The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-01

ing with I q population and the spread OF set
tement TO a degree that does not seem 70 De
eomprehendej by the lawmakers The efort
TO ct upon the present state Of affairs the N cas-
ures that were suitable to the last decade Is
made IN vain. Neither the buildings nor the
force tina, occupies them are commensurate
with the public demsude No true statesman
VIII attempt 70 save . small portion OF the
public revenue either by exaetinz inmoderate
toll from f;s employees, or by delaying the peo-
Pile in the enjoyment Of their fairly-earned
titles to land aud defeating their just expecta-
tons
Indian Affairs.
In reviewing the past years work OF the de-
partment In regard to Indians IL Is seen tina:
there has been steady progress made IN eugag-
ing them in peaceful ways and indus rial puf-
suits. A stronger desire il manifested among
many for the education Of their children, for the
individual ownership Of land and generally for
the comforts OF civilization. But 1t needs tn
be said that . mucn larger area of land than
il n cessary Is held for Indian occupancy. There
are not more tnan 10000 Indians within the
borders Of the DATED states excluding Alask J..
The greater part Vt thess reside upon or have
some interes, in the existing reservations, the
others living upon q portion of the pub
lie domain. The aggregate area OF the
Indian reservations was 1t the last
report, about 1880 GOO sores, or ISL $50 square
miles, which is, as calculated by. the Indian
commissioner greater than that of thu New
England and middle states combined: greater
than the aggregate area o. the states OF Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Kentu ky, aud nearly
equal 70 the combined area OF the TWO Dakotas
ami Montana; or TO carry the comparison
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 Spain"
There has been q reduction during the fiscal
year by cession of Indian title to reservations
under ratified agreements 10 the extent OF about
1900 600 acres OF lands heretofore held BY
Them, leaving the aggregate of reserved land At
this time over 103.C0o,0O0 acres. This 10 SUN.
cient to give each OF the occupying Indians, or
those having rights thereon, over $50 acres. II
al were given all Itments as provided in exist
Ing laws and treaties, each Indian would receive
not more than an average OF eighty acres of
agricultural land, or 100 acres OF grazing land.
The surplus held in reservation appears there
fore 10 De reasonably large. A large portion
of it Is lying idle ana is bar
to the Indians progress, and our country's
development To restore this TO the
public domain will work no hardship to the In
disns, II the cessions ars made upon terms as
fair as have characters ID the agreements re-
Gently negotiated Those indians especially
who are supported by the government, not be-
them from starvation, should no. continue to
hold these large tracts withou actual occu-
pancy or use. Ii would b, better for each tri De
10 part with Its claim for money consideration
that would Great fund to he securely held by
the United States, and upon which t could de.
pend for the support OF its memb RS until, by
proper use of individual homesteads, they may
support themselves.
During the last session OF congress the ap-
int t,f civ
ferent tribes OF Indians, was authorised. One
Of the commissions so appointed was 10 visit
the Puyallup reservation. in Washington, and
TO make full inquiry and Investigation a. to the
nature OF the title to and value OF the lands
allotted III severalty; whether there are any
common lands, aud If so the value of the same,
and the interest Of the Indians therein; whether
any restrictions now existing upon the power
of alienation by the indians of their patented
lands should be removed Ia whole or in part;
as to the manner III which lands should be dis
posed of when the Indians shall be invested
with power to dispose Of their Ind vidual tracts
and - to other various matters regarding the
the status OF the lands, rights-of-way for rail-
roads. welfare Of the Indians, etc.
knowledge Of the extent OF the ability OF
these Indians to support themselves, whom pro-
cured in accordance with the provisions Of the
act, win be Of great value in assisting the de-
five OF the agreement approved February q,
1877. which among other things provides that
"such rattons. or so much thereof may be
necessary, shall be continued until the Indians
are able 70 support themselves" This provision
OF the agreement, while imposing upon the gov
eminent the obligation to sustain the Indians
until they are able to support themselves, i'm
poses upon them no less the obligation and
duty to address themselves to the taak OF be-
coming sslf-supporting
The educational branch of the Indian service
has received through he ut the year the special
attention which its importance demands. The
effort has been to extend and improve the sys-
tenn already existing, to enlarge the school
facilities. to increase the attendance, to make
more uniform the course of study and instruc-
ton, and 70 secure teachers of the hsst qualii.
cations.
the national school system Is being advanced
with extraordinary vi or, and IL viii COW re-
Qure some conservatism TO prevent too great q
SEPARATION from those UNCONVENTIONAL schools
that have heretofore been encourage by con-
tracts and whose influences upon the Indians
have been beneficial. While the national
school should be supp rted in case of conflict
with these contract schools, nevertheless the
church mission schools are essential in extend
ing education to all the Indian children. Con-
gress has recognized this recently by making
several appropriations for contract schools
especially named.
The commission furnishes the following,
showing the amounts set apar; for the various
religious bodies for Indian education for 1891:
Roman Catholics, $347. $50; Presbyterians, s44,-
$50; Congre yational s27, 27l: Episcopal 500 $40;
Friends, s24, TAB; Mennonite, 1875: Unitarian,
$500; lutheran, Wittenberg Wis, $3.50;
Methodist. $500; Miss Howard $1,000; sppro-
priation for Lincoln institution, $50, 400; appro-
priation for Hampton, $50. 040; total, 1854, 55S
There are now existing 152 government
schools and rinetv.four contract schools, and
the average attendance at the former il 7.424
and at the latter ASS.
During the nine months ending June so, 1890
$500 have been instruc ed and assisted in farm
ing. Nearly 100 who never farmed before
have been induced to make q commencement
and some 46, 900 acres Of land have been plowed
by them. The results would have been even
more satisfactory but for the very severe winter
on the western cosst and drought on many of
the Indian reservations
II will DE seen By the report OF the commits
sioner OF Indian affairs that the whole number
of depreciation claims filed prior 20 the end of
the last is" year was 6.053. amounting TO the
sum OF s20e22,sSe; that of this number go
amounting To & l6 $50 IS. were certified TO the
second auditor for payment prior to the passage
IF the act OF May %, 1872: that 50. amounting 10
s-OS.l40.l0. have been paid under authority of
various acts of congress prior TO March 8. 1855;
that 9, amounting to sl00 have been paid by
acts OF congress since March 5, 1856: that
under the provisions of law contained
in the Indian appropriation acts of
March 8. 1855, aud OF May Is, 1855.
providing for the investigation aud SUI.
m ssion TO congress of certain Indian depreda
ii n claims" 1907 claims, amounting to s. SOS :
2s465, had up 10 and Including January L $500