mechanical pursuits A SINH.
lar school was estab ished this year at
Forest Grove, Oregon, for the education
of Indian youth on the Pacific coast. In
addition to this, thirty-six Indian boys
and girls were selected from the Eastern
Cherokees and placed in boarding schools
in North Carolina, where they are to re
ceive an elementary English education
and training in industrial pursuits. The
interest shown by Indian parents, even
among the so.called wild tribes, in the
tuhLhLi'b vi IntlI tuIIuItll, Is NtIf grail
flying, and gives promise that the results
accomplished by the efforts now making
will be Of lasting benefit.
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 50 much reduced that the contin-
uance of this beneficial work will in the
future depend on specific appropriations
by Congress for the purpose, and | ven.
ture to express the hope that Congress
viii not permit institutions SO 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 disturbances among the Indian
tribes. An agreement has been made with
the Utes. by which they surrender their
large reservation in Colorado In consider
alton Of an annuity, to be paid to them,
and agree to settle in severalty on certain
lands designated for that purpose, as
farmers, holding individual title to their
land in tee-simple, inalienable for a Ger.
tain 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
nation has given up its tribal existence to
be settled in severalty, and TO live as indi-
viduals under the common protection of
the laws of the country. The conduct of
the Indians throughout the country, dur.
ing the past year, with but few noteworthy
exceptions, has been orderly and peace.
full. 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 of that chief and
most OF his followers, on Mexican soil.
The disturbances caused on our northern
frontier by Sitting Bull and his men, who
had taken refuge in the British dominions,
are also likely 10 cease. a large majority
of his followers have surrend red 80 our
military forces, and the remainder are
in progress of disintegration.
| concur with the Secretary of the In
terror in expressing the earnest hope that
Congress will at this session take favor
able action on the bill providing for the
allotment of lands on the different reser.
vations in severalty TO the Indians, with
patents comforting fee-simple title inalen-
able for certain period, and the eventual
tions, for general settlement, with the con.
sent and Tor the benefit of the Indians,
placing the latter under the equal protec-
ton OF the laws of the country This
measure, together with a vigorous prose.
cution of our educational efforts, will
work the most important and effective adj
vance toward the solution of the Indian
problem, in preparing for the gradual
merging Of our Indian population in the
great body of American citizenship.
4 large increase is reported in the dis.
posal Of public lands for settlement dur,
ing the past year, which marks the pros.
porous growth of our agricultural indus
try, and vigorous movement of popula.
ton toward our unoccupitd lands As
this movement proceeds, the coditication
of our land laws, as well as proper legis
lation TO regulate the disposition Of pub
lie lands, become of more pressing neces-
sitv, and ! therefore invite the considera-
ton of Congress to the report and the
draft of bill, made by
the Public Lands Commission, which
were communicated by me to Congress at
the last session. Early action upon this
important subject is highly desirable.
The attention of congress is again
asked to the wastetul depredations com
mitted on our public timber lands, and
the rapid aud indiscrminate destruction
of our forests. The urgent necessity for
legislation 10 this end is now generally
recognized. In view of the lawlCss char
acter of the depredations committed, and
the disastrous consequences which will
inevitably follow their continuance, legis-
lation has again and again been recon-