The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-11


| In this way costly Indian war has been avoid
| ed, which at one time seemed imminent, and
for the first time III the history % the country,
an Indian nation has given up its tribal cXis
tence to be settled in seycralty, and to live as
individuals under the common protection OF
the laws of the country. The conduct OF the
Indians throughout the country, during the
past year, with but few noteworthy exceptions,
has been orderly aud peaceful The guerilla
warcfare carried on for two years by Victoria
and IFS band OF Southern Apaches, has yirtu
ally come TO an end by the death Of that chief
and most Of his followers, on Mexican soil.
The disturbances caused on our northern IRON
tier by Sitting Bull and his men, who had tax
en- refuge IN the British domnions, are also
likely to cease. A large ma jority Of his follow
crs have surrendered to our military forces,
and the remainder are apparently in progress
Of disintegration.
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 on the
different reservations in scyeralty to the lndi
ans, with patents comforting fee-simple title
inalielable for certain period, and the event
ual disposition Of the residue of the reserva-
tons, for general settlement, with the consent
and for the benefit of the Indians, placing the
latter under the equal protection Of the laws OF
the country. This measure, together with
vigorous prosecution Of our educational efforts,
will work the most important and effective ad.
vance toward the solution Of the Indian prob
lem, in preparing for the gradual merging OF
our Indian population in the great body OF
American citizenship.
large increase is reported in the disposal
of public lands for settlement during the past
year, which marks the prosperous growth OF
our agricultural industry, and vigorous move
ment Of population toward our unoccupled
lands. As this movement proceeds, the codi-
cation of our land laws, as well us proper legis-
latiOn TO regulate the disposition OF pubic
lands, become Of more pressing necessity, and
] therefore invite the consideration of Congress
to the report and the accompanying draft of u
BILL made by the Public Lands Commission,
which were communicated by me to Congress
at the last session. Early action upon this i'm
portant subject is highly desirable.
The attention of Congress is again asked to
the wastefu depredations committed on our
public Understands, and the rapid and indis
crminatc destruction of our forests. The ur
gent necessity for legislation to tins end is now
generally recognized. In view of the lawlcss
character ofthe dcpredatons committed which
will inevitably follow their continuance, legis
lation has again and again been recommended
TO arrest the EVIL, and TO preserve for the peo-
pie 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 geo
each of which has heretofore operated upon an
indie pendent plan, without concert, cannot fail
to he of great benefit TO ali those industries OF
the country which depend upon the develop
ment of our mineral resources. 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
and inquiries, appear to have been very com
prehensive, and it will soon be communicated
to Congress in number of volumes. The Dl-
rector Of the Survey recommends that the in
vestigations carried on NY his bureau, which,
so far, have been confined to the so.called pub
iceland States and Territories, be extended
over the entire country, and that the necessary
appropriation be made for this purpose. This
would be particularly beneficial to the iron,
coal and other mining interests of the Misslssip-
pi valley, and Of the Eastern and southern
States. The subject is commended to the care
full consideration of Congress.
The Secretary of the Interior asks attention
10 the want of room in the public buildings of
the cepital, now existing and in progress oil
construction, for the accommodation of the
clerical force employed and of the public rec
ords. Necessity has compelled the renting OF
private buildings in different parts of the city
for the location of public offices, for which
large amount Of rent is annually paid, while
the separation Of offices belonging to the same
departments impcdes the transaction of current
business. The Secretary suggests that the
blocks surrounding Lafayette Square, on the
east, north and west, be purchased as the sites
for new cdifces, for the accommodation of the
Government offices, leaving the square itself
intact; and that, If such buildings were con-
structed upon harmonious plan of archtec.
turc, they would add much to the beauty OF
the national capital, and would, together with
the Treasury and the new State, Navy, and
War Department building, form one Of the
most imposing groups OF public edlHces in the
world.
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 lmpCr-
lance Of the results attained have attracted
marked attention ut home, and have received
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 annu-
allv 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 ard Asia as cat
tie plague, or pleuro-pneumona. \ mild type
of this disease, in certain sections of our coun
try, Is the occasion of great loss to our farm
ers, and " serious disturbance To our trade
with Great Britain, which furnishes market
for most Of our livestock and dressed meats.
The value of meat-cattle exported from the
United States for the eight months ending Aug.
81, 1850, was more than twelve million dollars,
and nearly double the value for the same per-
iod IN 1878, an uneXampled increase of export
trade. Your early attention is solicited 70 this
important matter.
The Commissioner of Education reports a
continued increase of public interest in educa-
tional affairs, and that the public schools gen.
orally throughout the country are well sus
tanned. Industrial training is attracting de-
served attention, and colleges for instruction,
theoretical and practical, in agriculture and
the mechanic arts, including the Government
schools recently established for the instruction
of Indian youth, are gaining steadily in public
estimation. The Commissioner asks special
attention to the depredatons committed 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 Ter
ritories and in the Southern States. The rec
ommendation heretofore made, is repeated and
urged, that an educational fund be set apart
from the net proceeds of the sales of the public
lands annually, the income of which, and the