, 1890-12-04


cluimcd only by irrigation. Tho report
of the surveyor general OF Idaho pnrtic-
ulariy calls attention to the necessity of
further legislation as to the arid lands
and water supply; but the subject s OF
present aud growing interest not only 10
Idaho, but to Wyoming Mon tnnn, Utah,
Nevada, Colorado. Arizona, New Mexico
and the Dakotas, and to large parts OF
other states.
Great notifications have been made
In the laws OF the United States since
the last annual report aud short state
nient Of the facts AS to the cause and OK
tent OF this change will lend naturally
to the recon nendations IL is thought
should now DO made to congr ress. Tho
act OF October 2 1888, provided an ap-
propriation for investigating the eN-
tent OF the arid region, the segregation
of the irrigable lands therein, and the
selection of sites for reservoirs and other
hydraulic work necessary Tor the stor-
age and utilization OF water for irriga-
tion and the prevention of floods and
overfiows.
In the protection Of public timber
lands during lie year fifty five agents
were employed.
There were reported $40 cases of tres
pass, involving SO, 067. l5i.80 The sums
recovered during the fiscal year by the
government from such suits amounted
to 500 0I0.32
There were pending on July 1, 1890,
as far as reported, 2s2 civil suits for the
recovery OF Si4, 79i, 2S6.55 for timber re-
ported as having been unlawfully cut
from the public lands, and 3o6 criminal
prosecutions for violations Of timber
laws.
FORESTS.
The com missioner states that from an
examination Of the annual reports OF
his office for the past eight years he
finds that the most valuable timber OH
the public lands is being rapidly eX-
huusted, and that the several laws now
in force are wholly inadequate to pre-
vent the public forests from Illegal APP
preparation, or to protect the interests of
the settlers who may need to use them
in the development Of the country.
Perhaps the most hagrant instances
of lawless invasion of the public domain
have been found in the neigborhood Of
the Rainy river, forming part of our
northern boundary line. The people of
Canada have made great roads into our
forests, and the timber is tuken out on
the river, where many steamers are en-
gagged In this Illicit business. There has
been sent to those regions an expedition,
fitted for winter campuign, to detect
and arrest these depredators. The force
Is from the bureau of the general land
office, and its report will beplaGed before
congress. 1t is anticipated that this
commerce, so profitable TO others at our
expense. will be soon brought TO an end.
Attention Is called to the several acts
of congress granting the use of public
timber in the construction of railroads,
and also the act of June 3, 1878, author
izing certain persons ito fell and remove
timber on the public domain for mining
and domestic purposes, which, in the
opinion of the commissioner, h ave
"opened door to unlicensed waste and
destruction"
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
In reviewing the past years work of
the department in regard to Indians, 1t
is seen that there has been steady prog
ress made In engaging them In peace
full ways and industrial pursuits. A
stronger desire is manifested among
many for the education of their chill
dren, for the individual ownership of
land. and generally for the comforts of
civilization. ...
But it needs to be said that a much
larger area of land than is necessary is
held for Indian occupancy. There are
not more than $50 900 Indians within
the borders of the United States lex
Guiding Aiaska). The greater part of
these reside upon or hayc some Interest
in the existing reservations, the others
living upon u portion OF the public do
main. The aggregate area OF the In
dian reservations was, at the last report,
about 1i6, 600, 600 acres, or ISL, $50 square
miles. which is, as calculated by the
Indian commissioner, greater than
that of the New England and Middle
states combined, greater than the aggrc-
gate area of the states of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and Kentucky, and nearly equal
kotas and Montana; or, to carry the
comparison further, it is larger by halt
than the united kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, larger than Sweden
or Norway, and nearly as large as either
Frasce or Spain"
He makes u lengthy report, submitted
to him by the various committees ap-
pointed by congress to negotiate cessions
from the different tribes.
On August 10, 1890, congress appointed
commissions to visit the Puyallup reser-
vation in Washington, and to make full
inquiry and investigation AS TO the ma
turc of the title to, and value of, the
lands allotted in scveralty; whether
there are any common lands, and II so
the value OF the same, and the interest
of the Indians therein; whether any re-
strictions now existing upon the power
of alienation by the Indians of their
patented lands should be removed in
whole or in part; as to the manner in
which lands shall be disposed of when
the Indians shall be invested with power
to dispose of their individual tracts;
and as to other various matters regard
ing the status OF the lands, rights Of way
for railroads. welfare OF the Indians, etc.
To visit and thoroughly investigate
and determine as to the correct location
of the northern line of Warm Springs
Indian reservation in Oregon, and to
negotiate with the Indians located ON
the Colyille reservation in Washington
| for the cession OF such portion of the
reservation as the Indians are willing to
dispose OF, that the same may be opened
to settlement.
The above commissions are now en-
gagged in their task.
ALLorMESrs OF LANDS To INDIANS.
Since the last annual report satisfac-
tory progress has been made in work of
allotting lands in severalty.
The field work of making allotments
has ueen entirely completed during the
year on tho Yankton reservation in
South Dakota, the Grande Ronde res
ervation in Oregon, the Modoc Ottawa,
Seneca and Shawnee reservations in the
Indian territory, and such work will be
tin shed upon several other reservations
at all early day.
OBSERVATION INDIANS.
There are scattered throughout the
country many Indians who are not To-
Gated upon any of the existing reserva-
tions. Some of them belong TO tribes