Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-22
Report Of the Indian Ruroau.

DOMESTIC NEWS.
Report OF the Indian Bureau.
WASHINGTON, November 2lst.-The an
nual report of tie Indian Bureau for 1880
has been completed 1t exhibits continued
steady advancement toward civilization on
the part of nearly all the Indian tribes, and
very remarkable progress in many instances,
especially the Ogallallas and Brule Sioux in
Dakota and the Pacific Coast Indians col
lected at the Yokima Agency. The demand
upon the Bureau by the Indians of a large
majority of the Agencies for implements which
enables them to perform manual labor are far
beyond the means at the disposal of the de-
partment for that purpose. The desire OF The
Indians to labor is steadily growing, and
large numbers are willing and anxious to en-
gage in civilized pursuits, and the improve.
ment in their manner Of putting in and caring
for crops raised, shows that the efforts of the
past few years are gradually bringing them
to self-supperting condition. The number
of Indians in the United States. exclusive of
Alaska, is reported at 255, 1888. all of whom,
except about 5000, are more or less under
the direct control of the Agencies of the Gov
ernment. The civilized Indians now i'll the
Territories number 60,560 and the uncivil-
lied 17.750. There are in round num-
bers $4,000 indians in Dakota, $4,000
in New Mexico, 1900 in Arizona,
and 1900 in Washington Territory.
IL appears that there are upwards of 5000
Indians in New York State, and more than
10 coo in the State of Michigan. During the
year go boarding and 10 day schools have
been in operation among the different Indian
tribes, exclusive of the FIVE civilized tribes in
Indian Territory, which have been attended
by over 1000 children and taught by SIG
teachers The educational work of the
Bureau could have been enlarged to much
greater extent but for the inadequate sppro-
priation made by Congress for the support of
the schools. Fifty thousand Indians at
seventeen Agencies have no treaty school
funds whatever. and the educational facilities
must depend entirely on the general appro-
priation for education. Among these tribes
there are at least 1000 children of school age.
The reports from the schools on the various
reservations are full of encouragement, show
ing an increase and more regular attendance
of pupils, and growing interest in education
on the part of the parents. In compliance
with appeals from the neglected Agencies,
the Bureau has made arrangement for erect
ing IL boardingschoo buildings during the
coming season, and for the establish
nent of Is new boarding. schools These
will be she first schools of any kind
ever provided for 5000 San Carlos Apaches
and western Shoshones, and the first board
ing-school opened for %, 900 Indians at nine
other Agencies where the small, irreguiarly-
attended day schools have hitherto met with
indifferent success, and made little impress
sion on the tribes among whom they were
located. The condition of the Poncas in H.
dian Territory continues to be prosperous.
They have now 70 houses, and since the 1st
e l., how Il
into the houses. Meddlesoms persons are
still endeavoring to induce the Popcas to
abandon their present location and return to
Dakota, but leading men of the tribe have
frequently assured the Agent that they are
satisfied and do not desire to return.
The secretary OF wars Annual Report.
WASHINGTON, November 21st-1he an
nral report of the Secretary of War gives a
general review of the various subordinate re-
ports, calls attention to their several recon-
mendations, aud details at length the opera
tions of the Department during the year.
Upon the subject of expenditures, appropria-
lions and estimates, the Secretary says: The
expenditures for all affairs under control Of
this Department for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1880, were S39, 924. 773. Congress
appropriated for the service the current fiscal
wear S41. 993 G30 The estimates for the ser.
vice of the fiscal year ending June so, 1882,
are S43, 627, 055. The estimates in detail were
originally submitted to me for S62, 429, no, but
were made as follows In the civil establish
ment, Sl3, 5S5 /; military establishment, 81
SIS public works. S1S, 514, 100, and in mis-
cellaneous classes, 5000, making total of
revisory reductions of SIS 802, Ala. Some III
crease in the amounts of estimates for the year
1882 over the amounts appropriated for the
year 1881 appear in the civil establishu emit,
military establishment and miscellaneous
classes. In public works l have reduced the
estimates to accord with what I understand
to be the amount required for the absolute
necessities of the service, in order to prevent
waste of property and damage to the COM
mercial interests beyond such necessities. 1t
is submitted that the wisdom of Congress
may perceive that as fast as possible improve
nents surround the realty OF the Govern
ment, and as the commerce of the country
advances in growth and prosperity, 60 should
the appropriations to cover expenses be
apportioned The Mississippi River Com
mission, operating in accordance with an act
approved June %, 1879, submitted a report
which was duly transmitted to Congress last
March, and was published by order of the
House of Representatives Thai report ex-
hibitsd for the first time the estimate of the
appropriation required for the works of i'm
proyefnent therein described, amounting to
So l13. 600, ard it awaited further considera-
tion when the session ceased. The Commits
sion have communicated to me its desire to
renew these estimates, and this comlnupica-
ton will be transmitted to Congress as a
matter of special Importance, not included,
however, in the annual estimates and ex.
penditures for the service of this depart.
ment.
g. %Aa sc h.
sissippi river, the Secretary says: The
permanency of this important work seems to
be assured, from the fact that there has
been no failure whatever in the mainten-
ance of the maximum channel during the
six months ending August 9th last This
improvement has opened through sands and
shoals a broad, deep highway to the ocean,
aud is one upon the permanent success OF
which congratulations may BIS exchanged
among the people abroad and at home, and
especially among the communities of the
Mississippi valley, whose commercial ex-
changes float in an unobstructed channel
safely to and from the sea. Secretary Ram.
sew concurs in the recommendation of Cen
eral Sherman, that Congress be asked to
give %, 900 enlisted men specifically to the
troops Of the line of the army, and favors
the abandonment of many small posts
and concentration of larger forces at strate-
sic points. The absence of a large
number of officers from their regiments
is alluded to, and action recommended look
ing to a relief of the service in this respect.
Secretary Ramsey indorses the recommends
ton of the Adjussnt General in relation to
placing the uniformed State militia upon the
same footing in respect to its rules aid forms
as the regular forces, and calls attention to
the necessity of providing by legislation for
the organization, arming and discipline of
the militia.
The affairs of the Leavenworth mill
tary prison, the Secretary says, have been
capably administered during the year It is
suggested. however, that in order to be en-
tifeIy successful. and carry cut as far as
possible the original design of making
the Institution self sustaining, that
an important measure OF legislation is neces-
sary. which is authority from Congress to
apply the earnings of the prison to its
maintenance.
The Secretary says: From q personal
inspection of the many Notifications re-
ferred to by the Chief of Engineers, l
am able to emphasize his recommendations,
and beg TO state that their incompetent and
defsnseiess condition is discreditable to the
country. Judging from the history of all
other nations and the experience of our own,
the United States will, notwithstanding our
traditional pacific policy. find itself sooner OF
nth rnarftima rnwer-