The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-12-17
the Lercentage of errors In distribution has,
during the past year, been reduced over one.
Rural Free Delivery.

Rural Free delivery.
An appropriation was given by the last con.
ments in free delivery in the smaller cities and
towns. The results Of these experiments have
been so satisfactory that the postmaster gen.
eral recommCn Is. and concur in the recon-
that the free delivery system be at
once extended to towns Of 5000 population.
Extension Of the Money Order System.
1t Is stated that over 81 900 neighborhoods are
under the present system, receiving mail at
post offices where money orders and postal
notes are not issued. The extension OF this
system to these communities is especially de-
sira ble as the patrons Of such off1ces are not
possessed of the other facilities offered in more
populous communities for the transmission OF
small sums Of money.
/ have in q message to the preceding con.
use Of the telegraph In connection with the
postal service.
New Warsbips.
The report of the secretary Of the navy shows
commission. The Newark, Concord. Benning.
ton and Miantonomoh have been added during
the year, and an aggregate OF something more
than 1l.ooo tons. Twenty-four Warships OF all
classes are now under construction in the navy
yards and private shops, but while the work
upon them is going forward satisfactorily tho
completion OF the more important vessels will
yet require about years time. Some OF the
vessels now under construction, 1t is believed,
win be triumphs Of naval engineering. When
it II. recollected that the work OF building q
1888, that our naval constructors and ship.
builders were practically without experience
in the construction OF large iron or steel ships.
that our engine shops were unfamiliar with
great marine engines and that the manufacture
of steel forgings for guns and plates was al
most wholly foreign industry, the progress
that has been made is not only highly satlsfac.
tory. but furnishes the assurance that the
United States will before long attain, in the
construction OF vessels, with their engines
and ornaments, the same preeminence
vvh oh at mad yph ha haS Cf
ocean commerce was the clipper ship and the
most impressive exhibit of naval power the old
wooden three decker man of war.
Further Development Urged.
I commend to your favorable consideration
the recommendation OF the secretary, who has,
am sure, given to them the most conscientious
study. There should be no hesitation in prompt
ly completing navy Of the best modern type,
large enough to enable this country to display
Its flag in all seas for the protection Of its cit
liens and its extending commerce. The world
needs no assurance OF the peaceful purposes OF
the United States, but we shall probably be in
the future more largely q competitor.in the
commerce of the world, and it is essential to the
dignity OF this nation and to that peaceful in.
sphere that it's navy should be adequate, both
upon the shores OF the Atlantic and OF the Pa.
citlc.
Indian Schools.
The report Of the secretary OF the interior
shows that very gratifying progress has been
made in all of the bureaus which make up that
complex difficult department.. The work In the
bureau OF Indian affairs was perhaps never SO
la g. as now by reason OF the numerous nego-
tiations which have been proceeding with the
tribes for reduction of the reservations, with
the incident labor of making allotments,
The provision of adequate school facilities
for Indian children and the location
Of adult Indians upon farms involve
Everything else-rations, annuities and tribal
negotiations with the agents, inspectors and
commissioners who distribute and conduct
them-must pass away when the Indian has
become citizen, secure in the individual own
ership Of q farm from which he derives his sub.
sistence by his own labor, protected by and
subordinate to the laws which govern the
ernment or by the local communities in which
he lives with the means Of educating his chill
dren. When an Indian becomes a citizen
relation 20 the General eovergmens e
ceases. in great measure, to be that
Of award; but the general government ought
not at once to put upon the state or territory
has been my thought that the government
schools and school buildings upon the reserva-
tions would be absorbed by the school systems
Of the states and territories; but, as 1t has
been found necessary to protect the Indian
against the compulsory education Of his land
by exempting him from taxation for a period
that the general government, certainly where
there are tribal funds in its possession. should
pay to the school fund Of the state
cal school tax upon the property OF
the Indian It will be nouiced from the report
OF the commissioner Of Indian affairs that al
ready some contracts have been made with dis
trict schools for the education Of Indian chill
dren. There is great advantage think. in
bringing the Indian children into mixed
schools. This process will be gradual, and in
the meantime the present educational pro-
visions and arrangements, the result Of the
best experience Of those who have been
charged with this work should be continued
This will enable those religious bodies, that
have undertaken the work Of Indian education
with so much zeal and with results so re.
straining and beneficent to place their IN
stitutions in new and useful relations to the
Indian and to his white neighbors.
