Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-03
The Public Observation-Disclosures of IL
Indians-Pension Matters.

gress OF the work OF the Cherokee Commits
sion, the Secretary speaks at length OF
leases to cattle companies, and recommends
the necessity of Congress making more ex-
act and stringent laws prohibiting the di-
rect interference of citizens with the move
ment of the Government when attempting
negotiations with Indian tribes. Speaking
of the coming census of 1890, the Secretary
suggests, upon recommendation of Super
intendeut Porter, that our decennial census
would be far more complete and satisfac-
tory if the Census Office were made per-
manent bureau.
Patents were issued during the year for
1874, ,71516 acres of land, including agri-
cultural, mineral coal, railroad, swamp,
etc. The total amount of cash sales reached
$9379. .410. There remain pending in the
Office at the end of the fiscal year 1S0,61S
final entries of all classes. OF original en-
tries of all classes, S539S4 railroad seIec.
tions undisposed of, %, IA 251 NScres, not
including 304 ,926 acres OF Oregon ,-agon-
road selections, and swamp selections OF
the various States covering over 100000
acres were pending, and educational and
internal improvement selections covering
1878 472 acres.
On the subject of irrigation the Secretary
reviews at length the work of the geological
survey and the reports of the Surveyor
General of the various Western States and
Territories, and recommends that the at
tention of Congress be invited to the neces-
sity of determining at the present session
whether it will establish permanently the
reservation of all irrigsble arid regions, and
if so what general laws it may deem best
adapted to regulate the supply and use OF
water under Government control. Action,
M pndQA ehnn1d ha toly rx-ith h
out delay and the system, if prosecuted by
the National Govermennt should be based
on comprehensive, liberal and practical
provisions.
Regarding private land claims the Secre-
tary says the proper officers have investi-
gated and reported upon numerous private
land claims embracing millions of acres
and these reports have been laid before
Congress, which alone, under the existing
statutes, can confirm or reject them. The
titles to some have been determined valid
but many are still pending for want of ac-
ton by the legislative body. Where pre-
liminsry surveys have operated, in connec-
ton with Official construction of the law,
tracts have been reserved from entry or i'm
provement by actual settlers under the pub
lie land system and the land has been left
to the enjoyment of the claimants. The
Secretary speaks at some length of the abb
solute necessity of legislation on the sub
ject. The present condition works con-
slant private injury and is national dis
credit.
Under the head of surveys the Secretary
calls attention to the report of the Acting
Commissioner of the General Land Office
in the matter of allowance made to Dep.
uty Surveyors by the First Comptroller in
1886 and 1887, which, in his opinion, were
grossly irregular. These allowances relate
to certain contracts in California under the
deposit SYSTEM" and the Acting Commits
sioner recommends that an investigation
be directed in these cases, to the end that
the money, or some portion thereof, paid
out in this illegal manner NAV be recoy-
cred to the Government. The Acting Com
missioner states that the special agents re.
port that efforts have been made by certain
wealthy individuals and corporations to
fraudulently acquire titles to large tracts OF
coal lands. and says that extensive bodies
of these lands, which will eventually be
of great value, are being illegally spropri,
ated, the guards and restrictions of the law
as it now stands being entirely insufficient
10 prevent such monopoly by unscrupu-
lous spectators. 1t is recommended that
a thorough geological survey be authorized
given discretionary powers to reserve from
sale all or any portion of lands supposed tc
contain valuable coal, and, if he deem il
advisable, to lease for period OF years
lands so reserved, upon such conditions
and restrictions as will compel the lessees
to furnish settlers with coal at moderate
prices.
Strenuous efforts are being made by the
Department to prevent and punish the un
lawful appropriation of public timber by
individuals and corporations.
Referring to dangers by forest fires, etc.
threatening our great forest, besides depre.
datioDs, the Secretary earnestly recon.
mends to Congress the appointment of 6
Commission to take into consideration the
subject of public timber lands, with view
to ascertaining the best method for theil
treatment, preservation or disposal.
In reviewing the work of the Geological
Survey, the Secretary says the researche!
upon the quicksilver of the Pacific slope
and the iron ores of the Lake Superior
regions have been especially important
The metallic products of the United State!
during 1888 amounted in value to $256, ,245,
406. In addition non-metallic mineral.
were produced to the value of 1923 ,914, ,52S
making the total $591, ,659, ,931. The wealth
OF the annual mineral product of tn.
country continues to increase, the yearly
increase in 1886, 1887 and 1888 being re
! spectively S64 per cent, 166 per cent, anC
9 04 per cent for each year over its predeces
sor. 1t is worthy of note that this increase
| is largely in non- metallic mineral, the ex
istence and uses of which ere made known
| through scientific researches rather thar
| through the application of old methods
| in the exploitation of well-known minerals
| One of the most important works of tn,
Geological Survey is the study of soils ano
| the development of methods for the re
clamation of waste lands. and this work il
progressing well.
The number of Indians in the United
States (not counting Alasks) is about $50,
600. They occupy, or have control OF
about 116, $50, l06 acres. The number o.
children of school age is estimated at 40
coo, and under school age, 10000. Stati
tics regarding the work of the India :
schools are submitted and commented or
at length, and the Secretary says thil
school system, with its attendant practices
is worthy of adoption and expansion unit
it may be made to embrace all the Indiar
youth. When an Indian has been taugh
that he ought to work great change il
wrought in him; when he does work prof
itably and inteligently he has been trans
formed indeed. Unfortunately the ex
pense to the Government of the expansion
of this system will De apparently increased
for time, but reflection will show that this
Temporary increase will soon be overcome
by decreased expenditures in other direc
! lions.
The allotment of lands is attended by
citizenship for the Indians, and that cit
izanship ought to bring with it the privi
leges of the common school of whits
man in all its grades. Thus, whenever ar
Indian, receiving his allotted land, cultivate:
it and has his family within the borders o
any State where white men have a common
school system. the Indian should become
privileged to use that system of schooling
the same as any one else. But of course
this could not be effected without taxation
on his land or Government payment o.
such taxes 1t has been suggested to ths
Secretary that the use of common schools
in this general effort to civilize the Indian
should be resorted to at every opening OIL