New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-30
SECRETARY MOBILES REPORT.
GREAT PROGRESS MADE BY The INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT
REVIEWING THE CONDITION OF THE TERRI
TORIES AND REsERvAuoNs-THE LAND
GRANT AILRoAps-IRRIGATTos AND

Washington, Nov. o9-The annual report OF the
Secretary OF the Interior to the President exhibits
clearly the condition Of affairs in this great Depart
ment The work accomplished during the last fiscal
year has been OF immense volume and OF signal I'M
porance. The General Land Office is nearly abreast
of its work; the Indian Bureau Is accomplishing the
rapid disintegration of the Indian reservations, the
severance Of tribal relations and the education OF the
Indian youth. The Pension Office is rapidly com
plehng the allowance OF all pensions legally possible
under the laws, moving at the rate Of about 10000
! month; the Census has been taken and Its pubnca
tons rapidly going on the Geological Survey is keep
ing 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 colored
pupils in the different states Is engaged in new plans
for the accumulation and distribution Of information
useful for the schools and their better management
and the Patent Office, having celebrated It's centennial
Is still advancing In the volume and variety oil us
interesting and great Investigations and patents be-
sides 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 secretary
almost endless In number is reviewed with care and
many valuable suggestions made as 10 each.
The report gives the history of the opening OF the
new Indian purchases In Oklahoma, under the proch
nation Of the President september q, 1891, when
nearly 100000 acres were taken BY settlers between
noon dark, while o,71s Indians were ce 'ated TO
citizenship by TALKING allOtments of 100 acres each
Judging the future from the past, 1t is said. we may
expect TO these hundreds Of thousands OF acres
NOS only supporting great and prosperous community
but furnishing market for our domestic manufactures
and pouring surplus agricultural products into the
central markets of our country For is significant
f,pt thata ny Of
from the Oklahoma lands first opened by proclamation
on April % 1889, received in August last at one
OF the Armour elevators at Chicago and the population
has already reached $4,000"
over 10000 Indians have already berome citizens
Of the United States and about 1000 by taking
their aotmen;s have sgnihed their desire TO become
citizens. To these numbers should DO added The 1913
Indians In Oklahoma who have taken agreed 10 take
alotments total OF 1919 Indians naturaized and
total OF acres acquired for settlement OF about 23ooo
600 during the present Administration alone.
The number of agricultural patents which includes
those for homeseads. Issued for $50 was 7o141 for
1890 II 247 and for 1901 1850; and there were
left o final entries for such lands ut the end of the last
fiscal year, June 80, 1891, only e4,l12 These are
results that reach benefcently fellowcitizens In
their homes far away from the capital and by placing
IN the hands OF the pioneer the title rapeI TO his home
stead prove that his Government is mindful OF Its prom
ises and capable of living up to its professions
Much prominence Is gwen IN tDe report 10 ule suo
iect OF reservoirs and irrigation bitches for storing sur
pus water Of the and conveying 1t 70 arid lands
Under existing laws private corporations and assocls
dons are the Secretary suggests given the conro Oh the
water supply of the vast domain that may De reciaeu
by irrigation and this field Is being rapidly seized upon
Under the of March g. 1901 relating to TINS subject
there have already been fled maps OF locations OF sixty
one reservoirs and fortysix canals the canals ana
dltches being G3 SO miles in length The secretary deems
this subject one OF great and pressing importance ana
renewing the recommendations made IN MS previous
report urges that Congress he advised TO enact WITHOUT
DELAY. comprehensive laws determining the National
policy upon this subject.
Referring to the act of March 8, 1884, which author
zes the cutting of timber upon the public lands sub
ec IN the res of the Department. the Secretary states
that while this act desirable In some OF It's pro
yisons II would seem TO require further Amendment
The law gives every license for telling forests e only
restraint imposed being that which the secretary may
see III 10 enforce There Is no limit as to the ume
when the timber or lumber made from It, is 10 be used
II l. NOT provided that il shall be for the use OF the
person cutting IT, 1t may be cut and stored for sae
without violation Of law. The forests are es,ehun
to the future welfare OF country ana shouid ho'
he wasted or handed over to the spoiler.
The Indian population is reported as 2oo'4oo' eA
| o,.ive NJ natives OF Alaska. The number Of Indian
! youth enrolled and the average attendance III uD
schools has Increased The appropriations for schoos
have largely increased from year u year, ana tne I'D
| crafty of Congress has heen pronouceo during No
prcsent Administration. In 1893 the appropriation ior
snnport of Indian schools was Sl1IO,sl6, I'D loe1
81 s4277O aud for 1892 1t is so,201'GSo. The IN
dans as ruIe have consented readily to send their
children to school that it was not found necessary I'M
med TO enforce attendance a. authorized by aot OF
| March 3. 1891. The Allotment law, Commonly Known
as Dawes's bill" has secured for Its author tie praise
of all Interested in the welfare OF the Indians IL mas
been accepted as the very best means OF solving the
Indian probem and II Is receiving an administration
chiefly bv written consent and agreement BY the Ind
ans that promises to develop rapidly it, benefits 70 Tie
alotees.
The Secretary refers to tile relief afforded by the
act June -, 1890, TO thousands Of disabled VeteT
ans and their dependent relatives who through lapse
of time are not able prove the origin OF disability
in the line Of duty as required by prior enactnents
II IS shown that frs payments have greatly decreased
in amounts that the allowances OF original pensions
will soon all be made that there Will then be great
decline in the sum necessary 10 pay PENSIONS ana uie
lists will rapidly decline from death and other causes
There were 222 52i first payments made during the
fiscal year. requiring s35,552,274 81, being less In
amount BY $50 502 than the 13o, 6I4 first payments 81
The previous year required The average value of first
payments in the fiscal year OF 1880 was S4eo Il, Whe
the average value in 1891 OF first payments III all
claims was $3.50 33, and first payments OF Claims
under the act Of June %, 1890, only 81 rs The
preent issue of certificates is about 10000 per MONTH
and II Is thought that the Pension Bnyeau will be able
N carefully sdjudicate $4,000 claims during the
present wear The work at this rate will allow all
lawful pension claims within the next thirty months
and OF course all first payments will then have been
disposed Of This alone will cause drop Of $4,000
900 in the appropriation, and the LET will thence on
constantly diminish by natural causes II is preeleed
that the pensions WILL when tie highest point is
reached not exceed very greatly the present sum, and
he subject to a great decrease Immediately after. The
estimate for 1893 is s144956,Ooo.
The Secretary expresses the belief that the Eleventh
Census will stand as much fair and honest criticism rs
| any work Of the same magnitude heretofore zone,
either at home abroad The work has been zone
accurately and more rapidly thnn at any previous
consus and the great bulk OF IL Is completed. The
- ....a no.. hac Lner ahnnt The TINT OF the