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

i.iiAliS SUiiiittiSe. 81 1G WOIlu ucGuS
No assurance Of The peaceful purpose Of
probably be IN the future more
largely competitors n the commerce Of
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.
TEE INTERIOR.
The refoTt of the secretary Of the III
terror shows that a very gratifying prog
Tess 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 more
carefully conducted. The provision Of
adequate school facilities for Indian chill
dren and the locating of adult Indians
upon farms involve the solution of the
Indian 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, | think.
j II 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
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 BIZ 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 nave
resulted from an Indian incursion, /
placed at the disposal of General Miles,
commanding tne 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
TIE least possible loss of life.
LIE relation OF the five civilized tribes
now occupying the Indian Territory, to
the United States, | believe that best cal
culated to promote the highest ADVANCE
ment of these Indians. That there should he
within our borders five independent states
having no relations excepting those grow
ing out Of treaties with the government
OIL the United States, no representation in
thc nations legislature, its people not
c~itizenS, IS a startling anomaly. 1t seems
TO me to be inc vitabie that there shall be
| BSIDII long some OrEspnic chnnpaS in tina
relation Of these people to the United
States. The good work of reducing the
larger Indian reservations by allotments
IN saTcraity 20 the Indians, 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, gt0,GU0 acres of
lana, al! OF which was taken up by set
Tiers III a single day. The rush for these
lands Was accompanied by a great deal of
excitement, but was, happily Tree from in
ciuents OF violence.
1t "::s 3 source of great regret that |
was not able to open att he same time the
surplus Land of the Cheyenne and Arapa-
noe reservation, amounting to about three
HlAilon acres, by reason OF the insufficient.
cE or the appropriation FOR making the
ailOtments. Deserving and impatient set
tlcES are waiting to occupy these lands,
Il ! urgently recommend that d special
deficiency appropriation be promptly made
OF the small amount needed. so that the
ai.oGlnents may be completed and the sur.
Plus lands opened in time to permit the
settlers TO get upon their homestcadS in
the early spring.
During the past summer the Cherokee
commission have completed arrangements
with the NlGnltit, hlckapOo and TOnhaa
| II'itG-. - IAvDhNH /. thu avpA- ,rp,, =, M 70 =.
, f8tlhed by congress, over SOC, 600 addition
!. al acres will De opened to settlement il
Oklahoma.
The negotiation for the release by the
t.n,ETT.veS OF their claim to the Cherokee
strip has made no aubstantial progress,
e%~7T--'"'.'f' fFeE department is officially
ADVISED, pat II is still hoped that the
~c@ssl0ii OF this large and valuable tract
may be secured. tn price which the
co'iiIHl>oion WIS authorized TO oiTer-S1 p
per &cre-ls, III my judgment, when all
me circumstances as to the title and the
character of The lands are considered, .
far aud adequate one and should have
been accepted by the Indians.
Since Nlarcn j, 1889, about 23, 900, GOC
acres llaye been separated from Indian
reservations aud adued to the public do
mum ior the use OF those who wished to
Secure free homes under Cur benefcent
laws.
Court OF Land Claims.
Your atScn1ion is called % the difficulty
experienced by che secretary of the interior
20 the administration OF the law of March
j, 1851. establishing IL court Of private land
claims. The small holdings intended TO
be projected by the law are estimated to
De more tlan fifteen thousand in nEmEcr
Inc claimants are almost all deserving
ana their titles are supported by the
strongest equities. The strongest diff
lcuity grows OFT of land largely sur
SeNS;l nGc9rijrrr tn a,I~ ,r,ath1Is ,rl,;1a
inr holdings, many of which have been ir
the same family for generations, are laid
out In narrow strips g few rods wide upon
a stream II running back 10 the hills
for pasturage Il timber. Provisions
should be made fOrnumberlng these tracts
as lots and for patenting them by sue
nunbcrS and without reference to section
lines.
The administration of the pension bu-
reau has been characterized during the
year by great diligence. The total mum
Der OF pensioners upon the roll on the Both
day OF June, 1891, was 616, 100. There were
allowed during the fiscal year ending at
that time 250.5 cases. .Of this number
lO2,3o1 were allowed under the law of June
q, 1890. The issuing of certificates has
been proceeding at the rate of about 80
Uo per month, about IS per cent. of these
oeiiiS CASH uLuef Gne new law. Line com
missioner expresses the opinion that he
will be able to carefully adjudicate and
allow $500 claims during the present ifs.
cal year. The appropriation for the fiscal
year lS9O-9l, was Sl27, 6s5, 1881 SO, and the
amount expended SIG, $50, $40. 30, leaving
an uneNpended surplus of 50, 155, 144. 6l.
The commissioner is quite confident that
there will be no call this year for a de-
tienciency appropriation. The mistake
which has been made by many in their ex-
aggerated estimates of the cost of pen
sions. is in not taking account of the
diminished value of first payments, under
the recent legislation. These payments
under the laws, have been for many years,
very large, as the pensions, when allowed,
dated from the time of fling the claim,
and most of these claims had been pend
ing for years.
The first payments under the law of
June. 1890, are relatively small, and as
the per cent. of these cases increases, and