The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-01
THE CHEYENNES MUST co.
a
Secretary Noble Favors Placing Both
Bands Of Them on Another
Reservation.
It Would be to Their interest
, and that Of the
Settlers.
The Subject of Immigration Ably Treated
in the Report of tho Interior
Department

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3O.-The annual report
of the secretary of the interior says the
vacant lands of the United States, exclu-
sive of those in Alaska, at present extend
over $50, PIC, 861 acres, of which 2S2,772,43
acres are, already surveyed. Alaska con.
tains 81, 800 square miles, or 369, 500 COZ
acres, of which not more than 1000 acres
have been entered. The aggregate reaches
955, TAG, 461 acres. In Montana the surveyed
lands are 961l ,315 acres, and the unsurvey-
ed IS, ,312 acres, total of 64.S07, 1921
acres. This is the largest area of vacant
land in any state or territory in the union,
except Alaska. During this year Is, 759, $50
acres of agricultural land were transferred
to actual settlers, 9,779 acres were pat
entcd to states. There we're 1,4O7 mineral
and millsite patents issued. The total re-
ceipts from public lands were $7.47O,37O.
The location and selection of reservoir
sites on public lands under the act of Aug
ust 30. 1880, is referred to at length. He
says: The present existence of the sites,
their continued multiplication. and their
further use, demand from the people and
the government the most serious considera-
ton; for it must be determined what shall
be done with them. It needs but mo-
ment's reflection to recognize that these
reservoir sites must be upon very high
ground for the most part to gain those
natural depressions in the mountains or
foot hills where the water can be garnered
in vast volume; that this water will be
gathered in the season when the streams
are full and OVERLOOKING, so that the amount
caught in the reservoirs will not deprive
any one of his own abundant supply at that
time, and we're il not 80 reserved this over
how would go to waste; that both to con-
duct the water to the reservoir in the flood
season, and thence back into the bed of the
stream in the dry season, bitches must ex-
list under the same control as that which
commands the reservoirs.
Many of the streams also upon which
these reservoirs will be, will run between
states or territories. and thus the rapid ex-
pansion of the system of irrigation now
already in progress and to be greatly in
creased both in extent and completeness,
will be apt to exhaust the small supply of
the summer stream and leave it's bed quite
dry before it reaches its ordinary mouth,
and even at points near the reservoir, as
we'll as at a distance. the tillers of these arid
lands will be dependent for water upon
these basins. It will be an immense ex-
pense to mako dams of such solidity and
skillful construction as will assure safety to
valleys and lands below, and appropriate
lands: Congress, the secretary says. may
not deem it best to build them. but may
consider that the use Of tho land egrsgated;
for reservoirs should be placed under local
control fSa for proper use in irrigation.
e1sss xsheatS de nees enact chat son
hensive laws, determining the national
policy in this business, and, if the reser-
voirs are subject to local control, particu-
larly guarding against such misuse of the
powers granted as would either allow the
upper lands to absorb the water contin-
tiles to require any but the cheapest and
most liberal terms for its TRANSPORTATION to
the inhabitants and farmers.
The most valuable timber on the public
lands, the secretary says, is being rapidly
exhausted, and the laws in force are de-
legal appropriation or protect the interests
OF the settlers. repeal of the laws is sup-
gested which prohibits the entry of rucred.
stony or other timber land unfit for cult
walton, except under mining or townsite
laws. This would allow settlers to use the
welcoming the country. It is also suggested
that the states and territories exact con-
current legislation prohibiting the destruc-
ton OF the timber Oh public lands, and to
prevent 1T being removed or passed into the
hands of monopoly for only speculative
purposes
On the Indian question the secretary
says that "a much larger area of land than
is necessary is held for Indian occupancy.
There are not more than 100000 Indians
within the borders of the United States (ex-
Guiding Alaska. The greater part Of
these reside upon or have sone interest in
the existing reservations, tie others living
upon portion of the public domain. The |
aggregate area of the Indian reservations |
was. at the last report, about 116, 600, 600 |
acres. or Isl ,25O square miles, which ia
greater than that of the New England and
Middle states combined, greater than the
aggregate are OF the states Of Ohio, In
equal to the combined area Of the two Da-
kotas and Montana; or, to carry the COM
parison further. it is larger by half than
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, larger than Sweden or Norway and
nearly as large as either France or Snnin
cal year by cession of Indian title TO reser-
vations under ratified agreements to the
extent of about 1900 900 acres OF lands
heretofore held by them, leaving the agpre-
gate area of reserved land at this time over
los, 100000 acres. This is sufficient
to give each of Of the 90
cupying Indians OF those having
rights thereon, over $50 acres. If all were
given allotments as provided in existing
laws and treaties, each Indian would receive
not more than an average of eighty acres of
agricultural land. or l6O acres of grazing
land.
'sThe surplus held in reservation appears,
therefore, to be unreasonably large" the
says. "a large portion of it is w.
ing idle; and is a bar to the Indians prog
ress, and our country's development. 10
restore this to the public domain will work
no hardship tothe Indians, if the cessions
are made upon terms as fair as havs char
acte1ized the agreements recently negotiat-
ed. Those Indians, especially, who are sue
ported BY the government, not because Of
treaty obligations, but in order to save them
from starvation, should not continue t.
hold these large tracts without actual occu-
pancy or use. It would be better for each
tribe to part with its claim for a money
that would create a fund to