The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-09
Secretary Schurz' Annual Report.
WASHINGTON. December

liz his report the Secretary of the Interior l
gives a review not only of the operations of /
the past year but of the four years of his adj 1
ministration. The larger part of the report is /
devoted to Indian affairs. In his opening /
chapter upon this subject the Secretary gives I
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 be found il, 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 a mistaken policy; that it would
be better for the Indians, and more in accord
ance with justice as well as wise expedency,
to respect their home attachments; TO leave
them upon the lands they occupied, provided
such lands were capable of yielding them sis
tenance by agriculture or pastoral pursuits,
and TO begin and follow up the practice of III
Producing among them the habits and occupa-
tons of civilized life on ground they lnhao-
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, 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
prepare the way for their final incorporation
into 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'll believed there
will be, with the filling up of the country west
of the Missouri, remunerative business Tor
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 unciviiized tribes
together cultivated last year 4S2,73S acres of
land, or about one and three-fOurths acres or
land TO each man, woman and child, upon an
estimate that the total Indian population of
the country is $1,000.
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 they will be secure in the possession
of their lands.
The Secretary, in a 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 willre-
ceive the early consideration of Congress.
The Secretary continues: 81 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 i'm
portant measures, so essential to the progress
and security of our Indian wards.
Continuing his account of the civilizing
agencies employed by the present Admins
tration, the Secretary mentions next to agrl-
cultural pursuitsJ 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-
inefficient innovations ever made in Indian man.
agement Nearly 1900 freight wagons have
been in use by the Indians this year, with the
result of saving considerable money 10 the
Government, compared with the amounts
formerly paid for the same transportation (of
supplies, etc, to the Agencies), besides fur
nishng a civilizing and welcome employ
ment TO a large number of otherwise restless
Indians.
Then number of Indian youths learning trades
in workshops at the Agencies has increased
from lS5 last autumn to 3jS this year. The
policy of employing Indians as workmen, ano
even as toremen and machinists. at the Agen
cies has been continued and extended with
great success Brickmaking 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 eases been surprising, and
is considered deserving of every possible en-
enlargement 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, it IL
stated, grown so numerous and urgent thai
the inadequacy of the means placed at the dis
uOsal of the Department for this purpose has
become particularly painful. The desire anC
purpose of the Department is to largely In
crease the present small number OF industrial
Neutrality-suspicious. for Indian youths, as the day
{ schools at the Agencies do not withdraw thu
, pupils from the influences of home surround
! ings sufficiently to facilitate change in thei
habits of daily life.
The report next mentions rs another i'm
: portant civilizing agency, largely introduced
D under the present Administration, the organi
4 cation of a police force consisting of Indians
{ which has been put in operation at fort!
Agencies. The force now consists of 162 Off
I GERS and 653 privates. Its benefits, both as
. means of maintaining good order and as
moral influence upon the Indian tribes amoni
whom it has been established, are set forth a
worthy of special notice.
g Looking at the present condition of things
1 | itmay be said without eXaggeration that, Oh
= the whole, the Indian situation is now NOR
, hopeful than ever before. The desire of the In
dams to maintain friendly relations with thei
> ! white neighbors 10 go to work for their owl
4, 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 NOR
I general every day.
Q Secretary Schurz remarks that experience
= has strengthened his conviction (Which, a
4 this is his last report, he now feels at create
liberty 10 express) that the management o
Indian affairs should continue to be intrusttt
- TO the civil and not the military branch of tn
; public service. His argument on this topi
q has been fully foreshadowed in former annua
, reports. He again quotes with emphasis tn
e conclusion of the report of the Peace Commits
a sion of 1873, signed by Generals Sherman, Har
v ney, Terry and Augur, in which those distin
: guished officers of the army said, among othe
. init p