River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-10

have practical ideas on the subject of their
/ treatment. In May of the present year. II
| small portion of the
/ CHIRICAHUA APAOHEs
! in the White mountain reservation in Arizona
| left the reservation and committed a number
/ of murders ana depfadations upon settlers in
4 that neighborhood. Though prompt ana en-
\ ergetic action was taken by the military the
| renegades eluded capture and escaped into
| Mexico The formation of the country
through which these Indians passed, through
acquaintance with the same, the speed Of
| their escape and the manner in which they
| scattered and concealed themselves among
the mountains near the scene of their out
rages'pu our soldiers at great disad-
vantage in their efforts 10 capture
| them, though the expectation is
still entertained that they viii be
ultimately taken and punished for their
crimes
The Land Laws.
! The threatening and disorderly con-
| duct of the Cheyennes OF the Indian Territory
| last summer caused considerable alarm and
/ uneasiness. Investigation proved that their
| threatening attitude was due in a great
measure to the occupation OF the land OF
| their reservation bY immense herds OF cattle,
| which their owners claimed were righttuiIy
theirs under certain leases made by the
Indians. This action alarmed tine Sioux
| Indians, who claimed the terri-
tory as belonging to their reservation
under the treaty OF 1865. THIS claim WAS de-
/ termined after careful consideration 10 be
well founded, and consequently the executive
order referred 10 was, by proclamation Of
| April II, lscj declared TO be imperative and
! OF 10 effect aud all persons upon the land
were warned to leave. This warning has been
/ substantially complied with
| The expense of the Indian bureaudurng the
| last fiscal year was more than 81, 500 900. /
/ believe much of This HyDpuIitnFH be-
saved under the plan proposed. That its
| economical affects would be increased with
! its continuance, that the safety of our from
1 tier settlers would be subseryed under its
| operation and shat the nation would be saved
| through its results from the imputatluu of
/ nhumanity, injustice and mismanagement.
| In order TO carry ont the policy OF allotment
! OF Indian lands IN seFeralty and when deemed
| eXpedicnt, ii viii he necessary to have sur
VeSs completed OF the reservations, aud
! | hope that provision will be made
| for the prosecution of this work.
THE pUBLIO DOMAIN
/ had its origin in Cessious of lands by the
| states to the general government. the first
| cession was maze by the state of New York
| ana the largest which in its area exceeded
| all others, by the state of Virginia. The ter
! ritory, the proprietorship of which became
/ thus vested IN the general government eN-
! tended from the western line of Pgnnsyl-
wanna 10 the Mississippi river These patri-
otic donations OF the states were ncumbered
with no conditions, except that they
should be hell ana used "fpF
| the common benefit of the United States" by
! purchase with the common fund OF all tie
! people additions were made 10 this domain
| until it extended to the northern line OF Mex
| leo, the Pacific ocean ana tho polar sea. fae
| original trust, For the common benefit OF
| the United States. attached to all III the eX-
| ccution of that trust the policy of many
| homes. rather than large estates, was adopted
! by the government. That these might he
easily obtained ana be an abode OF security
| and contentmeut tue laws for the acquisition
| were few, easily understood, and general in
their character. But the pressure OF local
| interests, combined with
a SPECULATIVE SPIRIT,
| have in many instances procured the pas
| sage OF laws which injured the harmony of
| the general plan aud encountered the system
| with mt ltitude OF general and special en-
! actments which rendered tua land laws COM
| pcatod, subject the tities to uncertainty and
| the purchasers often to oppression ANA
wong Laws that were intended for the com
| mon benefit have been perverted SO that
| large quantities of land are Ycstug in sight
| oNuerships. From tne multitude and char
! acteF OF laws that seemed incapable ut
| correction by mere administration.
| Ii is not ior tde common benefit
| OF the United States that a large area Of the
| public lands should be acquired, directly or
! through ginni, in the hands OF a siuzIe in
| d.vidual. fhe nations strength + In the
! people. The nations prosperity is ia their
/ property.
THE NATIONS GLoRY
| is in the equality OF her iustice The M
! lions perpvtuity is in tle patriofi>ui of ul
| her people, hence, as tar as prHr;ieaHty, tlo
/ plan adopted for the disposal Oh iubiiu lands
~h0ald have in view The original poiey
! which encouraged many purchasers at
| these lands for homes ami discouraged
tue missing of large areas. EN-
elusive OF Alaska about threehttbs
/ of national domain mas been Sold or subject
! To contract or grant. or the remain ag two
| Hfths considerable portion is either mount
/ ain or desert, A rapidly-inereasing popula-
! ton creates a growing demand for homes,
| and the accumulation uf wealth inspires an
/ eager competition to obtain this public land
| for speculative purp0s -. In The future this
| collision Of interests will be more marked
| than in the past, and the execution OF the
| nations trust, in behalf oil our settlers. wiz
| lie more difficult ], therefore, commend 10
| your attention the accommodation contained
| in my report of the secretary of the interior,
| with reference to the appeal and modification
al, ,g1F, ON I.lf73 iur