The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-09

agencies have been established, and the cree
/ ton of buildings has been begun for several
more, but an increase OF the appropriations
{ for this interesting undertaking is greatly
needed to accommodate the large number OF
Indian children of school age. The number
offered by their parents from all parts OF the
country for education in the Government
schools is much larger than can be accommo-
dated with the means at present available Tor
that purpose. The number of Indian pupils
at the Normal School at Hampton, Virginia,
under the direction of Gen. Armstrong,
has been considerably increased and their
progress is highly encouraging. The Indian
in 1879 at Carlisle, PENNSYLVANIA, under the
direction OF Capt. Pratt, has been equally sue
cessful. IL has now nearly two hun
dred pupils of both sexes, represent.
of the Rocky Mountains The pupils
IN both these Institutions receive not only an
elementary English education, but are also
| instructed in house work, agriculture, and
useful mechanical pursuits. similar school
WAS established this year Mt Forest Grove.
Oregon, for the education of Indian youth on
the Pacific coast. In addition TO this, thirty six
Indian boys and girls were selected from the
Eastern Cherokees and placed in 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 the So
called wild tribes in the education of their
children, Is very gratifying, and gives prom
Use that the results accomplished by the
efforts now making will be of lasting benefit.
The expenses of Indian education have so
far been drawn from the permanent civiliza-
ton fund at the disposal of the Department
of the Interior; but the fund is now so much
reduced. that the continuance of this benefi-
cial work will in the future depend on speci-
nc appropriations by Congress for the pur
pose, and venture TO express the hope that
Congress will not permit institutions so fruit
tul OF good results, to perish for want of
means for their support. On the contrary,
an Increase OF the number of such schools APP
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 res
ervation in Colorado in consideration of an
annuity to be paid to them, and agree to set
tie in severalty on certain lands designated
for that purpose as farmers, holding indiVid
ual title 10 their land in fee simple, inalien-
able 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 existence TO be
settled IN SeVeralty and TO I'VE as Individuals
under the common protection of the laws of
the country. The conduct OF the Indians
throughout the country during the past year,
wit 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
turbanoes caused on our northern frontier by
sitting Bull and his men, who had taken ref
cease. a large majority of his followers have
surrendered TO our military forces, and The
remainder are apparently in progress OF dis
in c-sraIiOn.
concur with the Secretary of the Interior
in expressing the earnest hope that Congress
viii 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 tor a certain period, and
the eventual disposition of the residue OF the
IL
consent and for the benefit OF the Indians,
placing the latter uuuer the equal protection
of the l;Iws of the G. untry. This measure, TO-
gether with n vigorous prosecution OF our edu-
cational ctiorss. Nill work the most important
and effective adv ance toward the solution of
the Indian problem, in preparing for the
gradual merging of our Indian population in
the great bOuy of American citizenship.
PUBLIC LANDS.
4 large increase is reported In the disposal
of public lands tor settlement during e past
year, which marks the prosperous growth of
our agricultural industry and vigorous move
ment of population toward our unOccupied
lands. AS this movement proceeds, the cOdi-
ticatiOn of our land laws, as well as 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 a bill, made by the Public Lands Com
mission, which were communicated by me to
Congress at the last session Early action
upon this important subject is highly desir-
able.
The attention of Congress is again asked to
the wasteful depredatiOns committed on our
public timber lands, and the rapid and indiS-
crlminate destruction of our forests. The
urgent necessity for legislation to this end is
now general y recognized. In view of the
lawless character of the depredations COM
mitted, 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 domestic
and other essential uses.
The report of the Director of the Geological
Survey is 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, can not fail to be 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 aud inquiries, ap
pear to have been very comprehensive
and will soon be communicated to
Congress in number OF volumes.
The Director of the Survey recon-
mends that the investigations, carried on
by his bureau, which, 50 far, have been con-
fined to the so-called public-land States and
Territories, be extended over the entire coun
try, and that the necessary appropriation be
made for this purpose. This would be par
ticuarly beneficial to the iron, coal and other
mining interests of the Mississippi Valley and
of the Eastern and Southern States. The sub
ject is commended to the careful considera-
ton OF Congress.
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE.
The Commissioner of Agriculture expresses
the confident belief that his efforts in behalf
of the production OF our own sugar and tea
have been encouragingly rewarded. The i'm
pOrtance of the results attained have attract
ed marked attention at home, and have re-
ceiv-d the special consideration OF foreign
nations. The successful cultivation of our
own tea, and the manufacture of our own sugar,
would make a difference OF many millions of
dollars annually in the wealth of the Nation.
The report of the Commissioner asks atten-
ton particularly to the continued prevalence
of an infectious and contagious cattle disease,
known and dreaded in Europe and Asia as
cattle plague, or pleuro- pneumonia. A mild
type of this disease, in certain sc tons of our
country, is the occasion of great loss to our
farmers, and of serious disturbance to our
trade with Great Britain, which furnishes a
market for most of our live stock and dressed
meats. The value of neat-cattle exported
from the United States for the eight months
ended August 81 1850, was more than twelve
million dollars, and nearly double the value
for the same peEiod in 1879, an uneXampied
increase of export trade. Your early atten-
ton is solicited to this important matter.
EDUCATION.
The Commissioner of Education reports
continued increase of public interest in edu-
cational affairs, and that the public schools
generally throughout the country are well
sustained. Industrial training is attracting
deserved attention, and colleges for instruc-
ton, theoretical and practical, in agriculture
and the mechanic arts including the Govern
ment schools recently established for the in
struetion of Indian youth, are gaining steadily
in public estimation. The Commissioner asks
special attention to the depredations com
mitted on the lands reserved for the future
support of public instruction, and to the very
great need of help from the Nation for schools
in the Territories and in the Southern States.
The recommendation heretofore made, is re-
peated and urged, that an educational fund
be set apart from the net proceeds of the sales
of public lands ANNUALLY, the income of which,
and the remainder OF the net annual proceeds,
70 be distributed on some satisfactory plan TO