Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-10
Secretary schur1' Annual Report.

| hNN0NHu 10 AnulMM huulEhs IN MS opening
chapter upon this subject the Secretary gives
an explanation Of the important change
which has taken place with regard to the res
ervation system. He says that, although at
first accepting, as be found II, the reservation
| policy which had so long been followed by the
Indian ONCE, moro extensive observation and
| study Of the matter gradually convinced him
that this was a mistaken policy; that II would
be better for the Indians, and more In accord
ance with Justice as well as wise expedlenoy,
TO respect their homo attachments to leave
them upon the lands they occupied, provided
such lands we're capable Of yielding them sus-
tenance by agriculture or pastoral pursuits,
and TO begin and follow up the practice Of In
| Producing among them the habits and oocupa-
| tions Of civilized life on ground they inhab-
| tied. In view of the fact, also, that the main
tenance Of the system Of large reservations
against the pressure Of white immigration
and settlement would, In course Of time, be-
come impraotioable, a different policy has
been followed, having for It's object the settle
ment Of the Indians upon lands in severalty,
and the disposal for their benefit Of their lands
not required for this purpose, and graduaLyto
prepare the way for their Anal incorporation
Into body polite az independent and self
relying men, invested with all the rights which
the other Inhabitants Of the country possess.
The results already accomplished in pursuance
OF this policy and the promising outlook in the
same direction are described in general terms,
and illustrated by specific accounts of the
progress made by the individual tribes.
The Secretary does not make any recon-
mendation Of Importance I'm regard TO land
grant railroads, but reoapitulates their last
annual report, and states, as the result Of in
vestigation made by the Government Auditor,
that their property is in good condition; that
/ their earnings have largely increased; and
That, although rates both for freight and pas
sengers have been reduced It is believed there
win be, with the filling up Of the country west
| OF the Missouri, remunerative business for
| each one Of them.
During the present Administration the ag-
| rioultural labor Of the Indians has been more
| than doubled in quantity and value Figures
show that the civilized and unciviliEed tribes
together cultivated last year ls2,T3s acres Of
land, or about one and three-fourths acres OF
land to each man, woman and child, upon an
estimate that the total Indian population Of
the country is 10000.
Secretary schurE expresses the firm belief
that the agricultural industry Of the Indians
would be greatly stimulated and It's product
much increased II assurance were given TO
them that they win be secure in the possession
Of their lands.
The Secretary, in a subsequent part Of his
report, calls especial attention to a bill al
ready submitted by him TO Congress- which
provides for division of farm tracts among
the Indians In severalty on their respective
reservations, the issuance of patents to them
individually, and their investment with fee
simple title TO their farm and hopes II will re-
ceive the early consideration Of Congress.
The Secretary continues; ~ desire also to
call attention once more TO the bill repeatedly
fintroduoed in Congress extending over the In
A.
| of the States orTerrltories in which such reser-
vations are located, giving the Indians a stand
ing in such Courts, and securing to them the
full benefit Of the laws. l venture to express
the hope that Congress may not adjourn again
without having taken action upon these i'm
| portant measures so essential to the progress
and security Of our Indian wards"
Continuing his account of the oivillzing
agencies employed by the present Admins
tration, the Secretary mentions next to agri-
cultural pursuitsl the introduction OF freight
ing and mechanical pursuits among the In
dians. He says last years experiment Of en-
ploying Indians as freighters, with their own
ponies, has proved TO be one Of the most be-
nehcent innovations ever made in Indian man
aRement. Nearly 1000 freight wagons have
boon I'm use by the Indians this year, with the
result OF saving considerable money to the
Government, compared with the amounts
formerly paid for the same transportation (of
supplies, etc., to the Agenoiesl besides fur
nishing a civilizing and welcome employ
mept TO large number Of otherwise restless
Indians.
Thenumber OF Indian youths learning trades
In workshops at the Agencies has increased
from 1856 last autumn to 1858 this year The
policy Of employing Indians as workmen, and
evenas toremen and machinists, at the Agen-
oies has been continued and extended with
great success Brickmaklng has been begun.
Houses for the Indians are now almost exclu-
sively built by the Indians themselves The
aptitude shown by the Indians for mechanical
work has in many oases been surprising, and
is considered deserving of every possible en-
oOuragement. Expressions of anxious desire
on the part Of Indians belonging to the So
called wild tribes 10 have their children in
structed in the ways of civilized life have, It is
stated, grown 80 numerous and urgent that
tho inadequaoy Of the means placed at the dis
posal Of the Department for this purpose has
become particularly painful. The desire and
purpose OF the Department Is TO largely in
crease the present small number OF industrial
boarding-sOhoolsf for Indian youths az the day
schools At the Agencies do not withdraw the
pupils from the Influences OF home surround
ings sufficiently 70 facilitate a change in their
habits Of daily life
The report next mentions as another i'm
portant oivilizing agency, largely introduced
under the present Administration, the orgaui-
zation OF police force consisting Of Indians,
which has been put In operation at forty
Agencies. The force now consists OF 1872 ON
GERS and 059 privates. Its benefits, both as
means of maintaining good order and as
moral influence upon the Indian tribes among
whom II has been established, are set forth as
worthy Of special notice.
| IOOhinU nj tha Nrpgput condition OF fhg-o.s
itmay be said without exaggeration that, on
the whole, the Indian situation is now more
hopeful than ever before. The desire Of the In
dians TO maintain friendly relations with their
white neighbors to 30 10 work for their own
support, to cultivate the soil, to acquire per
manent homes, tohRve their children educated
and to nssimilate themselves 10 the civilization
OF the country, is growing stronger and more
general every day.
Secretary Schurz remarks that experience
has strengthened his conviction (which, as
this is his laat report, he now feeh at greater
liberty 10 expressl that the management of
Indian affairs should continue 70 be intr,iHt, a
10 the civil and not the military branch OF the
public service. His argument on this tonic
has been FULLY foreshadowed IN former annual
reports. He again quotes With emphasis the
conclusion Of the report OF tho Peace commits
sion Of 1874 signed by Generals Sherman, Har-
ney TORY and Augur, In which those distin-
guished officers Of the army said, among other
things to the same purporti "If we intend TO
have war With them 1.-THE Indians Of tho United
statesl the Indian Bureau should 20 10 the
Secretary OF War. II We intend 10 have peace
H. ahottld bn IN thn Cfyu fa,a,s,,s.,t y n.