Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1880-12-03
INDIAN MANAGEMENT.
The Ideas of the Secretary of the Interior
on tic Subject.

The Ideas of the Secretary of the Interior
on the Subject.
The following is from the annual re-
port OF Secretary Schurz:
During the present administration the
agricultural labor of the Indians has
been more than doubled in quality and
value. Figures show that the civilized
and unclvilized together cultivated this
year 49,, ,73S acres Of land, or about one
and three-quartars acres of land to each
man, woman and child, upon an estimate
that the total population is 25,OOO.
Secretary SchuM express the firm be-
lief that the agricultural industry of the
Indians would be greatly stimulated if
assurances were given them that they
will be secure in the possession of their
lands.
The secretary, in subsequent part of
the report calls especial attention to the
bill already submitted by hlm to congress
which provides for the division of farm
tracts among the Indians in severalty on
their respective reservations, the issu-
ance of patents to them individually,
and their investment with fee simple
titles to their farms, and hopes it will re-
ceive the early consideration of congress.
The secretary continues:
1 desire also to call attention once more
to the bill repeatedly introduced into
congress extending over Indian reserva-
tions the jurisdiction OF the courts of the
states and territories in which reserva-
tions are located, giving the Indians
standing in such courts and securing to
them the full benefit OF the laws. Iven-
ture to express the hope that congress
may not adjourn again without having
taken acton upon these important meas
ures, SO essential to the progress and Sc
curity of our Indian wards.
Continuing his account of the civiliz-
ing agencies employed under the present
administration, the secretary says:
Last years experiment OF employing
Indians as freignters with their own
horses has proved to be one OF the most
beniiicent innovations ever made in In
dian management. Nearly two hundred
freight wagons have been i'll use by the
Indians this year, with the result OF saw
ing considerable money to the govern
ment compared with amounts formerly
paid for the same transportation oil sup
plies, ETC., to the agencies, besides fur
nishing a civilizing aud welcome en-
ployment to a large number OF otherwise
restless Indians.
The number Of Indian youth learning
trades in workshops at the agencies has
iucaeased from lS5 last autum to 35S this
year. The policy OF employing Indians
as worknen, and even as foremen and
mechanics at the agencies, has been con.
tinued and extends with great success.
Brick making has been begun and houses
for the Indians are now almost eXclu.
sively built by the indians themselves
The aptitude shown by the Indians tor
mechanical work has in many cases been
surprising and is considered deserving OF
every possible encouragement.
The expressions of anxious desire on
the part of Indians belonging to the
so-called wild tribes to have their chill.
dren instructed in the ways of civilized
life have, it is stated, grown so numer.
GUS and urgent that the inadequacy of
the means at the disposal of the depart
ment for this purpOsa has become par
ticularly painful. The desire and pur.
pose OF the department is to largely
increase the present small number OF
industrial boarding schools for the
Indian youth, as day schools at the
agencies do not withdraw the pupils
from the influence of home surroundings
sufficiently to facilitate the change in
their habits of daily life.
The report next mentions rs another
important civilizing agency, largely in
troduced under the present administra
ton, the organization of police force
consisting of Indians, which has been
put in operation at forty agencies. The
force now consists of 1872 officers and Is;
privates. Its benefits, both as means
of maintaining good order and as q
moral influence upon the Indian tribes
among whom it has been established are
set forth as worthy Of special notice.
The secretary remarks that experience
has strengthened his conviction which
as this is his last report, he now feels a,
greater liberty to express, that the man
agemdnt Of Indian affairs should contin
lie to be entrusted to the civil and not tt
the military branch Of the public ser
vice. His argument on this topic ha:
been fully foreshadowed III his forme
annual reports.
He again quotes with emphasis. in con
clusion. the report of the peace commits
sion OF 1878, signed by Gems. Sherman
Harvey, Terry and Anger, in which thos,
distinguished officers of the army said
among things of the same purpolt: l
we intend to have war with them, til,
Indians of the United States, the Indial
bureau should go to the secretary of wal
II we intend to have peace, it should b.
in the civil department..
The secretary does not make recon
mendation Of Importance in regard t.
land grants to railroads, but recapitulate
their last annual report, and states as TIL
result of the investigation made by th
government that their property is foun'
to be in good condition, the earning
largely increased, and although the rate
; of both freight and passengers have bee
reduced. it Is believed there will be, wit
the filling up of the country west of til
Missouri, remunerative business enoug
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