The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-12-08

believed Is sufiicient for ordinary cruising pur-
poses in time OF peace. ce have now completed
and ~ process OF construction but four nrst-
class hattleships ana out few torpedo boats
The manufacture II armor requires ex-
pensiye plant ana AS aggregation OF IaanY
skilled worzmen. an the armor necessary 10
complete tho vessels now building will be de-
iiycrod before the lst OF June next II no new
contracts are given out contractors must dis
band their workmen and their plants must he
would not DO Wei under way until late In the
coming hscal year aud at least three years and
u half from the date OF the contract would DO
required for their completion The secretary
states that not more than 10 per cent OF the
cost Of such ships need be- included In the ap-
preparation for the coming year I recommend
that provision be ma q for the construction OF
additional battieships ana torpedo boats
The secretary recommends the manufacture
not only OF reserve supply OF ordnance and
ordnance material for ships OF tho navy. but
also a supply for tho auxiliary fleet. Guns aud
their 1ppurtenauees should be provided and
kept ~ hand for both these purposes We
have not to-day single gun that could be put
upon the ships Paris or New York OF the Inter
sSin 5 an NSss@,en company or any otaer
guns az the Washington navy yard II proceed
Ing satisfactorily. and none OF our new ships
VIII be required 20 walt for their guns or ord
nance equipment
civil service In the Navy.
The system adopted few years ago regulat-
ing the employment OF labor at the navy
yards IS rgidly uphold and hns fully demon
stratcd is usefulness ana expcdicncy 1t is
within the domain OF civil service reform
iuasmuch rs workmen are employed through .
board OF labor selected at each navy yard and
are given work without reference 10 politics
and Ia the order OF their application. prefer
enee, however. being given % army and navy
veterans and those having former navy yard
experience. Amendments suggested by OK
pericnce have been made 20 the rules regulat-
Ing the system. Through IT'S operation the
IA
proved IN efficiency and tho opportunity 20
work has been honestly ana fairly awarded 20
that 1; this system continues 90 be rtrictly
adhered 70 there viii soon be as %
natural consequence such an equaliza-
tion o. party benefits as viii rela0ve
all temptation 81 relax or abandon H.
The Fable Domain.
The report OF the secretary OF the inteflor
exhibits the situation 81 the numerous and in
tcresting branches OF the public service con-
nected with his department. 1 commend this
report and the valuable recon lamentations OF
the secretary TO the careful attention OF the
congress, Tho public land disposed 81 during
tho year amounted 20 10 400 100 acres,
including ~ s160j OF Indian lands IL IS
estlmStea that the public domain still
remaining amounts TO little more rcan
900 0OlO00 acres. including. however. aboLs
800 OOlOOl acres IN Alaska as well az military
reservations and railroad and other selections
OF lands yOt unad1udcatod Tho total cash re-
cepts from sale OF lands amounted TO g. GA
M ~ including s0igsl.0 3 received for Indian
lands Thirty-hyc thousand patents were Is
sued for agricultural lands ana 300 patents
we're issued 90 Indians on allotmcnts OF their
lands In severalty, tho land so allotted
belng inalienaBle by the Indian nj
lOttoes for q period OF twenty-five years
after patent They were certified and
patented on account ~ railroad and wagon
S65.5ib. 45 acres OF land and NJ the close OF the
year ~ 900 600 acres were embraced IN the lists
OF selections made Ivy railroad and wngOn-road
companies md awaited settlement The
legtiUue % rs
demnity therefor since the passage OF the act
providing for the same In 1919, amount 20
nearly or quite $1,000 900 acres. OF which hs.O)O
OOO have been patented 60 states. About l3S-
OOO acres wern patented during the last year.
Nearly 10000 acres OF school ana education
grants were approved during the year. and az
its close 80. 1858 ~ acres remained unadjustod
Protection OF the Lands.
IL appears that the appropriation for the
current year on account of special service for
the protection Of the public lands and the tim-
Der thereon IS much less than those for pre-
vious wears and inadequate for an efficient per-
formance ~ the work A larger sum OF money
than has been appropriated during number
% years past on this account has been re-
turned 10 the government as a result OF the
lahors Of those employed ia the particular
service mentioned, and ] hope II Will not be
crippled by insufficient appropriation. / fully
indorse the recommendation OF the secretary
that adequate protection be provided FOR our
forest reserves and that com prehenstvc for
estry system be inaugurated. such Keepers
and superintendent as are necessary % pro-
provided. l am of the opinion that there
should be an abandonment 81 the policy sane
toned by present laws under which the gov
eminent for very small consideration Is rap
idly losing title 90 immense tracts OF land COW
cred with timber which should be properly re-
served rs permanent SOURCES 81 timber supply.
Land Court Needed
An exceedingly important recommendation
OF tho secretary relates 20 the manner i'm
which contests ana litiRated eases growing out
OF efforts % obtain government land are detor-
mined. The entire testimony upon which these
controversies depend in all their stages ~
taken before the local registers and receivers.
ana yet these ohicers have no power 70 subpoena
wltne5scs or 20 enforce their attendance 90
testify These cases. numbering 600 or 1000
annually are sent by the local officers TO the
commissioner OF the general land Ofcc for his
action The exiguncics OF his Other duties
obligc him 20 net upon thcdcciBions of tile rcg-
listers and receivers without an opportunity -
thorough personal examination. Nearly 100
o. these cases are appealed annually
from the commissioner 30 the secretary OF tho
interior Burdcncd With other important nd-
ministrntivo dutics, his determination OF these
appeals must he almost perfunctorv and
based upon the examination OF others, though
this determinations Of the secretary operates
as final adjudication upon rights 81 very
great Importance 1 concur In the opinion
that the commissioners OF the general land
once should DC relieved from TIC duty OF de-
Gliding iitigatcd land casas' that IA nOnpartisan
court should be created 10 pass on such eases,
md tina! The decisions OF THIS court should be
the department. are now final.
Alietusents IN severnlty.
! have always believed thst aliotments or
reservation lands TO Indians ia severalty should
be made spuringly or at least slowly and with |
the utmust caution. Ina these DAYS when white !
nRrlcnlturists and stock rAlsers 81 experience
and intell gence ind their lot hard one wo |
ought NOS 10 expect Indians. unless ftr adj
Ynnced Ia civilization ana habits OF industry. |
20 support themselves on the small tracts % |
land usually allotted % them. II the sclf-suf-
porting scheme by allotment fails the wrctchcd I
pauperism % she ullOttccs which result. IS /
worse than their 0Figlnal condition 81 regu- |
lated dependence m IL evident that the ovil !
~ ~ advised allotmcnts are In |
ten>incd Ia eases whore tie false step cannot |
he rotrcatcd on account II the purchase 5y the |
governments u reservation lands remaining /
after allotments are made and the disposition |
81 such remaining lands 90 settlers " par
chnsers from the government
Honesty la Dealing with the Indians.
Whenever aiiotmrnts ore made ana any In |
dian on tho reservation has previously settled |
upon lot and cultivated II. or shown dis I
positlpn - improve 10 IN any way. such lot /
should certainly be allotted 20 him and this /
should be made plainly obligatory by statute. |
In tho light Of experience, and considering the I
uncertainty " tho Indian situation and its cXi-
genclcs IN the future. ] am not only dis |
posed To be- very cautious In mllir9 al /