Litchfield enquirer., 1880-12-16
WHOLE No. 1898

teiligent and careful supervision, with view
their protection, improvement, and the en-.
| hancement of their usefulness
| The channel of the Columbia River for a
distance of about 100 miles from its mouth IA
| INSTRUCTED by succession of bars, which &C.
casion serious delays in navigation and heavy
expense for iterage and towage. A depth of
at least twenty feet at low tide should be Sc
cured an maintained to meet the requirements
/ of the extensive AMI growing inland and ocean
commerce 1t subserves. The most urgent
need. however, for this great water way is
permanent Improvement of the channel at the
mouth of the river. ...,....
From Columbia River to San Francisco. a
distance of over 600 miles, there is no harbor
on our Pacific coast which can be approached
during stormy weather. An appropriation of
$15OOOO was made by the Forthwith Con-
gress for the commencement of break water
and harbor of refuge to be located at some
point between the Straits of Fuca and San
francisco, at which the necessities OF. COM
merce, local and general will be best accom-
modated. The amount appropriated Is thought
to be quite inadequate for the purpose intend
ed. The cost of the work, when finished, will
be very great, owing to the want of natural
advantages for site at any point on the coast
between the designed limits, and it has not
been thought to be advisable to undertake,the
the matter to the attention of Congress.
81. GRANT AS CAPTAIN GENERAL.
commend to the attention of Congress the
great services of the Commander and chief of
our armies during the war for the Union.
whose wise, firm, and patriotic conduct did so
much to bring that momentous conflict to a
close. The legislation of the United States
contains many precedents for the recognition
OF distinguished military merit, authorizing
rank aud emoluments to be conferred for em-
inent services to the country. An act of Con-
gresS authorizing the appointment of Cap
tain General Of the Army, with suitable pro-
visions relating to compensation, retirement,
and other details, would, in my judgment, be
altogether hitting and proper, and would be
warmly approved by the country.
THE INDIANS.
The past year has been unusually free from
disturbances among the Indian tribes An
agreement has been made with the Uts by
which they surrender their large reservation ia
colorado in consideration of an annuity to be
paid them, and agree to settle in severalty on
certain lands designated for that purpose as
farmers, holding individual title to their land
IN fee-slnpfe, inalienabe for 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 nation has given up its
tribal existance to be settled in severaty, and
to live as individuals under the common pro-
lection OF the laws of the country during the
past year, with but few noteworthy exceptions.
has been orderly and peaceful. The guerrilla
warfare carried on for two years by Victoria
and his band Of Southern Apaches has vrtu
ally come to an end be the death of that chief
and most OF his followers, on Mexican soil.
The disturbances caused on our northern FROM
tier by Sitting Bull and his men, who had
taken refuge in the British Dominion, are also
likely to cease. A large majority of his fol-
lowers have surrendered to our military forces
and the remainder are apparently in progress
of dlslntegrstion. ......'...,
l 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 e-simple
title lnallenable for q certain period, and the
eventual disposition of the residue of the re-
servations 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.
together with vigorous prosecution of our
educational efforts, will work the most mpor-
tant and effective advance toward the solution
OF the Indian problem, in preparing for the
gradual meging of our Indian population in
the great body of American citizenship.
TIMBER sPoLlAT1oN
The attention OF Congress is again asked to
the wasteful depredations committed on our
public timber lands, and the rapid and indis.
criminate destruction of our forests. The
urgent necessity for Legislation toths end is
now generally recognized. In view If the
lawiess Character Of the dgpredations commit
ted and the disasterous consequences which
Will Inevitably follow their continuance, legis-
lation has again and again been recommended
to arrest the evil, and to preserve for the peo-
pie of our Western States aud Territories the
timber needed for domestic and other essential
uses .... .......... . .....-