Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-15
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tiluldllOu, WHICH VIII DONn luslI uCl 6uu
stimulate.
But no agency for the amelioration OF this
people appears to ne SO promising as the ex-
tension urged by the secretary OF the interior
! OF such complete facilities OF education as
shall III the earliest possible moment embrace
all teachable Indian youths Of both sexes and
retain them with a kindly and beneficent hold
until their characters are formed and their
facilities and dispositions trained to such pur-
suits. Some form OF useful Industry suited
to the capacity OF the Indian no longer needs
demonstration 1t is established. 1t remains
to make the most OF 1t, and when that shall
be done the curse Will be lifted, the Indian
race saved and the sin Of their oppression re-
deemed. The time OF its Accomplishment de-
ponds upon the spirit and justice with which
II shall be prosecuted. II cannot be too soon
for the Indian nor for the interest ard good
name OF the nation.
The average attendance OF Indian pupils In
the schools Increased by over 900 in the year
and the total enrolment will reach .52l. The
cost of maintenance was not materially
raised. The number OF teachabie Indian
youths Is no. 40, 005, or nearly three times the
enrolment OF schools. 1t IS believed the OBJ
stacles I'm the way OF instructing are sur
mountable and that the necessary expeDdi-
ture would be a measure OF economy. The
Sioux tribe on the great reservation or Da-
kota refused their assent to the act passed
by congress at Its last session for opening a
portion OF their lands TO settlement, notwith-
standing a notification Of the terms was sug-
gested which met most Of their objections.
Their demand is for immediate payment Of
the full price OF Sl.25 per acre for the entire
body OF land, the occupancy OF which they are
asked TO %relinquish. The manner Of submits
sion insured their fair understanding Of the
law and their action was undoubtedly as
thoroughly intelligent as their capacity ad-
mitted. 1t is at least gratifying that no re-
proach OF over reaching can In any manner be
against the government however advisable
the favorable completion OF the negotiation
may have been esteemed. | concur in the
suggestions " the secretary regarding the
Turtle Mountain Indians, the two reserva-
tons in California and the Crees. They
should, in my opinion, receive Immediate at
~tention.
THE PENSIONS.
The number OF pensioners added to the
rolls during the fiscal year ended June 80,
1855, is 90 252, aud an increase OF pensions
was granted in 40, 1lG cases. The names Of
Is, $50 pensioners were dropped from the rolls
during the year Tor various causes, and at the
close Of the year the number OF pensions Of
all classes receiving pensions was 452, J57. OF
these there were SOC sUrvivors Of the war
Of 1872; l0,1N1 widows IF those WHO served I'm
that war; 1900 soldiers OF the Mexican war,
and 5,l04 widows Of said soldiers. One hun
dred and two different rates OF pensions are
paid to these hcucicIariep, ranging from e.
to S12 per month. The amount paid for pen
eiOns during the iiscal year was SIS, 10, SCI,
being al increase over the corresponding
period in the year 1857 of $5,3.0,2c0.22.
The expenses attending the maintenance
ard operation If the pension bureau during
that period was S3,2G2,5 24 o., making the en-
tire expenditures Of the bureau So, OBS, 3S6 81,
being 2l1% per cent. OF the total expenditures
Of the government daring the year ! am
thoroughly convinced that our general pen
sion laws should be revised and adjusted to
meet as far as possible in the iight Of our ex-
p%eriencc, all meritoriOus eases. The fact
that l02 different rates Of pensions are paid,
cannot in my opinion be made consistent
with justice 10 the pensioners or 10 tho gov
eminent and the numerous private pension
bills that are passed predicated upon the
imperfection OF general laws, while they IN
crease in many cases the existing inequality
and injustice, lend additional force 10 the
recommendation for revision Of the general
law on this subject.
The ideas prevailing among large num-
her OF our people regarding pensions r. be-
coming every day more marked. The prln-
ciples upon which they should be granted are
III danger OF being altogether ignored, and al
ready pensions are often claimed because the
applicants are as much entitled as other sue
cessful applicants, rather than upon any dis
ability reasonably attributable 10 military
service. II the establishment OF various
precedents be continued and the granting OF
pensions be not divorced from partisan and
other unworthy and irrelevant considerations;
and II the honorable pane OF veteran un-
fairly becomes by these means but another
term for one who constantly clamors for the
aid Of The government, there is danger that
injury will be done To the fame and patriot
ism Of many whom our citizens all delight 10
honor, and that "a prejudice viii be aroused
unjust merltious applicants for pensions.
The department If agriculture has con-
tinued with a good measure Of success It's eff
forts u develop the process, enlarge the re-
suits and augment the profits of American
husbandry. 1t has collected and distributed
practical information, introduced and tested
new plants, checked the spread Of contagious
disease Of farm animals, resisted the advance
Of noxious insects ana destructive fungus
gowths, and sought TO secure to agricultural
labor the highest reward OF effort and the
fullest immunity from loss. Its records OF
the year show that the season ISIS has been
one Of medium productions. a generous sup
ply for the demands IF consumption has been
assured, and "a surplus for expectation in
moderation OF certain products, and bouuti-
full in others, viii prove a benefit, alike to
buyer and grower. -Four years ago 1t was found
that the great cnttie industry Of The coun-
tcv was endangered and those engaged were
alarmed at the rapid extention Of the Europ-
can plague Of pleuro pneumonia. Serious
outbreaks eXis,ed in illinois, Missouri,
and Kentucky and in Tennessee. Animals
affected were held IN quarantine In five
counties in New York, ana from one TO four
counties In each OF the states OF New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, which
were almost equally affected. With this great
danger upon us and with the contsgion al.
ready in the channels Of with
enormous, direct and indirect, losses already
being caused by IL, and when only prompt
and energetic action could he SUCCESSFUL,
there were IA none of these states any laws
authorizing this department 10 eradicate the
malady or giving the eiatc officials power TO
cooperate with 1t for this purpose. The de
partment lacked both the requisite ap-
preparation and authority.
By securing state cooperation in connec-
ton with authority frCm congress-, the work
Of eradication has been pressed successfully,
and this dreaded disease has been extirpated
from the western states aud also from the
eastern states, with the exception Of q few re-
strictcd areas which are st!ll under super
vision. The danger has thus been removed
and trade and commerce have been freed
from the vexati0us state Of restrictions which
we're deemed necessary FOR a time.
During the pasl four years the process Of
diffusion as applied 70 the manufacture Of
sugar from sorghum and sugar cane has been
introduced In this country and fully perfected
by experiments carried on by the department
OF agriculture. This process is now univer-
sally considered TO be the best aud most eco
nomical, and 1t is thought the shorghum and
sugar industry has been established upon a