The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-12-09
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Noble Has Had Busy Term,
with ANY Amount of Work.

Secretary Noble Has Had Busy Term,
with Any Amount of Work.
The work OF the interior department, "a
ways very burdensome, has bean larger than
ever before during the admin istration of Sec
rotary Noble. The disab lily peusion law,
taking of the Eleventh census. the opening of
vast areas of Indian lands to settlement, the
organization of Oklahoma and the negotia-
lions for the cesson of Indian lands, furnish
some of the particul rs of the increased work:
and the results achieved testify to the ability,
fidelity and industry of the head of the de-
partment and his efficient assistants.
Several important agreements for the ces-
sion of Indian lands negotiated by the COM
mission appointed under the at of March 2
1889, are awaiting the action of congress Per-
haps the most impOr ant of these is that for the
cession Of the Cherokee strip. This region
has been the source OF gre 1t vexation to the
executive department, AMI great friction and
unrest of settlers who desire to occupy and
the Indians who assert title. Tue agreement
which has been made by the commi ssion is
perhaps the most satisfactory that could have
been reached. 1t will be noticed that it is con-
ditioned upon its ratification by congress be-
fore March 4, 1895. The secretary of the il
terror who Aas given the subject very careful
thought recommends the ratification of the
ag :eement, and I am inclined to follow bis
recommendation. Certain it is That some &C
ton by whi this ntroveray shall be
brought to an end and these lands opened to
settlement is urgent.
The report of the secretary shows a very
gratifying state of affairs as to the cor dition
of the general land Office. The work of issu-
ing agricultural patents, which seemed to be
hopel ssly in arrears when the pr, Sc 1t secre-
tary undertook the duties of his office, has
been so expedited that the bureau is now upon
current business The relief TINS affor ed to
honest and worthy settlers up n the public
lands by giving them an as ured title to their
entries has been of incalculable benefit in de-
veloping the new states aud the territories
Court of Land claims.
The court of private land claims est alb
lisbed by congress for tue promoti IN of this
nolicy of speedily settling contested land titles,
is making satisfactory progress in its work,
and when the v ork is completed eat i'm
nstus will be given to the develop nent of
these regions where uns tiled claims under
Mexican grants have so long exercised their
repressive influence When all results are
added, the enormous cession of Indian lends
which have been opened TO settlement, aggre-
eating during this administration nearly
26,OO1,O acres, and the agreements negotiated
and no " pending in congress for ratification,
by which about ten million additional acres
will be opened to settlement, it viii be seen
how much has been accomplished.
The Indian Bureau.
The work in she Indian bureau in the ex-
ecution of the policy of recent legislation has
been largely directed to chief purposes, first,
the allotment of lands in severaity to the
Indians and cession to the United States
work of educating .he Indians for their own