The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-07

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sylvania, under the direction OF Captain
Pratt, has been equally successful. ltha
now nearly two hundred pupils OF boil
sexes, representing great variety OF Thu
tribes east OF the Rocky Mountains. TIT
pupils in both these institutions receive
not only an elementary English education
but are also instructed in house.work, az
ricultnre, and useful mechanical pursuits
A similar school was established this yea
ut Forest Grove, Oregon, for the education
OF Indian youth on the Pacific coast. Ii
addition to this, thirty.six Indian boyI
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 ed
ucatlon Of their children, is very crafty.
ing, and gives promise that the results &C.
cOmplished by the efforts now making will
be OF lasting benefit.
The expenses OF Indian education have
go far been drawn. from the permanent
civilization fund at the disposal OF the De-
partment OF the Interior; but the fund is
now 80 much reduced, that the Continu-
snce OF this beneficial work will In the
future depend on specific appropriations
by Congress for the purpose, aud ven.
ture to express the hope that Congress
will not permit institutions 80 fruitful OF
good results, to perish for want OF means
Tor their support. On the contrary, an in.
crease OF the number OF such schools ap-
pears 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 consideration
OF an annuity, TO be paid to them, and
agree TO gettle in severalty on certain lands
designated for that purpose, as farmers,
holding individual title to their land 10
fee.simple, inalienable for certain period.
In this way costly Indian war has been
avoided, which, at one time, seemed i'm.
minent, and, for the first time in the his
tory Of the country, an Indian nation has
given up its tribal existence to be settled
in severslty, and to live as individuals un.
der the common protection OF the laws Of
the country. The conduct OF the Indians
throughout the country, during the past
year, with but few noteworthy exceptions,
has been orderly and peaceful. The gueril-
la warfare carried on for two years by
Victoria aud 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 sur
rendered TO cur military forces, and the
remainder are apparently In progress Of
disintegration.
TIE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
l concur with the Secretary OF the In
terror in expressing the earnest hope that
Congress will at this session take favorable
action on the bill providing for the allot.
ment oil lands on the different reservations
in seyeralty to the Indians, with patents
comforting fee.simple title inalienable for
q certain period, and the eventual DISPOSE
ton OF the residue OF the reservations, 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, to.
gether with vigorous prosecution OF our
educational efforts, will work the most i'm.
portant and effective advance toward the
solution Of the Indian problem, In prepar.
ing for the gradual merging OF our Indian
population in the great body Of American
citizenship.
A large increase is reported in the dis.
posal OF public lands for settlement during
the past year, which marks the prosperous
growth OF our agricultural industry, and
vigorous movement OF population toward
our unoccnpied lands. As this movement
proceeds, the codifcation oil our land laws,
as well as proper legislation TO regulate
the disposition OF public lands, becomes OF
more pressing necessity, and l therefore
invite the consideration OF Congress to the
report and the accompanying draft OF a
bill, made by the Public Lands Commits.
sion, which were communicated by Inc to
Congress at the last session. Early action
upon this important subject Is highly de.
sirable.
The attention Of Congress is again asked
to the wasteful depredations committed on
our public timber lands, and the rapid
and Understandable destruction OF our
forests. The urgent necessity for legisa.
ton TO this end is now generally recog.
nized. In view oil the lawless character
OF tho depredstions committed, and the
disastrous consequences which will in-
evitably follow their continuance, legisla.
ton has again and again been recon.
mended to arrest the evil, and TO preserve
for the people OF our Western States and
Territories the timber needed for domestic
and other essential uses.
The report OF the Director OF the
Geological Survey is document OF un.
usual interest. The consolidation OF the
various geological and geographical sur.
veys and exploring enterprises, each OF
which has heretofore operated upon an in.
dependent plan, without concert, cannot
fail to be Of great benefit to all those in.
dustries Of the country which depend
upon the development OF our mineral re-
sources. The labors OF the scientific men,
OF recognized merit, who compose the
corps OF the Geological Survey, during the
first season OF their field operations and
appear 10 have been very com.
and will soon be com
municated to Congress in q number OF
volumes. The Director OF the Survey
ItCuuliIoHub tudL tlt luNcetikhklOu, ChTIlou
on by his bureau, which, no far, have been
confined to the so.called 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
tho iron, coal, and other mining interests
OF the Mississippi Valley, and OF the East
ern aud Southern States. The subject Is
commended to the careful consideration
OF Congress.
The Secretary Of the Interior asks atten-
ton to the want OF room in the public
buildings OF the Capital, now existing and
10 progress Of construction, for the accom-.
mediation OF the clerical force employed,
and OF the public records. Necessity has
compelled the renting OF private buildings
in different parts Of the city for the loca.
ton OF public offices, for which large
amount OF rent ia annually paid, while the
separation Of offices belonging to the same
department impedes tho transaction Of
current business. The Secretary suggests
that the blocks surrounding Lafayette
Al. 4 h.