The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-14

| | am sure that secular education and
moral and religious teaching must be
| important factors in any effort to save
the Indian and lead him to civilization.
[ believe, too, that the REIMBURSEMENT of
tribal relations and the holding of land
in severalty may, in favorable conditions,
aid this contamination. 1t seems to me,
however, that allotments of land in
severalty ought to be made with great
care and circumspection. Ii hastily
done before the Indian knows it's mean
ing, while vet he has little or no idea of
tilling farm and no conception of thrift,
there is great danger that reservation
life in tribal relations may be exchanged
for the pauperism of civilization, instead
of its independence and elevation.
The solution of the Indian problem de-
ponds very largely upon good admins
tration. The personal fitness of agents
and their adaptability to the peculiar
duty OF caring for their wards is OF the
utmost Importance.
The law providing that, except in es-
| peclal cases, army officers shall be de-
tailed as Indian agents, it is hoped will
prove a successful experiment.
There is danger of great abuses creep
ing into the prosecution of claims for
Indian depredations, and | recommend
that every possible safeguard be provided
against the enforcement of unjust and
fictitious claims OF this description.
The appropriations on account OF the
Indian bureau for the year ending June
80, 1894, amount to $7,954, 962, 90, a
decrease as compared with the year pre-
ceding it of 1897 ,131 ,95.
PUBLIC LAND OPENED TO SETTLERS.
The vast area of land which, but a
short time ago, constituted the public
domain is rapidly falling into private
hands. 1t is certain that in the transfer
the beneticent intention of the govern
ment to supply from its domain homes
to the Industrious and worthy home
seekers is often frustrated. Though the
| speculatOr, who stands with eXtOrtiOn-
ate purpose between the land office and
those who, with their families, are in
vited by the government to settle on the
public lands, is a despcable character
who ought not to be tolerated, yet it is
difficult to thwart his schemes. The re-
cent opening to settlement of the lands
in the Cherokee Outlet, embracing an
area of 6,5OO,OOO acres, notwithstand-
ing the utmos tcarein framing the regula-
lions governing the selection OBLIGATIONS
and Notwithstanding the presence of
United States troops, furnished an eX-
hibition, though perhaps in a modified
degree, of the mad scramble, the violence,
and the fraudulent occupation which
have accompanied the previous openings
of public land.
concur with the Secretary in the be-
lief that these outrageous incidents can
not be entirely prevented without Il
change in the laws on the subject, and
[ hope his recommendations in that
direction will be favorably considered
| especially recommend to the atten-
ton of the Congress the statements con-
tanned in the Secretary's report concern
ing forestry. The time has come when
efficient measures should be taken for
the preservation of our forests from in
discriminate and remediless destruction
IN THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of Agri-
culture will be found exceedingly inter-
esting, especially to that large part of
our ctizeus intimate Y concerned in ag-
ricultural occupations.
On the 7th day of March, 1898, there
were upon its pay rolls 2,43O employees
This number has been reduced to 1850
persons. In view of depleted public
treasury and the imperative demand of
the people for economy in the admins
tratiOn OF their government, the Secre-
tary has entered upon the task Ofraton-
ally reducing expenditures by the elm
ination from the pay rolls of all persons
not needed for an efficient conduct of the
affairs of the department.
During the first quarter OF the present
year the expenses of the department ag-
gregated 1915, s76,76, as against $4O2,
O42 AZ for the corresponding period of
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1898.
The Secretary makes apparent his inten-
ton to continue this rate OfIeduction by
submitting estimates for the next fiscal
year less by 1904 ,2SO than those for the
present year.
Among the heads of divisions in this
department the changes have been ex-
ceedingly few. Three vacancies occurring
from death and designations have been
filled by the promotion of assistants in
the same divisions.
These promotions of experienced and
faithful assistants have not only been
in the interest of efficient work but have
suggested to those in the department
who look for retention and promotion
that merit and devotion to duty are their
best reliance.
The amount appropriated for the
bureau of animal industry for the current
fiscal year is $3.50, 900; the estimate for
the ensuing year is $7OO,OOO.
The regulations of 1892 concerning
Texas fever have been enforced during
the last year, and the large ock-yards
OF the country have been kept free from
injection. Occasional local outbreaks
have been largely such as could have
been effectually guarded against by the
owners of the affected CATTLE
While contagious pleuro-pneumonia in
cattle has been eradicated, animal tuber-
culosis, disease widespread and more
dangerous to human life than pleuro-
pneumonia, is still prevalent. Investi-
cations have been made during the past
year as to the means of it's correct dag
nosis. Much progress has been made in
this direction by the studies of the d-
vision of animal pathology, but work
ought to be extended in cooperation
with local authorities until the danger
to human life arising from this cause is
reduced to minimum.
The number of animals arriving from
Canada during the year and inspected
by bureau officers was 462 ,O92, and the
number from transatlantic countries was
,297. No contagious diseases We're
found among the imported animals
The total number of inspections of
cattle for export during the past fiscal
year was GIL ,542. The exports show a
falling Off of about 25 per cent from the
preceding year, the decrease occurring
entirely in the last half of the year This
suggests that the falling off may have
been largely due to an increase in the
price OF American export cattle.
During the year ended June 80, 1898,
exports OF inspected pork aggregated
2O,667 40 pounds, as against 80, 1922
S14 pounds for the preceding year The
falling off in this export was not con-
fined, however, to inspected pork, the
total quantity exported for 1892 being
66o, 400, GIG pounds, while in 1898 it
was only 527 bosses pounds.
join the Secretary in recommending
that hereafter each applicant for the
position OF inspector or assistant inspec-
tor in the bureau of animal industry be
required, as condition precedent to his
| apDOlDtmpnt tO pyhibit RI tho TTDita