Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-04
LAST NIGHTS NEWS.
SHERIDAN'S PLAN REGARDING
THE INDIANS.
Land Commissioner Sparks = The
Silver Question-Severe Fight
ing in Egypt.
ierEIAL DISPATCHES To TIE REcogn.uSInSI
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES 10 THE REcogD-uNlos.l
DOMESTIC.
General Sheridan and the Indian Oues-
tion

DOMESTIC.
General Sheridan and the Indian Oues-
ton.
WASHINGTON, January 3d-In response
10 a request for additional information ex-
plauatOry of the recommendation in his
last annual report in regard TO the Indian
question, Leutenant-General Sheridan has
written the following statement:
In my annual report for 1885, recommended
that esch Indian family be given ard located
upon $50 acres, now provided for them by the
law, i'll case OF actual settlement; that the Gov
then condemn the remainder of each
reservation, aud buy 1t in at 81 D per acre: and
with the proceeds buy Government bonds. to be
held in trust by the Interior Department giving
to the Indians each year the interest on the
bonds, for their support. l cited, in illustration
of what would be the practical workings of this
suggestion, the case of the Crows Cheyennes
and Utes, but the limits of my report
did not permit full elueidaton ofthe advantages
that would accrue TO the Indian, nor even an
allusion TO the large amount OF land now lying
idle that would thereby bcopened TO settlement
and increase by so much the material prosperity
of the nation. When it is attempted to deal
with this subject more III detail a difficulty is at
once encountered, in that neither the actual
area of the various reservations has been deter
mined nor the population of the Indians occu-
pying them known. within more than approxi-
mate limits. II will, therefore, not be possible
10 snow the exact WORKINGS OF Ine 1nGtDOd DfO-
posed, but only general summary covering the
cases of the larger reservations i'll each Terri
tory, and the most popuiQus of the differ
ent tribes Similar statistics for smaller
are, however, included in
the accompanying tables. Since the appro-
priations for the support of the Indians
are not in every case made specifically
for those upon any particular reservation
some State and Territory, in making compari-
son with the sum now required for the subsist-
ence OF the Indians and the annuities allowed
them by treaty, the aggregate for a Territory, or
for several Territories has necessarily been con.
sidered. rather than for each tribe or resaFva-
tion. Ia Dakota the principal reservations are
Fort Berthold, and those inhabited by the
various bands of sioux. Fort Berthold reserYa-
ton. with an area OF over 100000 acres, has a
population of 300 people. The others have an
area of nearly 22,2J0GU0 acres and a population
proposals i'll my report would in the
former case afford an annual income
of over $4,000, and in the latter case
a surplus unoccupied by the Indians of over
rtOry equal to the combined area
of the States of New Hampshire Vermont
and Connecticut, the proceeds of
which, OF four per cent per annum, would yield
smaller reservations-Deyifs Lake and South
Mountain-of an area of 276,4S0 acres and a
population of over 1,S00, nearly ha.f the land
would be required by the Indians. In this case,
then, the income from the surplus would be
small, being u little less than IS 900 per annum
In Montana, the Biackfeet reservation contains
over 81 800, 900 acres, and population of less
than 1000 Indians. The surplus land equal to
the area of the State of Maine, would then re-
turn an income of 81, ,060.000. The Crow reserva-
ton, mentioned i'll my report, could in similar
be made to produce an annual sum of
S223 900. Considering all the Indians and reSer-
vations in the Territories of Dakota and Mon
tana, we have an aggregate area of over
s., 100000 acres, and population. of less
han A < n
$1,000 square miles would produce
an annual interest OF over S24 10000. The ap-
for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1884, for fulfilling the treaties with these tribes
and for their subsistence and civilization, and
the pay of employees incident to such an under
taking, amounts to about 100000 less than this
sum. In Wyoming the Shoshones are located
upon Wild River reservation. One hundred
and seventeen thousand dollars per year could
be derived from their surplus land. In Idaho
the Fort Hall reservation, occupied by the Ban
nocks and Shoshones, would in the same way
produce each year 5000, and the Coeur d'Alene
s2S 600. In these two MISUNDERSTANDING
and Idaho the total area of the
reseryatsonS IS nearly hye millions
acres, and the population nearly 5000. An area
of nearly Z 200 square miles, almost equal to the
State Of New Jersey, would not be required for
the Indians, and an income would be yielded of
about S255, 600, sum more than 100000 in eX-
cess Of the appropriation for the current year In
Oregon, the most populous reservation is the
with over 600 900 acres, but less than
lDDdDllalltS. IL WOuiu Nlelu SSu,UUU q wear.
