St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-30
NH, NUBLES ANNUAL.
Review Of a Years Work Done
by the Department Of the
Interior.
Great Expansion Of the Public
Domain for Private Set
Element.
An Immense Number of Agri-
cultural Patents Issued
for HomesteadS.
Irrigation Given Attention
The Cutting Of Public
Timber.

the department of the interior was sent
to the president today. 1t says:
The general land Office is nearly
abreast of his work; the Indian bureau
is accomplishing the rapid disintegration
of the Indian reservations, the sew
erance of tribal relations and the
education of the Indian youth.
Tho pension Office is rapidly com
pleting the allowance of all pensions
legally possible under the laws, moving
at the rate of about $4,000 month; the
census has been taken and its pubica-
ton is rapidly going on; the geological
survey is keeping up its admirable
work and is selecting the reservoirs for
the arid lands of the far West
and Southwest; the railroad bureau
is making ready for the maturity
of the debts due from the subsidized
railroads, the Union Pacific and others;
the bureau Of education. besides having
distributed the vast fund allowed the
agricultural colleges for white and col
ored pupils in the different states, is en-
gagged in new plans for the accumula-
ton and distribution of information
useful for the schools and their bet
ter management; and the patent
office, having celebrated its centennial,
Is still advancing in the volume and
variety of its interesting and great in
vestigationS and patents. Besides all
these the management of the Yellow
stone National park, the Yosemite Ma
tional park, the Sequoia National park.
the Hot Springs OF Arkansas, and of the
other institutions under the secretary,
almost endless in number, is reviewed
and many suggestions made as to each.
Homestead Settlements.
The report notes an important fact, as
follows:
1.-The years of the present admlnistra-
ton have been marked TO a notable de-
gree by the expansion of the public do
main for private settlement. Euro
pean nations strive with one an
other to plant colonies beyond their
borders, even in Africa and on distant
Islands; but our country is so fortu-
nately situated that within its own
boundaries are vast tracts of fertile
land heretofore unused, on which COM
munitieS can establish themselves in
single day, and be protected by an
almost instantaneous but easy and
peaceful application of our system of
laws and government to their new rela-
tiOns.
sin two previous annual reports of
the present secretary the measures
taken and results attained in this diIec-
ton were set forth as the most impor-
tant events occurring in this depart
ment under your supervision. The mar
ration must now be continued for the
year just past"
The history is then given of the OPEN
ing of the new Indian purchases in
Oklahoma, under the proclamation of
the president, on Sept. %, 1891, when
nearly million acres were taken by
settlers between noon and dark:
while 2,718 Indians were elevated
to citizenship by taking allotments
of 100 acres each. It is stated that, as
before, SO this second contest of thou
sand of our citizens seeking personal
advantages under the most exciting and
trying circumstances, the sense of JUS
tice and regard for law controlled all
alike to such degree that there was no
occasion for interference by military
force, and the only injuries received
were purely accidental.
Judging the future from the past, it
is said we may expect soon to see these
hundreds of thousands of acres not only
supporting great and prosperous COM
munlty, but furnishing market for our
domestic manufactures and pouring sur
plus agricultural products into the
central markets of our country. For it
is a significant fact that shipment, by
special train, of a cargo of wheat from
the Oklahoma lands first opefled by
proclamation on April %. 1889, was re-
ceived iii August last at one OF the AR
mour" elevators at Chicago, and the
population has already reached $4,000.
The other Indian reservations also
opened are described and a summary
given of these fields for new colonies of
our people.
Over 5000 Indians have already be-
come citizens of the United States,
and about 1000 more by taking their
allotments have signified their desire to
become citizens. To these numbers
should be added the 1863 Indians in
Oklahoma who have taken or agreed to
take allOtments. A total of 1853 In
dians naturaliZed, and total of acres
acquired for settlement of about %, 0O0,-
600 during the present administration
alone.
Land Office Business.
In the execution of the public land
laws, the more liberal policy adopted at
the beginning of the present administra-
ton has been followed with gratifying
results. Technical rules and the mere
suspicion of fraud are no longer allowed
to suspend final entries. The number
of agricultural patents, which includes
those for homeSteads and presumption,
issued during the year was 114,36O.
which, allowing $50 acres to each
patent. would embrace an aggregate of
Is. 297, 800 acres.
The number of agricultural patents,
which includes those for homesteads,
issued for 1889 was 20, al; for 1890. H.
PAT, and for 1891, ia, $50; and there were
left for final entries for such lands at
the end of the last fiscal year, June cot
1891, only "a, 172. These are results tina:
reach beneficently our fellow citizens in
their homes far away from the capital,
and by placing in the hands of the
pioneer the title paper to his home
stead prove that his government is
mindful of its promises and capable OF
living up to its professions.
Irrigation.
Much prominence is given in the re-
port to the subject of reservoirs and ir-
water of the streams and conveying it
to arid lands. Under existing laws
private corporations and associations
are. the secretary suggests. given the
control of the water supply of the
vast domain that may be re-
claimed by irrigation, and this field
is being rapidly seized upon. The
United States, by existing legislation,
does not retain sufficient control. While
the expense of building these reservoirs
and bitches would be so great that the
United States may not endeavor to un-
dertake the work, it would seem to be
absolutely essential that there should
be reserved TO the government
power of forfeiture and resump-
ton in case of great abuse,
or conflict of interest between the
states, or of allowing the irrigation of
the fields described to fall Into the
hands of monopOlists without sufficient
protection for the people. Under
the act of March 3, 1891, relat-
ing to this subject, there have
already been filed maps of locations
of sixty-one reservoirs and forty-six