, 1889-12-05
7 HE INTERIOR.
Secretary Noble Makes
His Report
The OPENING OF OKLAHOMA.
Treaty With the Sioux In
dians Of Dakota.
The ADVENT OF THE new STATE.
Washington. Montana, North Da-
kota and South Dakota We'll
coined Into the Union.

opens WIN brlef review OF the opening
of oklahoma, the successful negotiation
ofa treaty with the Sioux Indians and
the admission of tho four new states. In
reviewing the progress Of the work of the
Cherokee commission the secretary
speaks at length of the leases to cattle
and recommends the neces-
sity of congress making more exact and
stringent laws prohibiting direct inter.
ference of the citizens with the move.
ments OF tho government when attempt.
ing negotiations with Indian tribes.
Speaking of the coming census of 1890,
the secretary suggests, upon the recon-
mendation of Superintendent Porter,
that our decennial census would be far
more complete and satisfactory If the
census office were made permanent bu.
reau Coming down to the work of the
general land Office, the secretary says:
During the work of four years of prior
there had accumulated
10000 cases over, and above any former
The present secretary ordered
am investigation of the cause of this bad
state Of public business, which cause
was not far to seek.
Tho secretary refers to the order of
Commissioners Sparks. of April 3, 1885
final action on entries in the
West, and says;
"Thc source of such an order can be
traced only to an utter disregard of pri-
vate reputation for the integrity of those
citizens VINO had settled in this vast
Western domain. The commissioner
was supported in this broad accusation
by others within the general land office,
and had not the wisdom of less sus-
picious nature intervcned this course of
action might have brought upon the
country, not only the greatest disgrace,
but possibly internal commotions ot
serious magnitude. 1t led Immediately
to a vast accumulation Of unadjusted
claims and general discouragcment OF
settlement upon the public domain"
The secretary refers to the modification
orIler December s. 1885, creating a board
TO pass upon and report cases to the
commissioner, and to Secretary Lamar S
order to Sparks, of April 6, lsss, rcvok-
ing Sparks order OF April 3, 1855, and
continues:
"Thc commissioner, however, was de.
termined not to allow patents to go to
the people, by the usual means, but
sought further to restrain their delivery,
and initiated most unnecessary divi-
sion In the office, called "a division Office
which was in the effect merely one of re.
view. 1t was mere substitution, in
point of fact for the special board cro.
ated by his previous order and based
upon tie same general suspicion, that
whoever sought 20 obtain government
land was intending to pcrpetrate fraud.
At the time 1t was determined to dis.
pose with the unnecessary division,
there had accumulated in il nearly Is.
600 cases. They were, however, soon
disposed OF, upon careful, but liberal ex.
aminations, and July q, 1850, the 'divi-
sion was discontinued.
Tie report of the acting commission.
ers shows the number of agricultural
patents issued for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1889, was II, Ill during the first
eleven months of that year. under form,
or methods OF work there were issued oI
said patents total of 80, ,6is, or month,
~ average of 1874, while during June o
said year, under the new methods, there
were issued Is, 523 patents, a most graft
flying increase Of the former manage
ment.
sit is not to be understood" says the
secretary, that there is any disposition
to relax examination, to an extent tha,
will permit fraud to grow, or ilega
claims to be established. A great man y
claims deemed illegal are now under in
vestigalon and many cases now pend
ing for fraudulent infractions of law will
be prosecuted
Patents were issued during the yeai
for 1,27s, All ,5l6 acres of land, including
agricultural, mineral, coal, railroad
swamp, etc. The total amount of cash
sales reached $S,379,4l0. There remain,
pending in the ofiic, at the end Of hsca
year ls0,6l8 final entries; all classes o
original entries, $3.50, ,si4 railroad selec-
tions undisposed OF, %, 44i, 25l acres; moi
including 3oi.028 acres of Oregon wagor
road selections; swamp selections of va
rious states covering over 1000, 900 acre!
were pending; educational and interna
improvement selections covering LOIS,
472 acres.
On the subject of irrigation, the secre.
tary reviews at length the work of tn,
geological survey, and reports Of the
surveyor generals Of various Western
states and territories, and recommend,
that attention of congress be invited tC
the necessity of determining at tn,
present session whether 1t will establish
permanently a reservation OF all irriga.
bic arid regions, and If so what genera
laws it may deem best, adopted, to reg.
ulate the supply and use OF water undel
government control.
Action, IL Is recommended, should b,
taken without delay, and a system, 1
prosecuted by the national government
should be based on comprehensive
liberal aid practical provisions regard
ing private land claims. The secretar,
says proper officers have investigated
and reported upon numerous privat,
land claims, embracing millions ofacres
and these reports have been laid befor,
congress, which alone. under the exist
ing statutes, can confirm or reject them
Titles to some have been determined
valid, but many are still pending fo
want Of action by the legislative body
Where preliminary surveys have actet
In connection with official instruction O
law, tracts have been reserved from
entry or improvement by actual settler
under the public land systems, and lans
has been left to the enjoyment OF claim
ants.
The secretary speaks at some length
of the absolute necessity of legislation
on the subject. The present condition
works constant private injury and is
national discredit
Regarding railroad land grants, tn,
secretary reports that 2l,660, ,846 acre
have been suspended to await Legislation
for forfeiture, and says: