The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-12-09

Report Il the Secretary q the Interior.
WASHINGTON, December 1.
In his report the Secretary of the Interior
gives a review not only Of the operations Of
the past year but of the four years Of his I'd.
ministration. The larger part Of the report Is
devoted to Indian affairs. In his 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 he found it, the reservation
policy which had SO long been followed by the
Indian Office, more extensive observation and
study of the matter gradually convinced him
that this was mistaken policy; that it would
be better for the Indians, and more in accord
ance with Justice as well as wise expediency.
to respect their home attachments; to leave
them upon the lands they occupied, provided
such lands were capable OF yielding them suse
tenance by agriculture or pastoral pursuitss
and to begin and follow up the practice of in
Producing among them the habits and Occupa-
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 impracticable, a different policy has
been followed, having for its 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 gradually to
prepare the way for their final incorporation
into q body polite as 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 in regard to land
grant railroads, but recapitulates 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
will be- with the filling up of the country west
of the Missouri, q remunerAtive business for
each one of them.
During the present Administration the ag-
ricultural labor Of the Indians has been more
than doubled in quantity and value. Figures
show that the civilized and uncivilized tribes
together cultivated last year g., 73S 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 $4,000.
Secretary Schurz expresses the firm belief
that the agricultural industry of the Indians
would be greatly stimulated and its product
much increased If assurance were given to
them that fhov no I'm, nocsocciov,
OF their lands.
The Secretary, in 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 it will re-
ceive the early consideration of Congress.
The Secretary continues: ~ desire also to
call attention once more to the bill repeatedly
introduced in Congress extending over the In
dian reservations the jurisdiction of the Courts
of the States or Territories in which such reser-
vatiOns are located, giving the Indians 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 inn
and security of our Indian wards"
Continuing his account of the civilizin9
agencies employed by the present Admins
tration, the Secretary mentions next to agri-
cultural pursuits, the Introduction Of freight
ing and mechanical pursuits among the In
dams. He says last years experiment of en-
plOying Indians as freighters, with their own
ponies, has proved to be one of the most be-
nefcent innovations ever made in Indian man
agement. Nearly 1000 freight wagons have
been in 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 tof
supplies, etc., to the Agencies. besides fur
nishing civilizing and welcome employ
ment to a large number of otherwise restless
Indians.
The number of Indian youths learning trades
in workshops at the Agencies has Increased
from ls5 last autumn to 35S this year. The
policy of employing Indians as worsmen, and
even as toremen and machinists, at the Agen-
cies has been continued and extended with
great success. BrickmakinS 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 cases been surprising and
Is considered deserving of every possible en-
cOuragement. Expressions of anxious desire
on the part of Indians belonging to the so
called wild tribes to have their children in
structed in the ways of civilized life have 1t is
stated, grown so numerous and urgent that
the inadeQuacy 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
hoo linn
schools at the Agencies do not withdraw the
pupils from the influences of home surround
ings sufficiently to facilitate change in their
habits of daily life.
The report next mentions as another inn
portant civilizing agency, largely introduced
under the present Administration, the orRani-
zation of police force consisting of Indians,
which has been put in operation at forty
Agencies. The force now consists of 162 Off,
GERS and 653 privates. Its benefits. both as Z
means of maintaining good order and as a
moral influence upon the Indian tribes among
whom it has been established, are set forth as
worthy Of special notice.
Looking at the present condition of things.
it may be said without exaggeration that, on
the whole, the Indian situation is now more
hopeful than ever before. The desire of the In
dams to maintain friendly relations with their
WuItC hCAkuUOAOs ~ ~ W WOFk LOT lQclr own
support, to cultivate the soil, to acquire per
manent homes, to have their children educated,
and to assimilate themselves to 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 bis last report, he now feels at greater
liberty to express) that the management of
Indian Affairs should continue to be intruste d
to the civil and not the military branch of the
public service. His argument on this TOPIC
has been fully foreshadOwed in former annual
reports. He again quotes with emphasis the
conclusion of the report Of the Peace Commits
sion Of 1873, signed by Generals Sherman, Har-
ney. Terry and Augur, in which those distin-
guished officers of the army said, among other
things to the same purport: "If we intend to
have war with them 1.-THE Indians of the United
Statesl the Indian Bureau should go to the
Secretary of War. If we intend to have peace
It should be in the Civil Department" He
says:
sit has not been the purpose Of this Depart.