The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-12-15

tied in severalty. and 20 live under
the common protection of the laws
of the country. The conduct OF the
Indians throughout the country, dur
ing the past year, with but few note
worthy exceptions, has been orderly
and peaceful The guerrilla war
fare carried on for two years by Vic
toria and his band of Southern
Apaches has virtually come 10 an
end by the death Of that chief and
most of his followers, OF Mexican
soil. The disturbances caused or
our northern frontier by Sitting
Bull and his men, who Lad taken
refuge in the British dominions, are
also likely 10 cease. A large ma
ioritv ofLis followers have surrend-
cred to our military forces. and the
remainder are apparently IN pro
gress of disintegration.
/ concur with the Secretary of the
Interior IN expressing the earnest
hope that Congress will at this ses-
sion take favorable action on the
bill providing for the allotment Of
lands on the different reservations
in severalty 10 the Indians, with
patents ccnferring fce-simple title
inalienable for the residue of the
reservations, 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 a vigorous prosecution
OF our educational efforts, Will work
the most important and effective ad-
vance toward the solution of the
Indian problem, in preparing for the
gradual merging OF our Indian pop
ulation in the great body of Ameri-
can citizenship.
\ large increase is reported in the
disposal of public lands for settle
ment during the past year, which
marks the prosperous growth OF
our agricultural industry. and a Wig
orOUs movement of population to-
W ri our unoccupied lands. As this
movement proceeds, the codilication
OF our land laws, as well as proper
legislation to regulate the disposi-
ton OF public lands, become of more
pressing necessity, and 1 therefore
invite the consideration of Congress
to the report and the accompanying
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 wastful depredations
committed ON our public timber
lands, and the rapid and lndiscrimi-
nate destruction OF our forests. The
urgent necessity for legislation tC
this end is now generally recognized
In view OF the lawless character o
the depredations committed, enc
the disastrous consequences which
will inevitably follow their continu
ence, legislation has again and again
been recommended to arrestthe evil
and TO preserve for the people of ouI
western states and territories the
timber needed for domesticand 9th
/ Ier essential uses.
THE GEOLOGICAL sIRVEE
The report of the director Of tn,
geological survey Is documento of un
usual interest. The consolidation o
F. the various geological and geograph.
ical surveyes and exploring enter
prises, each Of which has heretofore
operated upon an independent plan
without concert, cannot fail to be OF
great benefit to all those industrie,
OF the country which depend upon
| the development OF our mineral re
/ sources. The labors Of the scientific
men, Of recognized merit, who com
pose the corps of the geological
surveys, during the first season o
their field operations and inquiries
appear to to have been very com
prehensivc. and will soon be com
municated to congress in a number
of volumes. The director OF the
survey recommends that the invcs.
t'gations, carried on by his bureau
which, so far, have been confined L
the so-called pubhc-land states ant
territories. be extended over the en-
tire country, and that the necessary
appropriation be made for this pur
pose. This would be particularly
beneficial to the iron. coal and othel
mining interests of the Mississippi
valley, and of the eastern and south
ern states. The subject i, commend.
ed to the careful consideration O
Congress.
!, The Secretary of the Interior ask
attention to the want of room in tn,
public busidings OF the capital. now
existing and in progress OF couStruc
tion. and the accommodation OF Ia,
clerical force employed. and Of Ill,
public records. Necessity has com.
PEELED the renting Of private build
. ings IN different parts OF the city toI
the location of public offices, iol
which large amount of rent i,
annually paid, while the separa
ton Of Offices belonging to the
same department impcdcs the trans
action of current business. The
, Secretary suggests that the block,
surrounding Lafayette Square. on
the east, north and west be purchas-
ed a the sites for new editices, tol
the accommodation of the govern.
ment offices, leaving the square
itself intact; and that, if such build
lngs were constructed upon a har-
moniOus plan Of architecture, they
would add much to the beauty Of
the national capital, and would to-
gethcr with the Treasury and tho
new State Navy and War Depart.
mcnt building, form one of the most
imposing groups Of public edificcs
in the world.
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
The Commissioner Of Agriculture
expresses the confident belief that
his efforts in behalf Of the produc-
ton OF our own sugar and ten have
been encourlgingly rewarded. The
LlmpOrtanCe of the resnlts attninnd