Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-09-02
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.
Decision Against the hastings and Da-
kota Railway sustained by Secre-
tary Lamar.
Indian Supplies Being Shipped Early
to 0bviate Suffering on the Res
eryatiOns.

A Especial from Washington says: In the
matter of the appeal of the Hastings and
Dakota Railroad Company from the de
cision OF the Commissioner of the General
land Office made March 10, 1856, reiecting
its application for the REIMBURSEMENT of
the west half of the northwest quarter of
section 2S, township l16 north, range 32.
Benson Land District, Secretary Lamar
sustains the Commissioner in the follow
ing words: "The tract Is within the ten
mile limit of the grant in aid of SAID com
pany made under the provisions of the
act of July 4, 1866, of the right of which
attached by definite location June 26,
1867. 1t was, however, excepted from
the grant by reason of its having been
embraced in the homestead entry No.
1889, of Robert NJ Mears, made May 3,
1865, and cancelled Sept. 30, 1872. On
April Z, 1888, the company filed in the
local office its REIMBURSEMENT of this
tract under said act of June % 1854 but
your Office by the decision herein appeal
ed from, refused to accept said reinquish-
ment In this fully concur. The tract
having been excepted from the grant to
the railroad company, it never had any
claim to the REIMBURSEMENT, consequent
ly the said act of June -, 1876, is not APP
plicable to the case The Secretary also
refused the re-openiug of the railroad
homestead entry of the same company VS..
George II. Perfect, of Benson, which was
appealed from the decision of the Com
missioner of the General Land Office of
Nov. 10, 1885, giving the same reasen for
the refusal AS in the case of Whitehall VS..
the same company; which was decided a
year ago.
Assistant Indian Commissioner Upshaw
returned to-day from New York, where
he has been engaged in experimenting
the shipment of Indian supplies, largely
clothing and farming utensils, to the
West. This work is about one month
ahead of time this year, but heretofore
the slow process of transportation has
prevented supplies reaching the agencies
until after cold weather has already set,
and as a result much suffering is entailed
upon the Indians, and creates great dis
satisfaction among the treaty tribes.
! The Commissioner is determined this
year that these goods shall reach the In
dians in time to allow the Indians TO pre-
pare for winter. The Indian Office VIII
recommend to Congress legislation that
will allow the letting of contracts for sup
plies in March, hereafter, so that the con
tracts can be carried out earlier in the
year. The purchase of supplies for the
Indian Office is no light matter, the goods
needed being of such n varied character
that the most experienced buyer can only
become expert in tho little details, and
! "a "a ha nj tom
ton to samples and supplies in bulk is
exacted. The quantities purchased are
exceedingly large, the amount being
about the same this year as last There
| is reason TO believe that if Congress had
granted Mr.. Atkins requested for $4,000
with which to take cencus of the various
reservation, considerable saving might be-
effected in the purchase of these supplies
There is every season to believe that the
Indians in many localities are.
DEREAsINd RAPIDLY.
Sioux, who are especially susceptible to
the pulmonary complaints, and have an
aggrayating climate to deal with AT
none of the agencies, however, has the
number of rations been reduced. Thus
at Pine Ridge agency McGillicuddy has
for years been issuing 1000 ratiOns to
the bands that monthly come up to col
lect for Indians credited TO that agency,
yet there is reason to believe that less
than two-thirds the number exist in that
part of the great Sioux reservation.
Major Bell when he assumed control of
the agency, after McGillicuddy sas sus-
pended had a secret census of the Pine
Ridge Sioux taken, and reports to the
Indian Bureau that instead of 1000 he
has but 1900 Indians there There was
talk of reducing the rations, but the
bands assumed a hostile attitude at once,
and became so hostile that Commission
er Atkins was forced to telegraph the
head men that the rations should not be
reduced. II is stated at the Indian Bur
eau that there has been some slight re-
duction in rations at Pine Ridge, but it
does not constitute any great saving as
yet. On the great Sioux Reservation in
1880 there was said to be 10000 Indians,
yet there is good reason to believe that
if census was taken to-day a saving of
fully 5000 rations in that vicinity could
he effected. The "pennywise and the
pound foolish policy" of Congress in re-
gard TO the Indians is probably the most
reprehensible of any of the demagogical
economical schemes practiced by either
party when in control of the House
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