The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-04
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
Hoke Smiths Recommendations on
LANDS and Indians Conourred in.


The report of tho secretary of the interior sx-
hibits tue situation of the numerous and inter
ssting branches Of the public service connected
with his department l commend this report
aud the valuable recommendations OF the sec
retary TO the careful attention OF congress. The
public lands Opposed o. during the year
amounted 20 1906, LOOT acres, including sss.-
$3.50 acres OF Indian lands. II is estimated that
the public domain stfu remaining amounts 10 q
little more than COO 100000 acres, excluding,
however, about sSSooo,ooo acres in Alaska. as
well as military reservations and railroad and
other SECTIONS of lands yet nadjudicated. The
total cash receipts from the sale Of lands
amounted to s2,G7s2So. %. Including foi,9sL o3
received for Indian lands. Tbirty-hve thousand
patents were issued Tor agricultural land, and
3,l01 patents were Issued Tor Indians on allot-
ments OF their lands in seyersity, the land 30
allotted being inalenabie by the Indian allot-
tees for period OF twenty-five years alter
patent There were certified and patented on
account OF railroad and wagon road grants
during the year s63,556.46 acres Of Land, and at
the close of the year 2, 10000 acres were en-
braeed Ia the lists OF selections made by ralI-
road and wagon road COMPANIES aud awaited
settlement The selections o. swamp lands and
thai taken as indemnify therefor since the pass
age Of the act providing for the same IN 1s49,
amount 70 nearly or quit so,ooo,0oo acres, of
which 5s,es0,000 have been patept ted TO the
states About is, 000 acres were patented during
last year, nearly $50 90 acres OF school aud eda-
estional grants were appropriated during the
year. and q the close i.2502eS 81 acres remained
unRGjuaged.
II sppesrs that the appropriations for the cur.
rent year on account OF special service for the
protection OF tie puhsie lands and the timber
thereon Is much less than those OF previous
years and inadequate for IN efficient perform
anes Of the work larger suna OF money than
has been appropriated duTinE a number OF years
past on this account has been returned 10 TIE
government as result OF the lsoors OF those
employed IA the particular service mentioned,
and hope e will not De crippled by insufficient
appropriations
PRESERVATION or THE FORESTS.
/ chearfully indorse the recomrae q atfons
OF the secretary that appropriate protection be
provided for cur forest reserves, and that COM
prehcnsive forestry system De inauguratod,
such Keepers aud supeEintendants as are neces-
ssry 70 protect the forests already reserved.
should be provided.
am OF the opinion that there should be an
abandonment Of the policy sanctioned by the
present laws. under " hlch tie government for
a very small consideration. Is rapidly losing
title 80 immense tracts OF land covered with
timber, which should Dc properly reserved as
permanent resources OF timber supply.
FUslIo LAND suRvRYA
The suggestion thai change be made in the
nAnnsr OF securing surveys OF the pa bic lands
il especially WORTHY Of consideration I np
satisfied that these survey. shoul4 Be Insde Nv a
corps 81 competent surveyors, under the INNS
diRse control ana direction Of the commissioner
o. the genera! and o4Aee
LAND CONTEST ooURr
An exceedingly IMPORTANT Recommendation Of
TIE secretary rsia. es - tas manner IA which
contests Or litigation cases growing oct Of efforts
20 obtain government lands are determined
The entire testimony upon watch ths=s contro,-
VERSES densna in All thesr staves Is tasea lf~a
the aocsl r gisterE ana receivers, aud vet these
oineers have no power 70 subpoena witnesses or
enforce faeir sieaGaaes 10 testify These
eases, Huu. osVing &o00 or 400 annually, are
sent oy the local O3cexs 70 tbs com isslouer Of
the general laaa orica for bis action The
rKlgenCtea OF his other Guttes GbliEe him 20 act
upon Ene decisions OF the registers and receivers
without al opportunity OF thorough personal
eXnms uafEon Nearly z,0C3 OF these are Rppsalsd
annually from the commissioner 20 the sScre-
tsFy Of rs Interior. bsTdsHsd with other iua-
porAant admin e.rzt.vs duties his determine
ton OF taese appeals must oe almost.
psrfnacspfY and based upon the examination Of
others. though This DISCRIMINATION % tie secrs-
tsrY opsTatss as g nEa4 aGlzdles slo2 pon rights
81 ssry great importance ] cgncBr ia tie opin-
ION khEf TIE cuED IA tssIouer Of TIE general land
once should - relieved from ths duty Of &C.
ci1lag lit gated land essss. that 4 ron partisan
csugI seoala b czeebe1 10 pzss npeR sucn cases.
ard sast ths dec ssDns OF tals court saDud be
Eu&l, 81 8sast 80 far ss tne decisions Of the de-
paFtulsut are now aasL Tie proposed court
mtEhs * gwen authority 70 certify Questions o.
Isw n msEters Of SPECIAL irapoytanos 70 the ss-
prg-aa ecuTt Of tns CniteG states or tie eourt ot
appeals tor ths District 81 Columbia for aecfs.
ion Iha ereation Of sueh tTlbuazl would sx-
Eedias lAs ssratsl % e1ses scd insure decisions
81 4 Eoere satisfactory character. The registers
ana receivers no originally hear and decide
these clsp1tes should - t2Ycstea WIG author
bsgore them
AELoTxzSTs 70 rspsAxs
EaouEn the condition of us Indians shows a
stea1y sa1 a healthy progress, their situation l.
not sAEls. tory ~ a. p0snts- sous o. ta+1a 90
whora loFuleais o. land have hesn made, A-s
Ioa&G - e unable OF aisiacllns4 70 follow AZ.
glcH4tssEEl pursuits o. % otasESfEs beEie Il y
nansse sh@ir land 4aIs ls ssgeel a. y
tr.gs q tns Chey@naes and AsEEsahs,es
VIE. Is q appears ~ shs report aE
t4slF agent hzgs N May Instances
never besa located upoa their al.osmsnss sad
~ soma cases Go NOT even knou wnere tbefr
s4AosHsnss &Ts. Their condition hzs dsteTio-