Sacramento daily record-union., 1880-12-07

in a more hopeful condition now than ever before.
The Indians have made gratifying progress in agri
culture, herdng and mechanical pursuits. Many
who were few years ago in hostile conflict
with the Government are quietly setting down
on farms, where they hope to make their permanent
homes building houses and engaging in the occupa
tions of civilized life. The introduction Of the
freighting business among them has been remark
ably fruitful OF good results, in giving many Of them
congenial and remunerative employment, and in
stimulating their ambition to earn their own sup
port Their honesty, fidelity and efficiency car
riers are highly praised. The organization of po-
lice force of Indians has been equally successful in
maintaining law and order upon the reservations,
and in exercising wholesome moral influence
among the Indians themselves. l concur with the
that the pay of this force be increased, as in
ducer ent to the best class Of young men to enter
it, Much care and attention has been devoted to the
enlargement of educational facilities for the Indians.
Schools at the Indian Agencies have been estab-
lished and the erection OF buildings has been begun
for several more: but increased appropriation
for this interesting undertaking is greatly needed
to accommodate the large number Of Indian chill
dren of school age The number offered by their
parents from all parts of the country for education
IN the Government schools is much larger than can
be accommodated with the means at present avaa-
BILE for the purpose. The number of Indian
Va, under the direction of General Arm
strong, has been considerably increased, and their
progress highly encouraging. The Indian school
established by the Interior Department in 1879 at
Carlisle under the direction Of Captain Pratt, has
been equally successful. 1t has now nearly 200 pu
pills Of both sexes, representing great variety of
tribes east of the Rocky Mountains. Pupils m both
these institutions receive not only an elementary
English education, but instructed in housswork,
agriculture and useful mechanical pur uits. SIM
ar school was established this year at Forest Grove,
Oregon for the education OF the Indian youth on
the Pacific coast In addition to this, thirtysix In
dian boys and girls were selected from the Eastern
Cherckees and placed in boarding schools IN North
Carolina, where they are Is receive an elementary
English education and training in industrial pur-
SUITS The interest shown by Indian parents,
even among the so-called wild tribes, in
the education of their children is very graft
flying, and gives promise that the results
accomplished by the efforts now making will be OF
lasting benefit. The expenses of Indian education
SO far have been drawn from the permanent civili-
zation fund at the disposal of the Department of the
Interior, but that fund is now so much reduced
that the continuance OF this beneficial work will in
the future depend on appropriations by Congress
for the purpose and would venture to express the
hope that Congress will not permit institutions so
fruitful OF good results to perish for want of means
for their support On the contrary the increase OF
the number of such schools appears to me highly
advisable. The past year has been unusually free
from disturbances among the Indian tribes. An
agreement has been made with the Utes, by which
they surrender their largo reservation in Colorado
in consideration OF annuity to be paid them, and
agree to settle in severalty on certain lands
designated for that purpose farmers, holding
individual title to their land in fee simple, in
alienabe for certain period In this way costly
Indian war has been avoided, which at one time
seemed imminent, and Tor the first time in the his
tory of the country an Indian nation has given up
its tribal existence to settle in seyeralty and live
individuals under the common protection OF the
laws of the country. The conduct of the Indians
throughout the country during the past year, with
a few noteworthy exceptions, has been orderly and
peaceful. The guerilla warfare carried on for two
years by Victoro and his 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 disturbance caused on our northern frontiers
by Sitting Bull and his men, who had taken refuge
in the British Dominion, are also likely to cease.
large majority OF his followers have surrendered to
,,d nd
emily IN progress of desintegration. / concur with
the Secretary of the Interior In expressing an
earnest hope that Congress WILL at this session. take
favorable action on the bill providing for the alot
ment Of lands on the different reservations in
severalty to the Indians, with patents comforting
fee simple ttle unalienable for certain period, and
eventually the disposition OF the residue of the
servatiop for general settlement with the consent
for the benefit OF the Indians placing the latter under
equal protection of the laws of the country. This
measure, together with vigorous prosecution of
our educational efforts, will work most important
and effective advance towards the solution of the
Indian problem, and in preparing for the gradual
merging of our indian population into the great
body of American citizenship.
PUBLIC LANDS.
A large in rease is reported in the disposal of
public lands for settlement during the past year,
which marks the prosperous growth of our agricut-
ural industry and the vigorous movement of the
population toward our unoccupied lands. As the
movement proceeds, the codifcation 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 consideration
of Congress to the accompanying draft of a bill
made by the Public Lands Commission, which was
communicated by me to Congress at its last session.
Early action upon this important subject is highly
desirable. The attention OF Congress is again
called to the wasteful depredations committed on
our public timber lands, and the rapid and indis
criminate destruction of our forests. The urgent
necessity for legislation to that end is now generally
recognized in view of the lawess character Of the
depredations committed and the disastrous conse
quences which will inevitably follow their continu
ance. Legislation has again and again been recon-
mended to arrest the evil and preserve for the
people of our Western States and Territories the
timber needed for domestic aud other essential
uses.
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The report OF the Director OF the Geol gical Sur
vey is a document OF unusual interest. The con
sodation of the various geological and geographical
surveys and exploring enterprises, each of which
heretofore operated upon an independent plan
without concert cannot fail to be Of great benefit
to all those industries of the country which depend
upon the development OF our mineral resources
The labors of the scientific men of recognized
merit who compose the corps of the geological sur
yey during the first season of their field operations
and inquiries appear to have been very compre
hensive, and will soon be communicated to Con
gress in number OF volumes. The Director of the
Survey recommends that the investigations carried
on by his Bureau, which SO far have been confined
to the socalled public land 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,
valley, and of the Eastern and Southern States.
The subject is commended to the careful consider.
alton of Congress.
MORE ROOM NEEDED.
The Secretary Of the Interior calls attention to
the want of room in the public building of the
Capitol, new existing and in Of construction
for the accommodation OF the clerical force employed
on the public records. Necessity has compelled the
renting OF private buildings in different parts of the
city for the location Of public edihces for which
large amount of rent is annually paid, while the