The Sioux War.
The outbreak among the Sioux, which oc.
CURED IN December last Is as to its causes and
incidents fully reported upon by the war de-
partment and the department Of interior
That these Indians have had some just COM
plants, especially In the matter Of the reduc-
tion Of the appropriation for rations and in the
delays attending the enactment Of laws to en-
able the department to perform the engage
but the Sioux tribes are naturally war-like and
turbulent, and their warriors were excited by
their medicine men and chiefs, who preached the
coming Of an Indian Messiah who was to give
them power to destroy their enemies. In view
Of the alarm that prevailed among the white
settlers near the reservation and Of the
from an Indian incursion placed at the dis
posal Of Gen. Miles, commanding the division
Of the Missouri, all such forces as were thought
by him to be required. He Is entitled to the
credit OF having given the heroic protection to
the settlers and Of bringing the hostiles into
subsection with the least possible loss Of life.
A Change Necessary.
The relation of the five civilized tribes now
States is not, believe, the best calculated to
promote the highest advancement OF these In
dians. That there should be within our bor-
ders five independent states, having no rela-
tions except those growing out Of treaties with
the government Of the United States no repre-
sentation in the national legislature, its
people not citizens, is startling anomaly.
1t seems to me to be inevitable that there
shall be before long some organic changes in
the relation Of these people to the United
States. What form these changes should take
Il they were wei defined in my own mind.
They should certainly involve the acceptance
Of citizenship by the Indians and a representa-
ton tion in congress These Indians should
and grievances upon the floor rather
than. As now, in the lobby. If q commission
could be appointed to visit these tribes to con-
fer with them in friendly spirit upon this
whole subject, even il no agreement we're pres
emily reached, the feeling Of the tribes upon
this question would BE- developed and discus
sion would prepare the way for changes which
must come sooner or later.
Lands Opened to Settlement.
The good work Of reducing the larger Indian
reservations, by allotments in severslty to the
Indians and the cession OF the rem aiming lands
to the United States for disposition under the
homestead law, has been prosecuted during
the year with energy and success. In Septem-
Der last was enabled to open to settlement in
the territory OF Oklaho 900, 600 acres Of land,
all of which was taken up by settlers in .
single day. The rush for these lands was &C
companied by great deal Of excitement. but
was happily free from incidents Of violence.
It was source OF great regret that
was not able to open At the
same time the surplus lands Of the Cheyenne
and Arapahoe reservation amounting to about
100000 acres, by reason Of the insuf1ciency
Of the appropriation for making the allotments.
D Deserving and impatient settlers are wsiting
to occupy these lands, and urgently recon-
mend that a special deficiency appropriation
be promptly made of the small amount needed,
SO that the allotments may be completed and
the surplus lands opened in time to permit the
settlers to get upon their homesteads in the
early spring. During the past summer the
Cherokee commission have completed arrange
ments with the Wichita, Kickapoo and Tonkawa
tribes whereby il the agreements are ratified
by congress over $4,000 additional acres will be
opened to settlement in Oklahoma. The nego-
tiations for the release by the Cherokees of
their claim to the Cherokee scrip has made no
substantial progress SO far as the department
is oficially advised. but it is still hoped
that the cession of this large and valu.
able tract may be secured. The price
which the commission was authorized to offer
81 g per acre-ls, in my judgment, when all
tho nj ircun m tn title and tho Cha octn