The weekly miner., 1880-12-14


government are quietly settling down on farms
where they have made their permanent
homes, building houses and engaging in oc-
cupations of civilized life. The Introduction
of the freighting business among them has
been remarkably fruitful of good results in
giving many of them congenal and remuner-
ative employment and in stimulating their
ambition to earn their own support. Their
honesty, fidelity and efficiency as carriers are
highly praised. he organization of a police
force of Indians has been equally successful
in maintaining law and order upon the reser-
vations and in exercising a wholesome moral
influence among the Indians themselves.
] concur with the secretary of the interior in
the recommendation that the pay of this force
be increased as an inducement to the best
class of young men to enter it. Much care
and attention have been devoted to the en-
largement Of the educational facilities for the
Indians, though the means available for this
important object have been very Inadequate.
Additional boarding schools at Indian agen-
cies have been established and the erection of
buildings has been begun for several more,
but an increase in the appropriations for
these interesting institutions is greatly needed
to accomodate the large number Of Indian
children Of school age. The number offered
by their parents from all parts of the country
for education in government schools is much
larger than can be accommodated with the
means at present availabl for the purpose.
The Indian schools established by the In
terror Department in 1879, at Carlisle, Penn,
under the direction of Capt. Pratt, has been
equally successful, and it has now nearly
200 pupils. of both sexes, representing
great variety of tribes east of the
Rocky Mountains. The pupils in both of
these institutions receive no. only an ele-
mentary English education, but are also III
Str ofa a1 in i,ep
full mechanical pursuits. Similar schools
were established this year at Forest Grove,
Oregon, for the education of the Indian youth
on the Pacific coast. In addition to this SO
Indian boys and girls were schooled from
Eastern chul ches, and placed III boarding
schools in North Carolina, where they are to
receive an elementary English education
and training in industrial pursuits. The
interest shown by Indian parents, even
among so-called wild tribes, in the education
of their children, is very gratifying, and gives
promise that the results accomplished by the
efforts now making will be lasting benefit.
The expense of Indian educati II SO far has
been drawn from the government civilization
fund at the disposal of the department of the
Interior; but the fund has now been so much
reduced that continuance of this beneficial
work will in the future depend on special
appropriations by congress for that purpose
and venture the express hope that congress
will not permit institutions SO fruitful of good
results to perish for want of means for their
support. On the contrary an increase
Of members of such schools appear to me
highly advisable. The past year has been
free from disturbance among In-
dian tribes. An agreement has been made
with the Utes by which they surrender
their large reservation III 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 lands in fee
simple inalienable fora certain period. In This
way costly Indian wars have been avoided
which at one time seemed imminent, and for
first time in the history of the
country anIndian nation has given
up its tribal existence to settle in severalty
and live as individuals under common pro-
tection laws of country. Conduct of Indians
throughout country during past year with but
few exceptions been orderly and peaceful
The guerilla warfare carried Oh for two years
by Victoria and his band of southern Apaches
have virtually come to an end by the death
OF that chief and most of his followers on
Mexican soil. Disturbances caused on our
northern frontier by Sitting Bull and his men
who had ia ken refuge in the British Domin-
ions are also likely TO cease. A large major.
lty OF his followers have surrendered ic our
military forces, and the remainder are in pro-
gless of dsintegration. 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 in the different
reservations, in severalty to the Indians, with
patents comforting fee simple and title NAL
ienable for certain period, and the eventual
disposition Of the residue of the reservations
for general settleme Mt with the consent and
tor the benefit of the Indians, placing the
latter updcr equal protection of the
laws OF the country. This measure, together
with the serious prosecution OF our educa-
tlonal efforts will work a most important
and effective advance to the nations wards.
The solution ct the Indian problem in pre-
pairing tor The gradual merging of oar lniis.n
population iuto the great body of American
citizenship.
A large increase is reported in the disposal
OF our public lands for settlement during the
past year, which marks q prosperous growth
OF our agricultural industries and a vigorous
move OF the population toward our unoccu-
pied lands. As this movement proceeds.
codification of our land laws as we'll as pro,
per legislation to regulate the disposition of
public lands, becomes of a more pressing
necessity, and therefore invite the a,ten-
!Ieh OF congress to report anu accompany
ing draft OF bill made bv the public land
commission, which were communicated bv
me to congress at the last session. Early ac-
ton ON this important subject is highly de-
slrable. The attention of congress is again
asked to the wastetnl depredations com
mitted on our
PUBLIC TIMBER LANDS.
and rapid and indiscriminate destruction
OF our forests. The urgent necessity for
legislation to this end is now generally
recognized IN view of the lawless char
acter .eu '; OF the depredations committed, and
inevitably follow their continuance
Legislation has again and again heen
recommended to arrest the evil and nre-