Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01
SECRETARY MOBILES REPORT.
Operations of the Various Bureaus Of the De-
partment OF the Interior.


partment of the Interior. .
THE PUBLIC LANDS AND IMPORTANCE OF REsER-
voIR sIrEs-ISDIAS AFFAIRS AND WILD WEST
sHows-yARIoUs INSTITUTIONS IN THIS CITY UN-
DER THE sEcREIARY's SUPERVISION.
Secretary Noble in his annual report gives an
interesting summary of the operations during
the past year Of the twenty-one separate bu-
reaus, institutions, parks, &C., under his con-
troll. He states that the vacant lands Of the
United States exclusive Of those in Alaska, at
present extend over $50, 216, s61 acres, of which
2s2, IA, 439 are already surveyed. Alaska con-
tains SIT 800 square miles, 1853, SOS, 500 acres,
of which not more than 200 acres have been
entered The aggregate reaches 955, 746, i6l
acres
The policy Of the department has been con-
tinued. he says, as the Seeretary's last report
shows il to have been begun under the present
administration, in giving liberal interpreta-
ton to the land laws in favor of the settlers
and by advancing. as far as can reasonably be
done, the early decisions upon all entries made,
contested or uncOntested.
RESERVOIR srTEs
In regard to the location and selection in the
public lands of reservoir sites the Secretary
states that the work under the law of August
80, 1890, is proceeding with decided energy.
The present existence of the sites their con-
tiuued multiplication, and their future use now
demand from the people and the government
the most serious consideration, for it must be
determined what shall be done with them. and
upon the proper answer to this question de-
ponds in great part the prosperity of the terri
tories or states in which they are located. The
act. it viii be perceived, reserves from all
lands west of the Tooth meridian right of
wsy thereon for bitches or canals constructed
by authority Of the United States.
1t needs but a moments reflection to recog-
niZe that these reservoir sites must be upon
very high ground for the most part to gain
those natural depressiOns in the mountains or
foothills, 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 were it not
SO reserved this overflow would go to waste;
that both 10 conduct the water to the reservoir
In the food season and thence back into the
bed of the stream in the dry season. bitches
must exist under the same controlas that which
commands the reservoirs.
In this connection il is also to be recognized
that when these reservoirs exist they will be,
with the water they contain. the absolute prop
erty of the United States on its own soil and
not in any degree dependent upon the stream.
which they are rather to supply than to exhaust.
The Secretary urges that Congress should
without delay enact comprehensive laws deter
mining the national policy in this business,
and. if the reservoirs are subject to local con-
troll. particularly guarding against such misuse
of the powers granted as would either allow
the upper lands to absorb the water continu-
ously through the dry season. or the author
tiles to require any but the cheapest and most
liberal terms for its transportation to the in
habitants and farmers. The act should sane
tlOn its provisions and reservations to these
ends by the most severe penalties OF forfeiture
OF privileges conferred. and of all improve
ments. with absolute and immediate resump-
ton by national control to preserve and effect
Its original purposes.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The various questions connected with the
administration of Indian affairs are fully dis
cussed- The Secretary states during the year
satisfactory progress has been made in the
work of allotting lands in seyeralty. The field
work of making ailOtments has been entirely
completed during the year the Yankton
reservation in South Dakota. the Grande Ronde
in Oregon. the MOdOc, Ottawa. Seneca and
Shawnee reservations in the Indian territory
and such work will be finished upon several
other reservations at an early day.
WILD WEST SHOWS.
The Secretary has the following to saw of
will west shows:
When the present administration began there
little no restraint upon any one ekirg to
take Indians off the reservations for exhibition
in this or other CO -.,t.,ss. the first act done
by the present je r try was To require bond
of any person asking such privilege. condi-
TONED on tie faT payuien5 and treatment of
the Indians and their retGrn to their homes,
and for the employment of d white man to be
selected to go along with the Indians ard look
To their rights and welf.,e. This il is thought.
did much good In SOM cases; but experience
has shown since that in othe- cases the Indian
has greatly lost by such employment. He is
taken into strange and most exciting surround
inSs. he Il taught 70 renew the widest and most
savage scenes of Indian warfare. and too often
tempted to recur in practice the lowest
Vices When misfortune oyertakes him
IN any form OF disease accident, or
bankruptcy breaks up the show of his employer,
his condition on return home is not a good OBJ
ject lesson of the benefits of civilized life as
found by him in the capitals of our own or
other enlightened lands. The results are in
fact, deplOrable and il has been ordered that
no more such licenses or contracts shall be
made OF approved. and that all Indian agents
shall exert themselves to prevent and defeat
any attempts in future to take Indians from
the reservations or elsewhere for such pur-
poses.
If some act Of Congress were passed forbid
ding any person or corporation to take into
employment or under control any American
Indian. II would be of much assistance to the
department in enforcing this policy.
The Secretary asks that the salaries Of the
commissioner, the associate commissioner and
the financial clerk Of the Indian Office be in
creased
TO PATENTS.
The report of the commissioner of patents.
the Secretary observes, furnishes many inter
esting facts, showing a great advancement in
the work Of the bureau, and a most praise
worthy increase IN its receipts over its ex-
penses- There Is no bureau that has earned by
Its own success greater claims to an increase Of
force and room for its officers and clerks than
the patent Office, and the Secretary strongly ap-
proves the recommendations of the COMMITS
sioner hereinafter set forth
WORK OF THE PENSION BUREAU
In regard to the ruling of the pension Office
the Secretary says: 1.-The work TO be done by
this bureau has reached wonderful proportions,
and its expenditures have sent into the channels
Of trade and commerce in our country more
than one hundred millions Of dollars the past
year. The Of this vast sum has served
more than one valuable purpose. 1t has been
not alone a relief TO hundreds Of thousands of
the families of the soldiers who ia different wars
have served their country, chiefly those who de
Tended the Union against secession. but il has
also transferred at most opportune moments
the accumulated treasures of the government
10 the hands Of the people, blessing him that
gives and him that takes"
The appropriation for the present year il
SS ,O9O.16 but such has been the great num-
Der of pensioners added to the list by special
acts Of Congress and the energetic work OF the
bureau that a deficiency appropriation will be
required. the amount Of which cannot yet be
accurately state 4.