The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-11
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Summary of Secretary Lamar's
First Yearly Report.
| THE Indian Question, Public Lands,
Timber Preservation, Etc.

Troubles in Arizona. For n settlement of
the Apache question he concludes that the
Recommendation of the commissioner of In
dian affairs that the less guilty of the rebel
Ilious Chricahuas should he 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 the 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 o. occupying these
ands for grazing purposes was not opened
% pub ic competition. The Indians left to
themselves, were easily induced TO
convey profitable privileges at rates
Ii. While many Of the InIans
Favored the leasing of their lands for graz
|ng purposes, Others opposed su IN use of their
reservations, and refused to participate i'll
he making of the alleged leases, or TO accept
hny share of the money received Hereunder
Sufficient influence, however, seems to have
been brought to bear upon ma jorlty Of the
respective tribes TO induce them to enter
into the arrangements made. The secretary
hdds:
"ln my Judgment. not tho least among
buch influences We're the encourag"mentS anc
persuasion of the respective Indian agents,
br some of tn IN ut least. and in many in
tancrs fear tn y have shared in the profits
bf these speculative Transactions. now have
he satisfaction to state that the reservation
entirely free from Cattemen and their
herds.
The fact that largo amount Of land is. in
ponse lucr.e, lying waste is recognized. The
.cretary think, the land should be Use |, but
opposed to the leases to ctttIcmen The
stat of the SiXty-sevea different 'domes-
tented dependent nations includes l3i
|OOOJJ acres of land, worth 81 an
re; S1LOOl,OJ) in funds beside
he anuulties, which, on account of tho
Uncertainty and indetinitcnoss of some
# them, cannot be accurately calculated
beyond each year, and other property
ponies, sheep cattle, industrial i'm
dement's etc The cost OF caring for these
ations is over S6,O00,opJ a year
To advance the interests of the Indians, the
ecretary recommends that portion OF
very res ,rvaton bc Il vided up into separ-
te tract, of suitable size for farms, to be
llott2d to each individual as his sole and
eparate estate Provision should he maie
galnst the power until after time limited
selling or murtgaginX the same, or
ven leasing it to any but Indians living
Within the same reservation. Provision
houd be made that the Indian accepting
atent for his land shall not thereby forfeit
my of his rights as "A member of his triba, nor
he protection and benefit which the laws Of
he United States extend to the Indians
Generally. The existing reservations
when entirely out of promotion to the
lumber of Indians thereon, would be
eluced with the consent OF the In
ians, and upon Just and fair terms; and the
policy of placing by patent the titles to these
Unfinished reservations as fully under the
rote ton of the courts as are titles of all
theirs of our people to their Ian Is Is favored.
he portion cut off should be subject to sale
nd the proceeds invested for the benefit OF
he Indians.
The secretary is of the opinion that the SER
ice could be greatly improved by the ap-
ointment of commission of not exceeding
TX men. three to be selected from the officers
the army, whose duty it shall be to Wis
hch of the reservations and Investigate the
ondltion, peculiar cir umstances, and needs
the Indians. Perhaps the commission
hight be empowered to obtain the consent of
he Indians to such changes a. the measures
ropOsed would involve.
The secretary asserts that tn scheme OF
emoving all the tribes to three r four reser-
ations Is imprlcticable !-e concludes this
after by sayinT.
- IS my duty to say that l do not believe
ny measures of the government or efforts Of
hIlanthropy will OF themselves solve the
indian problem, but that the Christian re
gion must and will be the chef instrument
Atty Through its pure and holy influences
pom individual character, mora and aspira-
ons to regenerate ami uplilt this race from
5 present condition to higher and nobler
estinv "
During the year the cash sales of the pub
land have amounted to 3,9l2, 40 acres,
lille the miscellaneous sales amount to 20 =
u, BIB acres. which include I4l5, $50 home
cal entries, 41lj,OD5 timber culture en-
'les and :. Dos il railroad selections The
ash receipts from these sales amounted to
5 Gl9. 59S The amount of land On hand
Inject to future disposal, outside of Alaska,
600. ~. 6j4, of which 10000, 900 acres will
required t. sCtisfy old railroad land grants.
very largo part OF the remainder is desert
hi mountainous.
The preservation of the timber on govern
hent lands in a subject that occupies a promi-
emit place in the secretarys report lie re-
pmmends that where timber lands have
cen surveyed and plots filed, each sub
vision Of the land should he examined, and
be timber appraised at its tul value, and
le value, Of the subdivisions marked on til,
lots. in the future surveys the surveyors
mher and mari, tho yaluas ol