The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-12-04

Indian Territory to lease lands valuable
for for agricultural purp ses for the pur-
pose of grazing cnly. If the reservation
is larger than 10 required tbr the use Of
the Indians occupying It. there should
be q reduction thereof, and all that Is not
needed for the use OF the Indians
should be opened to settlement
There have been frequent complaints
made by stockmen and settlers IN the
northern portion of Montana and WYom-
ing territory of depredations by Indians
on their stOck, uecessltated by the want of
supplies on the part of the Indians.
called attention to these complaints IN
my last report. regret to say but little
has been done to remove this cause of
complaint Until We have given these
Indians an opportunity 10 earn theiz liV-
ing by some kind Of manual labor, We
ought not complain Of their depreda-
nons. It IL not, however. 70 be expected
that the settlers and stockmen VIII SOB
init TO the loss Of their stock because
the government has failed in its duty
towards the Indians, and the lneYitable
result Of such depredatIons Is 70 bring
on Q conflict between the Indians and
the white settlers.
In my last report recommended that
all the appropriations not made Under
the provisions Of treaty stipulations
should be placed at the disposal Of the
department, TO be distributed as the ne
cessifies and wants of the Indians de-
mand. Another years experience and
observation has strengthened my views
on this question, and believe II the
non-treaty appropriations were placed
ct the disposal of the department, TO be
distributed at the discretion of the sec-
rotary of the interior, there would be
less complaints about starving Indians,
and that much good might be done by
using such appropriations to assist those
IndisIs who show the greatest DISPOSE
ton 70 become selt-suppOEting.
In my last report called attention 70
the practice OF paying TO the Indians
trust by the government. In some in
stances the Indians are capable of re-
ceiving and expanding such sums of
money In q judicious way, but in most
cases the money so paid to them is vast
ed and often worse than wasted such
payments should be made in st jck cat
tie, agricultural implements, or by the
erection of suitable dwelling houses.
The Indian appropriation act for the
current year contains PROV ision allow
ing the Indians to avail themselves OF
the homestead law, and approprlates
| 81 900 10 aid the Indians IN making Sc
lections of such homestesds. The pro-
| vision is but temporary. and should be
made permanent.
The Indian appropriation act for the
current year contained an appropriation
of $50, 600 for the surveying INTO subdi-
visions of Indian reservations. The
amount is grossly inadequate to the
wants OF the department. An appropri-
alton of like amount should be made for
the next fiscal year.
In my last report called attention to
the magnitude of the Sioux reservations,
and urged that il should be reduced by a
purchase of about 18, eco square miles, as
proposed by the commission appointed
in 1882. A bill reported from the com.
mittee on Indian affairs for this purpose
passed the senate and is now pending in
the house of representatives.
The Grow reservation is much larger
than required for their support. The re-
servation is situated in the territory OF
Montana, and contains 1894 square
miles, or 4,713,0O acres OF land. Al
least 5000, 900 acres might bs disposed
of, leaving the Indians sufficient agri-
cultural lands to become selfsupporting
if they desire to become agrlculturslist
and sufficient amount OF grazing lands
should they prefer to become stock
raisers. The 1.173, 600 acres that would
be left would give nearly, if not quite
800 acres of land to each individual
member of their tribe. The proceeds
of the surplus lands properly used
would make the Crows selfsuppOrting
in few years at the Tarthest.
In his annual report the Secretary Of
the Interior recommends the
/ Sc Al. lnW H
says:
Presumption CLAIMS are filed when nc
intention of perfectIng entries exists
but the alleged claim is held for specul8
ton, or as a cover for denuding the land
OF its umbcr. The average proportion
of entries to filings Is less than one-balt
In cases OF entries actually made it Ii
found that the most valuable timber
lands and large areas of agricultural anc
| grazing lands are entered in fictitious
names or by persons employed for the
purpose. and the lands thus pass into
speculative holdings, or holdings IN
large quantities for permanent control.
Coal lands, the government price of
which Is $40 to $50 per acre, are illeg.
ally obtained in the same manner
at the minimum price of nom
mineral lands. The government loses
the difference in price, while loss to
the general public lies ia the increased
price of the coal product in consequence
OF the control of coal-fields, which in
this way is acquired ana held with q
comparatively small outlay of capital
The result is equally true as to lumber
lands. Experience has demonstrated
that an effective remedy for these evils
can only be found in the repeal OF the
Jaws under which they arise.
The difficulty of protecting the public
land from fraudulent entries under the
pre- emptlon law can be readily under
stood by the statement of the commits
sioner concerning the WORK of the spe
cial agents, twenty-five in number, ap
pointed for the protection of the public
land from fraudulent entries and lllega
appropriation.
There is but enc remedy, and that II
in the repeal of the law no longer ne
. cessary to enable the actual settler to Sc
cure a title to the land he occupies OF
the public domain. The public landI
ought to bs reserved for actual settlers
and should be conveyed only when the
settler has shown his good faith by 6
residence on the land for period pro
vided for by the homestead law. NJ
communication of hOResteads should b.
allowed.
1t is my opinion that the time ha
fully arrived when Wastefulness in TIL
disposal of public lands shall cease, anC
that the portion stIll remaining shoulC
, be economical tor the use of actual set
tiers only. An act reserving the public
, lands, except mineral lands and timbe
reserves, for entry exclusively under thu
homestead laws, and amending tht
homestead laws so "a to proven
; the present easy evasion of Wis
restrictions and essential requirements
would be a measure meeting this end
: and answering pronounced public de-
: mand.
1 ILLEGAL FENCING OF PUBLIC LANDS.
In my last annual report l called st
l tention to numerous complaints mad
] concerning the illegal fencing of tn
i public iaad, and urged some Legislation
: by which such illegal fences might b.
|. summary removed without the della.
: Z OF suit in court. l regret to say tina
! congress has SO far failed to take ectinI
. ON this subject. A number OF suits hav
!, Instituted by the department ofjustice q
, the request of tins department, To com
= pei the parties 10 remove such fences
! but such proceedings involve much tim
and delay. and If the parties defendant
: desire to continue in possession OF sue
: fenced lands. appeals will be taken L
). the supreme court OF the United States
: and the government put to great eXpens
. and the land withheld from occupation
. under the settlement laws Tus
that some legislation may b
J had that will enable tn
department in a summary way to de
= stroy these fences where the builders II
fuse to take them down. Ii has bee
: clsimed by some that the power exist
in the de paTtmeEt TO destroy these fence