Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-12-12

profound qualification to right feeling citizens
as 1t is recompense for the labors and
struggles of the recovery
Our dear experience ought sufficiently to urge
the speedy enactment of measures OF legisla-
tion which will conlne the future disposition
OF our remaining agricultural lands to the uses
OF actual husbandry and genuine homes. Nor
should our vast tracks OF so-called desert land
be yielded up 70 the monopoly of corporations
or grasping individuals as appears to be much
the tendency under the existing statutes. The
lands require but the supply of water TO become
fertile and productive. 1t is problem OF great
moment how more wisely for the public good
that factor shall be furnished. / can not but
think II perilous to suffer either those lands or
the sources OF their irrigation 10 fall into tho
hands of monopolies which by such means,
may exercise lordshp over areas dependent ON
their treatment for productiveness
Already steps have been taken to secure ac-
curate and scientific information of the condi-
tions which is the principal basis of intelligent
acton. Untii this shall be gathered, the course
OF wisdom appears clearly to be in a suspension
OF further disposal which only promises to
create rights antagonistic 10 the common in
terest No harm can follow this cautionary
conduct. The land will remain, and the public
good presents no demand for hasty disposses-
sion Of National ownership and control
/ commend also the recommendations that
appropriate measures be taken to complete the
adjustment Of the various grants made to the
States for internal improvements and of swamp
and overfiowed lands as well as to adjpdicate
! and finally determine the validity and extent
OF the numerous private land claims All these
are elements OF great injustice and peril to the
settlers upon the localities affected and now
tnat their existence can not be avoided no duty
Is more pressing than to fix as soon as possible
their bounds and terminate the threats of
trouble which arise from uncertainty.
THE INDIANS.
The condition OF our Indian population con-
tinues to improve and the proofs multiply that
the Transforming change so much to he desired
which shall substitute for barbarism enlighten.
ment and civilizing education, is in favorable
progress. Allotments in severalty have been
made on some reservations. until all those en-
titled to land thereon have had their shares
ASST ned, and the work is still continued. AS
soon as possible community in land should
cease, by opening up such as remain unallotted
to settlement. Contact with the WAYS
OF industrious and successful farmers
will perhaps add healthy emulation
which will both instruct and stimulate
But no agency for the amelioration of this
people appears to be so promising as the ex-
tension urged by the Secretary of such COM
plete facilities OF education Us shall 1T the
the earliest possible day embrace all teach
able Indian youths OF both sexes and retain
them with kindly and beneficent hold until
their characters are formed and their faculties
trained.
The Apache Indians at Mount Vernon bar
racks Ala. are being well cared for and their
children carefully educated, and there is no
good reason why they should be returned TO the
reservation. They should be kept in restraint.
PENSIONS
Inc NUMBER or pensions added to the roll
during the fiscal year ended June 30. 1855. Is
6l25s, and increase Of pension was granted In
1915 cases. The names of Is $50 pensioners
were dropped from the rolls during the year for
various causes, and at the close Of the year the
number OF pensioners was 452. 557 or these there
were SO6 survivors OF the war OF 1872
l07S1 widows of those who served in
that war; 10000 soldiers of the Mexican
war and 5,10i widows OF said soldiers
One hundred and two different rates OF uen
slons are paid to these benefciaries -ancin0
from 81 to &1666 per month The amount
paid for pensions during the fiscal wear was
s7S, f75, s519l, being increase over the pre-
ceding year OF B., ,30S, $50 22 The expenses At
lending the maintenance and operation of the
Pension Bureau during that period was s. 26o-
52467. making the entire expenditures of the
bureau sS2 03S, 1856 Z. being 211S per cens of the
gross income and nearly 81 per cent OF the to-
tai expenditures of the Government during the
year
am thoroughly convinced that our general
pension laws should be revised and adjusted IN
meet as far as possible in the light of our ex
perieGce, all merItorious cases. The fact that
one hundred and two different rates OF tensions
sistent with justice to the pensioners or to the
Government, and the numerous private PEN
sion bills t at are passed, predicated upon the
mperfection of general laws while they in
crease in many cases existing inequality
and injustice, lend additional force TO
the recommendation for a revision OF
the general laws on this subject
The laxity OF ideas prevailing among a large
number OF our people regarding pensions is be-
coming every day more marked. The principles
upon which they should be granted are IN dan
ger OF being altogether ignored and already
pensions are often claimed because the annIi
cants are as much entitled as other successful
applicants, rather than upon any disabil-
lty reasonably attributable to military
service the establishment OF
various precedents be continued, If
the granting Of pensions be not divorced from
partisan and other unworthy and irrelevant con.
slderatons, and the honorable name of veteran
unfairly becomes by these means but another
term for one who constantly clamors for the Aid
OF the Government there is danger that injury
VIII be done to the fame and patriotism OF many
whom our citizens delight to honor and that
prejudice will be aroused unjust 70 meritori.
Gus applicants for pensions,
AGRICULTURE
The Department of Agriculture has continued
win good measure OF success in its efforts to
% fseoeoses enlarge the fvsuiS- zn,.
augment the profits of American husbandry.
nr2Ctipal
inlormauon introduced and tested new plants
checked the spread OF contagious diseases
OF farm animals, resisted the advance OF
noxlous insects and destructive fungus
growths and sought to secure TO agricultural
labor the highest reward of effort and the full
est Immunity from loss. Its records of the year
show that the season Of 1893 has been one OF
medium production. A generous supply of the
demands OF consumption has been assured and
d asurplus Tor expectation, moderate in certain
products ana bountiful in Others will prove q
benefaction alike to buyer and grower
-Four years ago II was found that the great
cattle industry OF the country was endangered
and those engaged in IL were alarmed at the
rapid extention Of the European lung plague OF
pleuro-pneumonia. Serious outbreaks existed
IN Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky. and in
tennessee animals affected were held in
quarantine. Five counties in New York and
from ono 70 four counties each in the States OF
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and
maryland were almost equally affected. With
the great danger upon and with the con-
tagion already in the channels OF commerce:
with the enormous direct and indirect losses
already being caused by it, and when only
prompt and energetic action could be success
fuL there were in none OF these States any laws
authorizing this department 20 eradicate tho
malady or giving the State offlcials power to CO.
operate for this purpose The depart
ment even lacked both the requisite ap-
PIopriatioh ana authority. BY securing
state cooperation in connection with
authority from Congress, the work OF eradica-
uon has been pressed successfully and this
dreaded disease has been extirpated from the
Western States, with the exception of a few re-
stricted areas which are still under supervision.
Ihe danger has thus been removed and trade
ana commerce have been freed from the
vexatious State restr ctions which were deemed
necessary for TINA
An exhaustive study has also within the same
period been undertaken OF the subject af food
aduiteration and the best analytical method
for determining IL. part OF the results Of
this work has already been published by
the department. which, with the matter in
course of preparation, will make the most
complete treatise on that subject that ever
has been published in any country The de-
partment seeks progressive development. IL
would combine the discoveries OF science with
the economies and amelioration of rural prao-
tlce. A superYisinn Of the audnwed exro-i