The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-09

Annual Report OF secretary Kirk
wood


large part of the report OF Secretary Kirk.
wood Is devoted to the discussion OF the inter-
minable Indian question. The Secretary be-
lieves in dealing leniently with the Indian in
educating and civilizing him, and absorbing
him into the mass of our citizens. TO this end
he recommends liberal appropriations for the
maintenance of the schools at the agencies.
"When the Indian shall have learned TO speak
and write our language, TO earn his own living
by his own labor, TO obey the law and aid IN
making and administering IL, the Indian prob
lem will be solved, and not until then. Money
wisely applied TO these ends will be well spent.
Money withheld from these ends will be ex-
travagance."
Secretary Kirkwood deprecates the practice
of constantly compelling the Indian to 'moye
on" westward, before the march OF the white
settlers. He believes in giving him little
"show for his white alley" The,constant alb
rogation Of treaties andthe hustling of tribes
of of reservations where they have long dwelt
to make room for the white man, has, in his
judgment, been serious obstacle to the pacl-
fcation and civilization Of the savages. The Sec
rotary thinks we are asking the indian too
much when we ask him 10 build up farm IN
the timber or on the prairie, with the belief
that at some future time he Will be compelled
to choose between abandoning the fruits OF his
labor or his kindred aud tribe. White men
would not do SO, and we should not ask Indians
TO do so. Mr. krkwood recommends That ex-
isling reservations be curtailed III size, that
the titles to them be placed by patent az fully
under the protection of the courts as are the
titles of all others Of our people to their lands,
and that encouragement and aid be extended
10 the Indians IN building houses and cmti-
waiting the coil.
There are now in the States and Territories
west OF the Missouri river 102 reservations,
large aud small. on which are located. in round
numbers, 224, 900 Indians. III LIS recommended
that Congress create a commission of three or
four eminent citizens to visit during the next
year the reservations for the purpose OF recom-
intending, il they shall deem II wise to do so,
the concentration of the Indians on four or five
large reese vatlons-
Further legislation IL, in the judgment of
Mr.. Kirkwood, necessary for the definition and
punishment of crime committed on reserva-
tons.
The Indian trust fund now amounts to
81, $50.
Secretary Kirkwood states, during the last
fiscal year public lands were disposed of az fol-
lows: Cash. 5S7. GIT acres homestead entries,
5.028, 100 acres timber-culture entries l,7G3,-
799 acres military-warrant localities, 55,662
acres Supreme Court scrip locations, 2S,253
acres.
For railroad purposes to States: Iowa, 49,
S2l; Minnesota ASS, 466 ; Kansas, 2sl, 277
To corporations: Pacific railroads, 2ll, 1892.
State selections approved for school indemnity,
10, $50; swamp, 5G9,001. Grand total, 49,
1913, l75.
The cash receipts from all sourses sales
fees and commissions, for the last fiscal year
amounted to a, 402, ll2. The total area of the
land, states and Territories, 1914, 7SS, 922
acres, of which 7S4, 906.9S0 acres have been
surveyed. The area Of the land surveyed the
last fiscal year was greater by 6,O5S,15O acres
- -, ksaa %
public land disposed of the last fiscal year was
less by 3,s9S 974 go acres than that OF the
previous wear; the aggregate cash receipts
were greater 10y 81, sos G42 50.
Secretary Kirkwood states that on the 3Oth
OF June, 1881, there were 26S, $50 pensioners
on the rolls, classified as follows: Army in
valids, 1j3, O25 army widows. children, and
dependent relatives, 1888 navy lnvalids
2lS7 navy widows, children and dependent
relatives, zoos; soldiers and sailors of the
war of 1912, 1898; widows of soldiers and
sailors OF that war, 26029.
During the year %, TAO names were placed on
the pensIon-rol, and 1912 were dropped,
making the increase for the year in the num-
Der of pensioners 1S 028.
Since 1861 tho sum OF $500, 345, 0442l has
oeen paid to pensioners.
The Commissioner renews the reco nmenda-
lion Of his predecessor that the law fixing the
date of the commencement OF increase of pen
sion at the date of the surgical examination es-
tsbshing the right toincrease be repealed, and
that authority be given for the readjustment
In certain cases of rates OF pension which were
allowed.
The report of the Commissioner of Patents
shows an increase of business for the year
ending June 80. 1881. The number of applica-
tions for patents was 22,932, an increase of
1892 over the previous year. Applications for
designs, 585; reissues, 5S8; caveats, 2,342 /;
trademarks, AGA appeals, vi; disclaimers, AZ;
labels, 337.
The number Of patents granted, including
reissues and designs, was Is, l75, an increase
over the former year of l, 526.
Number of trademarks registered was 462 !;
labels registered, 18l patents withheld for
non-payment of final fee, 1,439 ; patents ex-
pired, 1922.
The total receipts of the Office were $780,
S95.52, an increase over the previous year Of
$50, 34S. 40.
The progress of education during the year
has been substantial and satisfactory. The in
crease of normal schools and teachers insti-
tutes has made the facilities for special train
ing more accessible TO the rank and file of the
teaching classes, especially in the South.