The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-23
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Summary Of Secretary Lamar's
First Yearly Report.
The Indian Question, Public Lands,
Timber Preservation, Etc

dian affairs that the less gulty OF tne reDei'
lious Chiricahuas should be transported to
an island in the Pacific ocean, as a penal col
ony, to earn their own living by fishing.
stock raising, etc, or sent to the military
prison at Fort Leavenworth, merits
consideration. They certainly should be
removed during ths coming winter to some
place where they can be more securely
guarded.
The trouble with Indians in the Indian
Territory, growing out Of the Indian leases
to cattlemen, is detailed at considerable
length. The privilege Of occupying these
lands for grazing purposes was not opened
to public competition. The Indians left to
themselves, were easily induced TO
convey profitable privileges at rates
fer M SsISy m sns rs at t zs'ae 1n snsss,
favored the leasing Of their lands for graz
ing purposes, Others opposed such use or their
reservations, and refused to participate In
the making Of the alleged leases, or to acceps
any share Of the money received Hereunder.
Sufficient influence, however, seems to have
been brought to bear upon a majority OF the
respective tribes to induce them to enter
into the arrangements made. The secretary
adds:
"In my Judgment, not the least among
such influences were the en~couragements and
persuasion of the respective Indian agents,
or some Of them at least; and in many IN
stances I fear they have shared in the profits
of these speculative transactions. lnow have
the satisfaction to state that the ~ervat
is entirely free from cattlemen and their
herds.
The fact that a large amount Of land is, in
1,s-r fuoc&o 10 ro0n0nI0a1 Tha
secretary thinks the land should be used, but
is opposed to the leases to cattlemen: The
estate of the sixty-seyen different 'tdomes-
ticatei dependent nations" includes 1884,
OUU. 900 acres of land, worth 81 an
acre: ST, 000, OJ0 in funds, beside
the annuities, which. on account OF the
uncertainty and Indebtedness OF sorne
Of them, cannot be accurately ca asanare1
in ponies, sheep, cattle, industrial i'm.
PIGMENTS, etc. The cost Of caring for these
nations is over 5000, 900 a year.
To advance theinterests Of the Indians, the
secretary recommends that q portion OF
every reservation be divided up into separ-
| ate tracts Of suitable size for farms, to be
| allotted to each individual as his sole and
separate estate. Provision should be made
AGAINST the power until after O time limited
of selling or %nortgaging the same, or
even leasing it to any but Indians living
within the same reservation. Provision
should be made that the Indian accepting q
patent for his land shall not thereby forfeit
any of his rights as a member of his tribe, nor
the protection anil benefit which the laws OF
the United States extend to the Indians
generally. The existing reservations,
when entirely o1t Of proportion to the
number of Indians thereon, would be
reduced with the consent Of the In
dams, and upon Just and fair terms; and the
policy Of placing by patent the titles to these
diminished reservations as fully under the
protection Of the courts as are titles OF all
others of our people to their lands Is favored.
The portion cut Off should be subject to sale
! and the proceeds invested for the benefit Of
the Indians.
The secretary is of the opinion that the ser.
vice could be greatly. improved by the ap-
pointment of a commission OF Lot e1ceedln2
six men, three to be selected from the officers
of the army, whose duty it shall be to visit
each of the reservations and investigate the
condition, peculiar circumstances, and needs
of the Indians. Perhaps the commission
might be empowered to obtain the consent OF
the Indians to such changes as the measures
proposed would involve.
The secretary asserts that thu scheme OF
removing all the tribes to three or four reser'
vations IS impracticable. He concludes this
matter by saying:
ut is nv duty to say that I do not believe
any measures Of the government or efforts OF
philanthropy will Of themselves solve the
Indian problem, but that the Christian re-
lieion must and will be the chief instrument
tality through its pure and holy influences
upon individual character, moralsand asplra'
tions) to regenerate and upllft this race from
its present condition to q higher and noblel
destiny" ,
During the year the cash sales OF the pub
lie land have amounted to 1912, $50 acres,
while the miscellaneous sales amount to 10
995. 513 acres, which include 7,415,8S5 home
stead entries, 4,715.005 timber culture en-.
tries. and !. 55S, GA railroad selections. The
cash receipts from these sales amounted 20
SS,6 19, 598. The amount Of land on hand
subject to future disposal, outside OF Alaska,
is 900, re, 1854, of which 6,Wo,0oo acres VIII
be REQUIRED to satisfy old railroad land grants.
A very large part of the remainoerl Is oesef'
and mountainous.
The preservation OF the timber on govern
ment lands is a subject that occupies q nroml'
nent place in the secretary's report. ne re-
comrnends that where timber lands nave
haen surveyed and plots filed, each SUE,
division of the land should be examined, and
the timber appraised at its ull Vaiue, ana
the values of the subdivisions marked on tne
plots. In the future surveys the surVeyoEs
| should De TSQllieI w,
timber and mark the Values .
the subdivisions on the plots. linen, at1er
| rcssrying one section in four OF the tlmDer
| lands. the balance should DO sold at puolic
auction as the secretary of the interior may
direct, but in no case for less than tne ap-
praised value. By subjecting the lanos 20
| ADVERTISEMENT and public sale their true Val9e
| viii be obtained. When the real value Is
| paid the interest Of the purchaser Will guaro
opoipct uoeia
During the year 1854 the mining products
| of the country were as follows:
Gold, $50, 500, 800; silver, S4,.Soo OVo; cop
Der. Sl7, 7S9, GS7; pig iron, SO, 16l, VA; coal,
Sl43, 7S6,57S; petroleum. 33,476,S ~; Value o.
all the other mineral pro lucts Of the Unlteo
States for the Same year 81, 1OS,f51; Value
| of the entire mineral product OF tho country
S413. 1O4. 500. yo,,,usto,a
For the preservation Of the
Park. the @ Establishment of a court "lcnlh tIe
park. with exclusive jurisdiction over al
| inisl aud with power TO exaiulne
md to ho!d to bail in all cases or te'ohtes "
l,s tried in the nearest court having criiilinaA
Jurisdiction is reconnoaded.
The secretary conclu les by mmendln
! that a national university shoIld DC essao'
I;shed at Washington by combining. as IN
torr,I n,rts of an institution, ali the various
cInu,itsions. bureaus, and divisions OF the
executive departments at Washington, "nlcn
have for their object tho prosecution OF sclen'
tific research.
THE TREASURER'S REPORT.