The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-12-16

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 disturbances
caused on our northern frontier by Sitting Bull
ana ms men, who had taken refuge in the British
commons, are also likely to cease. A large ma
Jorlty of his followers 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 bin pro-
vidng for the allotment of lands on the different
reservations in severalty to the Indians with pat
ents comforting fee simple title inalenable for a
certain period, and the eyenttu disposition Of the
residue OF the reservations, for general settlement
with the consent and for the benefit of the Indi-
ans placing the latter under the equal protection
of the laws of the country. This measure to-
gether with vigorous prosecution of our educa-
uonal efforts will work the most important and
effective advance toward the solution of the Indi-
an problem, in preparing for the gradual merging
OF our Indian population in the great body Of
American citizenship.
| PUBLIC LANDS.
large increase is reported in the DISPOSAL of
the public lands for settlement during the past
year, which marks the prosperous growth of our
agricultural industry, and vigorous movement
OF population toward our unoccupied lands. As
this, movement proceeds, the codiication of our
land laws as well as proper legislation to regulate
the disposition of public lands. become Of more
pressing necessity. and therefore invite the con-
| sderation of congress to the report and the ac-
| companying draft of a bill, made by the public
| lands commission, which were communicated by
me to congress at the last session. Early action
| upon this important subject is highly desirable
The attention OF congress is again asked to the
wasteful depredations committed on public
timber lands, and the rapid and indscriminate de-
| struction of our forests The urgent necessity
t0 ic )1,,,
osnized. In view of the lawless character of the
depredations committed, and the disastrous conse-
qucnces which will inevitably follow their contin-
uance, legislation has again and again been rec
commended to arrest the evil and to preserve for
the people of our western states and territories,
the timber needed for domestic and other essential
uses.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The report of the director of the geological sur
vey is document of unusual interest The con-
solidation of the various geological and geograph-
lcal surveys and exporting enterprises, each of
which has heretofore operated an independent
plan. without concert, cannot fail to be of great
! benefit to all those industries o the country
which depend upon the development of our min
eral resources. The lahOrs of our scientific men,
OF recognized merit, who compose the corps of
geological survey during the first season of their
field operations and inquiries seems to have been
very comprehensive, and will soon be comnluni-
| Gated to congress in number of volumes. The
director OF the survey recommends that the in
vestigations carried on by his bureau, which SO
far, have been confined to the so-caled public
land states and territories be extended over the
| entire country, and that the necessary appropria-
tion 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 subject is
commended to the careful consideration of con-
gress.
g. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. t.
The secretary of the interior asks attention to
| the want Of room in the public buildings of the
capital, now existing and in progress of construc
ton for the accommodation of the clerical force
has compelled the renting of private buildings in
different parts of the city for the location of pub
lie offices for which large amount of rent is
nually paid, while the separation of offices belong
ing to the same departments mpedes the trans
| action of current business. The secretary sug-
gests that the blocks surrounding Lafayette
square, on the east, north and west, be purchased
as the sites for new edifces, for the accommoda-
ton of the government Offices, leaving the square
tselfintact; and that, if such buildings were con-
structed upon harmonious plan of architecture.
they would add much to the beauty of the ma
tional capital and would, together with the
treasury and the new state, navy, and war de-
partment building, form of the most imposing
groups of public editices in the world.
AGRIsuLTURE. g
Ihe commissioner OF agriculture expresses the
confident belief that his efforts in the production
of our own sugar and tea have been encouraging
ly rewarded The Importance of the results at
tanned have attracted marked attention at 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 dol
lars annually in the wealth of the nation.
The report of the commissioner asks attention
particularly to the continued prevalence of an in
fectuous and contagious cattle disease known and
dreaded in Europe and Asia, as cattle eplague, or
pleuro- pneumonia. mild type of this disease,
in certain sections of our country. is the occasion
of great loss to our farmers. and of serious dis
turbancc to our trade with Great Britain, which
furnishes market for most of our livestock and
dressed meats. The value of neat-cattle export
ed from the United States for the eight months
ended August 81, 1880, was more than twelve mil
lion dollars and nearly double the value for the
same period in 1879, an unexampled increase of
export trade Your early attention is solicited
to this important matter.
EDUCATION.
The commissioner of education reports con-
tinued increase Of public interest in educational
affairs, and that the public schools generally
throughout the country are well sustained In
dustra training is attracting observed attention,
and colleges for instruction, theoretical and prac-
teal, in agriculture and the mechanic arts, in
Guiding the government schools recently establish
Ell Tor tne instruction OF lnQlal yout arc gam
ing steadily in public estimation. The commits
sioner asks special attention to the depredotions
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 territories and in the southern states. The
recommendation 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 remainder
of the net annual proceeds, to be distributed on
satisfactory plan to the states and territories
and the District of Columbia.
The success of the public schools Of the District
of Columbia, and the progress made, under the
intelligent direction of the board of education and
the superintendent, in supplying the educational
requirements of the District with thoroughly
trained and efficient teachers, is very gratifying
The acts of congress from time to time, donating
public lands to the several states and territories
in MD of educational interests, have proved tn be
wise measures of public policy resulting in great
and lasting benefit. 1t would seem to be a matter
of simple justice to extend the benefits OF this leg
slation, the wisdom of which has been so fully
vindicated by experience to the District of Colum-
bia.
again commend the general interests of the
District of Columbia to the favorable considera-
tion of congress. The affairs of the district, as
shown by the report of the commits sioners, are in
a very satisfactory condition.
POTOMAC MARSHES.
In my annual messages heretofore, and in my
special message of December 10, 1879, have
urged upon congress the necessity of reclaimlng
the marshes of the Potomac adjacent to the
capital, and am constrained by its Importance
to advert again to the subject. These fats EN-
brace an area of several hundred acres. They
ar: an pedient to the drainage Of the city an. and
with this substantial improvement of tis river
front the capita! would be- in all respects one Of
from its permanent population, this city is NEG
essarily the place Of residence Of persons s from
ever section of the country, engaged in the pub
lie service. Many Others reside here temporarily
for the transaction of business with the govern
ment tlH4lf.
1t should not be forgotten that the land ac
auired will probably be worth the cost Of redeem
ing it, and that the navigation of the river will be
greatly improved. therefore again invite the at
tention of congress to the Importance of prompt
provision for this .nuch-needed and too-long-de-
layed improvement.
The water supply of the city is inadequate. In
addition to the ordinary use throughout the city,
the consumption by government is necessarily
very great in the navy yard, arsenal, and the va
rions departments, and u large quantity is re-
quired for the proper preservation of the nuner-