The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-12-18

tending he world needs
no assuI'gscso the peaceful purpose Of
the United States. but we shall
probably be In the future more
largely competitors in the commerceof
the world, and it is essential to the Dig
nifty of this nation and to that peaceful
influence which it should exercise on this
hemisphere, that its navy should be
adequate, both upon the shores of the
Atlantic and the Pacific.
THE INTERIOR.
The reroft of the secretary Of the in
terror shows that livery gratifying o
Tegs has been made in all of the bureaus
which make up that complex difficult de-
partment. The work in the bureau of
Indian affairs was, perhaps, never SO
large as now by reason OF the numerous
negotiations which have been proceed
ing with the tribes for a reduction of the
reservations, with the incident labor of
making allotments, and never was o
carefully conducted: The provision of
adequate school facilities for Indian chill
upon farms involve the solution of the
:sindian question: 1t will be noticed
from the report of the commissioner of
Indian affairs that already some con
tracts have been made with district
schools for the education of Indian chill
dren. There is great advantage, l think.
in bringing the Indian children into
mixed schools.
The Outbreak Among the Sioux,
which occurred in December last, as to
its causes and incidents was fully report
1 ed upon by the war department. and the
department. of the interior. That these
Indians had some just complaints, es.
pecially in the matter of the reduction of
the appropriation for rations and in the
delays attending the enactment of laws to
enable the department. to perform the en-
gagements entered into with them, is
probably true; but the Sioux tribes are
naturally warlike and turbulent, and
their warriors were excited by their med
icine 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 fatal consequences that would have
resulted from an Indian incursion,
placed at the disposal of General Miles,
commanding the division, the arms that
were thought by him. to be required. He
is entitled to the credit of having given
thorough protection to the settlers and of
bringing the hostiles into subsection with
the least possible loss of life.
The relation of the five civilized tribes
now occupying the Indian Territory, to
the United States, i believe that best cal
culated to promote the highest advance
ment of these Indians. That there should be
within our borders five independent states
having no relations excepting those grow
ing OUT Of treaties with the government
OF tie United States, no representation in
The nations legislature, it's people not
citizens, is g startling anomaly. 1t seems
to me to be inc vitable that there shall be
before long some organic changes in thu
relation of these people to the United
States. The good work of reducing the
larger Indian reservations by allotments
in seyeralty to the Indiaus,a and the ~cession
Of the remaining lands to the United
States Tor disposition under
the homestead Law,
has been prosecuted during the year with
energy and success. In September last
was enabled TO open to settlement in the
territory of Oklahoma, gG0,GG0 acres o
land, all Of which was taken up by set
tiers ii d single day. the rush for these
lands was accompanied by a great deal Of
excitement, but was, happily free from in
cidents of violence.
1t was g source of great regret that
was not able to open atthe same time tht
surplus land of the Cheyenne and Arapa
j, hoe reservation. amounting to about three
. million acres, by reason OF the insufficient
y ~ ti-N =, p ~ - tNAi ~
tiiotlnents. Deserving and impatient set
\ tiers are waiting to occupy these lands
and I urgently recommend that d specia
: deficiency appropriation be promptly mad,
OF the small amount needed. SO that tn
= aliOtmentS may be completed and the SUI
. plus lands opened in time to permit TIL
: settlers to get upon their homesteadS il
. the early spring.
D During the past summer the Cherokee
: commission have completed arrangement
with the Wichita, hickapoo and Tonka
n tribes, whereby II the arrangements ar
q ratified by congress, over S0O,cOO addition
= Il acres will be opened to settlement i
' Oklahoma.
: The negotiation for the release by tn
CheTokees of their claim to the Cherokee
g so Jar as the department is officiall
advised, bat it is still hoped that til
ceSsiGn OF this large and valuable trac
may he secured. The price which til
commission was authorized 70 oifer--Sl.2
e per &cre-is, in my judgment, when a
i The circumstances as TO the title and til
e character OF the lands are considered,
g fair and adequate Il and should hay
been accepted By the Indians.
! Since March i, 1883, about 23,000,G[
acres have been separated from India
reservations auC added tc the public dc
main tor the use Of those who wished t
secure free homes under cur beneficer
laws.
Court OF Land Claims. .
YoHr attention is called 20 the Difficult,
e experienced by 1he secretary of the interiC
Y 20 The administration OF the law of Mare
. ). 1881. establishing a u of private Ian
claims. Tine small holdings intended 1
{ be projected by the law are estimated {
t be more thai fifteen thousand in number
The claimants are almost all deServ!n
and their titles are supported by tn
strongest equities. The strongest di1
: lculty grows out Of land largely SUI
veyeJ according to our methods, Will
q Ile holdings. many of which have been j
out in narrow strips a few rods wide upo
a stream and running back 10 the hill
e for pasturage and timber. Provision
! should be made fornumbaring these tract
numbers and without reference to sectio
lines.
Pensions.
The administration of the pension bl
reau has been characterized during til
year by great diligence. The total nln
Der of pensioners upon the roll on the got
Il day of June, 1891, was &c, 100. There wei
% allowed during the fiscal year ending /
If that time PSI, 565 cases. sOf this numbe
1O2, 3S1 were allowed under the law of I'll
q, 1880. The issuing of certificates hi
been proceeding at the rate of about &c
Is coo per month, about 70 per cent. of the:
being cash under the new law. The con
missioner expresses the opinion that
will be able to carefully adjudicate al
allow IS 600 claims during the present II
> cal year. The appropriation for the tisc
l. year lS90-91, was s127, 6S5, 1889. and ii
;e amount expended S119, $40, GAG. 20, Ieaviu
|. an unexpended surplus of 50, l55, 144.6
J. The commissioner is quite confident tn,
n there will be no call this year for a q
3 fienciency appropriation. The mistai
! which has been made by many in their e.
aggerated estimates of the cost of pc
! sions, is in not taking account of tt
II diminished value of first payments, und,
the recent legislation. These paymen
re under the laws, have been for many year
very large, as the pensions, when allowet
dated from the time of filing the CLAIM
and most Of these claims had been pen
= ing for years.
y The first payments under the law
June, 1890, are relatively small, and
the per cent. of these cases increases, al