Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-07

severalty on certain lands designated for that
purpose. as farmers, holding Individual title
to their land in fee simple, inalienahle for
certain period In this way costly Indian
war has been avoided. which, at one time,
s, emed imminent. and, for the first time in
the history of the country. an Indian nation
has given up its tribal existence To he set
tied in severalty. and to live as indiv duals
under 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 guerilla 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 dis
turbanccs caused on our northers frontier by
Sitting Bull and his men, who had taken ref
uge in the British dominions, are also likely
to cease A large majority of his followers
have surrendered to our military forces, and
the remainder are apparently in progress of
disintegration.
concur with the Secretary of the Interior
in expressing the earnest hope that Congress
will at this session take favorable action on
the bill providing for the allotment of lands
on the different reservations in severalty to
the Indians. with patents comforting fee-sim-
pie title inalienable for a certain period, and
the eventual disposition of the residue of the
reservations. for general settlement, with the
consent and for the benfts of the Indians,
placing the latter under the equal protection
of the laws of the country. This measure,
together with vigorous prosecution of our
educational efforts, will work the most i'm
portant and effective advance toward the sOlu-
ton of the Indian problem. in preparing for
the gradual merging of our Indian population
in the great body of American citizenship.
PUBLIC LANDS.
large increase is reported in the disposal
ofpublic lands for settlement during the past
year, which marks the prosperous growth of
our agricultural industry, and a vi gorOus
movement of population toward our unoccu-
pied lands. As this movement proceeds, the
cOdificaton of our land laws, as well rs proper
legislation to regulate the disposition of pub
lie lands, become of more pressing necessity,
and therefore invite the consideration of
Congress to the report and the accompanying
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
our public timber lands. and the rapid and
indiscrminatc destruction of our forests.
The urgent necessity for legislation to this
end is now generally recognized. In view of
the lawless character of the depredations
committed, and the disastrous consequences
which will inevitably follow their continu-
ance, legislation has again and again been
recommended to arrest the evil. and to pre-
serve for the people of our Western States
and Territories the timber needed for do
nestle and other essential uses.
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The report of the Director of the Geoloei-
cal survey is a document of unusual interest.
The consolidation of the various geological
and geographical surveys and exploring en-
terprises, each of which has heretofore oper-
ated upon an independent plan, without con-
cert, cannot fail to he of great benefit to all
those industries 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 inquiries.
appear to have been very comprehensive.
and will soon be communicated to Congress
in number of volumes. The director of
the survey recommend that the investiga-
tions, carried on by his bureau, which. so
far, have been conflnedto 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 the iron,
coal and other mining interests of the Mis-
sissippi valley and of the eastern and
southern States. The subject is commended
to the careful consideration of Congress.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The Secretary of the Interior asks attention
to the want of room in the public buildings
Of the capital, now existing and in progress
of construction, for the accommodation of
the clerical force employed, and of the pub
lie records. Necessity has compelled the
renting of private buildings in different parts
of the city for the location of public offices,
tor which large amount Of rent is annually
paid, while the separation of Offices belong
ing to the same department impedes the
transaction of current business. The Secre-
tary suggests that the blocks surrounding
Lafayette square, on the east, north, and
west. be purchased as the sites for new
edlhces, for the accommodation of the govern
ment offices, leaving the square itself intact;
and that. If such buildings were constructed
upon harmonious plan of architecture, they
would add much to the beauty of the National
capital. and would, together with the
Treasury and the new State, Navy, and War.
Department building, form one of the most
imposing groups Of public edifices in the
world.
AGRICULTURE.
The Commissioner of Agriculture ex-
presses the confident belief that his efforts in
Dehalf OF the production of our own sugar