Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-12-18
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Mobiles Annual Re-
port Of His Work.
Rapid Settlement of the New
Territory of Oklahoma.

Secretary Mobiles annual report Of the
Department of the Interior for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1891, is a bulky and
comprehensive document. The work &C
compished by the Department in the past
year has been of immense volume and OF
signal Importance.
The General Land Office is nearly abreast
of its work: the Indian Bureau is accom-
plishing the rapid disintegration of the Indi-
an reservations, the severance or tribal
relations and the education of the
Indian youth; the Pension Office is
rapidly completing the allowance of
all pensions legally possible under the laws,
moving at the rate of about 30 900 month;
the census has been taken and its publica-
lions rapidly going on; the Geological Sur
vey is keeping up its 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
besides having distributed the vast
fund allowed the agricultural colleges
for white and colored pupils in the different
States is engaged in new plans for the accu-
mutation and distribution of information use
full for the schools and their better manage
ment; and the Patent Office, having cele-
brated its centennial, is still advancing in the
volume and variety of its Investigations and
patents. Besides all these, the management
of the Yellowstone National Park, the
Yosemite National Park, the SequOia
National Park, the Hot Springs of Arkansas
and of the other institutions under the Sec
rotary almost endless in number, are
viewed and many suggestions made as to
each.
The report gives history of the opening
of the new Indian purchases in Okla
homa to homestead settlers on Sep
TENDER % last nearly 100000 acres
being taken up between noon and
dark of that day, while 2719 In
allotment of 100 acres each. The other Indian
reservations also opened are described. In all
more than 1G, 600 Indians have become citizens
and II GIG others have signitied their desire to
become citizens by taking allotment a total
of 1869 Indians naturalzed, and total of
%, 00O, 900 of acres acquired for settlement
during the present administration alone.
The Indian population is reported as 250,-
483, exclusive of Alaskans. The average at
tendance III the schools has large
ly increased, and the appropriation
for the support of the Indian
schools for 1892 is 50, 291,6 AS a rule the
Indians have consented SO readily to send
their children to school that it has not been
found necessary to compel attendance.
The turbulence of the Sioux, which cul-
minated in the fight at Pine Ridge last
December. is attributed to various causes
summarized follows 1. The fact
that they were warlike Indians and
have record of victory in battle
under Sitting Bull 3 The excitement
growing out of the Messiah craze. 3. A
feeling of unrest engendered by factlonal
opposition by leaders of the non-pro-
gressive element to the act o 1889 for
the reduction Of the great Sioux reserva-
ton. 4. Failure to receive, through
want of appropriation by Congress, fulfill
ment of promises made by the Sioux COM
mission. 5. Dissatisfaction because OF the
statement that their agreement under
the act named prevented the trans
fer of band Of Indians from the
Rosebud to the Pine Ridge agency. 6.
Failure of crops of 1889 by neglect, and for
1890 by reason OF serious drought.
Z. Diminished appropriation for their
improvidently used issued after short
crops. s. Delay in appropriation unit
August 10, 1890, providing for the Indians
and preventing them from engaging In their
usual employment of farming during the
summer and fail months.
The report shows that there has BEEN
great decrease in tie amount of first pay
ments of pensions, owing to the act of June
%, 1890, which at the same time has ex-
tended the benefits of the pension
system to a larger class, and the average
of annual payments has also de
creased. 1t is believed that within the next
thirty months all lawful pensions will have
been allowed, when the first payments will
in the appropriation. The estimate for 1893
is S144, CSC 600.
The census has .oeen taken and it's publica-
ton is rapidly going on. The per capita
cost has been about the same as that of the
tenth census. 1t is estimated by the Super
intendent that to complete the work. includ-
ing the inquiries authorized by Congress
after the original appropriation was made,
will require a further appropriation of about
$1,000, OOO.
Particular attention is called to the report
of the Director of the Geological Survey. A
summary is given of the information con-
tanned in the annual reports of the Gov
ernOrs of the Territories, and much atten-
ton is given to the subject Of National
parks.
Much interesting information, gathered
from the first annual report of the Governor OF
Oklahoma, is presented. This land was
first opened to settlement April % 1889.
The population which in May, 1890 was
found to be O,147, is now estimated at
$4,000. Cities and towns have been
built, and every quarter section of
The first legislative Assembly met August
81, 1890 for session of 100 days at which
a very fair code of laws enacted. The
agricultural statistics show that during the
current year there have been under cutiva-
ton in wheat about IS, 900 acres, in corn,
S5,675 acres; cotton, 3o6S6 acres;
oats, 777O acres; Hungarian grass
II, $50 acres, potatoes, 1000 acres; rye, 1917
acres. Besides there were cultivated castor
beans, tobacco fax, buckwheat, peanuts, etc.
The value of wool marketed from February,
1890, to February, 1891, was $24, 259 and of
animals fattened and sold was $5l, 231.
In six counties mot including Beaver 5S4
out of the 600 quarter sections of