Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-06
INDIANS AND LANDS.
Some Observations of the Secretary of
the Interior.

the Interior.
TBy telegraph to the RECORD UNIoN.I
WASHINGTON, December 5th.-The report
of the Secretary of the Interior, which is
made public tonight, is an extensive re-
view of the work of the Interior Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending last June.
Concerning Indian affairs, Mr. Lamar SAYS
During the year there has been practically
no actual disturbances or serious alarm
caused by any of them, except the Chiri-
cahua Apaches. 1t is highly gratifying to
report that out of an Indian population
estimated at 100000 souls, less than 100
have been in open opposition and resis-
lance to the authority and control of the
Government. There has been a steady,
though not rapid, improvement in the
morals and intelligence of the mass of the
Indian population during the past twelve
months. The report urges Congress to pass
the bill to provide for the appointment of
a Commission to inspect and report on the
condition of the Indians, Indian affairs,
and other purposes and also calls the at
tention of Congress to the need of indus
trial Indian schools at Salem, Or, and the
Carlisle School; for more land, and for the
proper training of the Indian pupils in
agricultural industries.
CONCERNING CALIFORNIA INDIANS
The Secretary says: ." A Senate bill was
pending in Congress at its last session, pro-
viding for Commission to make..a lust and
satisfactory settlement with the Mission
Indians residing in California upon reser-
vations to be secured to them as their own
property. 1t passed the Senate, but did
not become law. The passage of the bill
Tor, what think is better, the incorpora-
ton of its provisions into bill creating a
(,anora1 ON, r,1ic TnHior,
important So serious have become the
embarrassments to these Indians by the
encroachments of white settlers upon their
lands, that the Inspector of the Indian Ser
vice who recently inspected the affairs of
that agency, strongly urged the use of
military force to clean the reservation at
once of all white persons claiming lands
within their limits.
"a bill was reported from this department
and presented to Congress at its last session,
providing for the allotment of lands to In.
dams on Round Valley Reservation in Cal
ifornia, the extinguishment of the claims
of settlers and for the sale of any surplus
lands. 1t passed the Senate, but failed to
become law. This reservation embraces
an area of 102, 118 acres The Commits
sioner reports that ranchmen and others
claiming title to only about 10S0 acres
within its limits are occupying nine tenths
of the reservation to the great de.riment of
the Indians therein. | concur with him
that if the bill referred to, or some other
measure for the protection of the interests
of these Indians, does not become law, it
will eventually become necessary to aban-
don the reservation and turn the Indians
loose upon the surrounding country. This
is one of the difficulties of Indian matters
which should be more intelligently pre-
scented for the action of the Executive and
TO Congress by the Commission hereto
fore recommended. The Indians are well
prepared to take the lands in seyeralty, and
Congress is urged to grant legislative au-
thority therefore"
FRAUDULENT SURVEYS, DESERT LANDS, ETC.
The Secretary recommends the enact
ment of law making false and fraudulent
returns of public surveys penal offense,
and providing also penalties for the will
full destruction or removal of surveying
monuments.
The report recommends modification of
the desert-land laws, so as to render them
less liable to abuse, or their repeal. The
repeal of the Timber Culture Act is also
recommended.
UNLAWFUL ENCLOSURES.
The Secretary says: 1.-The statement
made in my last annual report-that large
bodies of land were unlawfully inclosed
for private purposes by individuals and
corporations engaged in what they call
growing live stock and ranching has
been verified by the reports of special
agents. From that time until now, as
shown by the report of the Commissioner
of the General Land Office, 375 I'M
lawful Enclosures, covering an area
of nearly $4,000 acres, have been
brought to attention up to the present
time 1t is believed that this does not rep
resent nearly the area illegally inclosed.
Proceedings to compel removal have been
brought, involving 2,250000 acres. and
DEGREES have been obtained for removals
from more than 100000 acres.
1t was first represented that substantially
the entire grazing country west of the Tooth
meridian had been fenced in by cattlemen.
| could not give credence 10 the statement
of such lawlessness and rapacity, but the
testimony of residents of territories, who
have no motive by Misrepresentation, cor
roboraied by reports based on the personal
inspection Of Agents and surveyors, now
on record in the Department, establish the
fact. Indeed, it is publicly announced by
the trespassers themselves, who not only
acknowledge that they have unlawfully
fenced in public lands without any limit,
except their own pleasure and power, and
they Justify their action and complain