In Washington Territory, the lakimas, about
200 in number, occupy the reservation of S00-
300 acres of the same name. Here the surplus
land would yield but $4,000 year In this
State and Territory the reservations, with total
population of l6,000, embrace S,4oG,0O0 acres
Dr. about seven and one-third millions of
acres more than would be required by
hem under the plan proposed, which would
more than is appropriated for these Indians
The different bands of Utes in Utah and Colo
ado number about 1850, and their reservations
include over 5.0OO,COO acres, of which the sur
plus portion would produce a yearly income of
lbout S2l0,0C0 or about $1,000 more than is
being disbursed this year for their benefit. In
New MeNlco the NaSaJoes, on the reservation OF
he same name, have now over 5000. 900 acres
or population of 23,00y peop'e. Here the sur
Dlus land would yield over S33000 per year.
FOR the surplus lands of the MescaleIo Apaches
IN Arizona tie principal reservation is the
White Mountain, with the agency
1t San Carlos. 1t embraces more than 2500.0UO
acres. Considerable uncertainty exists as TO its
population, but it is probably about 1000 in the
iicinlty OF the agency, and2GOO more who have
emoyed into the northern part, and are now
Engaged IN farming and efforts to make them
elves selt-supportlng. The latter would how
ver, be entitled to all the benefits obtained by
he agency Indians in any scheme looking to
he promotion of their general prosperity. The |
arry1ng out OF the proposals of my report |
would leave balance of considerably over |
100000 acres, with, according to the plan ad- |
'oeated, about $4,000 per year. Considering |
collectively the Indians of New Mexico and |
Arlzona, we have reservations embracing To- |
o. O0J acres inhabited by nearly $1,000 people |
The surplus land would include about 13 7aO,- |
90 acres, which wonld YIELD according to the |
Ian proposed, nearly S6i00O a sum greater |
ent year for the support of these Indians In |
he Indian Territory the cheyenne and Arapa-
zoe, klowa ana Conanche aud Wichita reserva- |
ions embrace over 100000 acres. The popula-
ion is about z, ,75O. The income from the sur
Jus land would come within SIS .000o of euualing |
he amount appropriated. Considering all the |
indians in this Territory, we have a total of |
early $1,000 and an extent of reservations of |
/ 800. 600 acres which would produce an anpual |
ncOme of about 81 80; 009. The Indian reserya-
lons,of the United States contain about 100000 |
quare mules, and their population is about |
j0,COu. Twenty-SiX thousand square miles /
rould locate each family upon half section of |
and, leaving surp us of about 10000 square |
liles, which, according TO the plan / have pro- |
osed, would produce annually s., 10000 This |
mount exceeds by about $500 600 the entire |
ums appropriated for the payment of their an |
uities and for their subsistence and civilization
he policy advocated in my report would be |
lost adyantageousiy applied gradually the gen
raj government of the Indians being contin- /
ed according to the methods now in vogue or !
uch improvement of them as time and experi- |
nee may suggest. The ultimate development |
the suggested policy would, as the Indians ad- |
ance in civilization and intelligence result in |
return TO them OF the principal derived from |
res were authorized by Act of Congress, would |
e held rs a trust for their benefit, and the in
ONE applied to their support.
california Congressman and the House |
Committees.
WASHINGTON, January 3d.-Before the
departure of Senator Stanford for New
fork he called upon Speaker Carlisle and
trongly urged the appointment of Mark
nam upon the Rivers and Harbors Conn
nittee. Whether his recommendations
will have any weight remains to be seen.
4outtit has also pressed Markham's an
continent. If made, he would forcgo any
claims he might have to place upon anv
II the leading committees of the House.
Henley will not be able to secure the Chair
of the Committee on Public
lands, that place being booked for Cobb of
Indiana. Henley viii be retained on the
committee, and viii probably get-a good
place on some other committee.
InpoPuIarity of Commissioner Sparks.
WASHINGTON, January 3d.-The S,tadav
Capitol to-day contains the following: II
would not be surprised" said Western
member OF Congress to me the other day. ''to
lear at any time that an att mpt had bees,
made to assassiDate Commissioner Sharks
'f the Land Office. You have no idea hay
ncensed tie settlers of the Northwest are
,ver his refusal to Issue land patents. There
ire now between 10000 and go, 900 eases