Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-12-13

teresting branches of the public service con-
report and the valuable Recommendations of
the secretary to the careful attention of the con-
gress. The public land disposed OF during the
year amounted to 10. 400. 10O.7 acres, including
q, 87605 OF Indian lands.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
1t is estimated that the public domain still
remaining amounts to little more than COO
100000 acres excluding, however, about $780,
100000 acres in Alaska, as well as military
reservations and railroad and other selections
of lands yet unadjudicated.
RECEIPTS AND PATENTS.
The total cash receipts from sale Of lands
amounted to So 674 2S5 70, including $91 1881 .O3
received for Indian lands: Thirty-fve thou
tural lands and 800 patents were is
sued to Indians on allotments of their
ing unalienabie by the Indian allottees for
a period Of thirty-tive years after patent
There were certified and patented on account
of railroad and wagon road grants during the
year S65 $50 A acres of land and at the close Of
the year %, 100000 acres were embraced in the
list of selections made by railroad and wagon
road companies and awaited settlement The
selections of swamp lands and that taken as
indemnity therefore since the passage of the
nearly quite sc, 500 600 acres, of which So OO0
600 have been patented to states.
A NEW POLICY NEEDED
am of the opinion that there should be an
abandonment OF the policy sanctioned by pres
ent laws under which the government, for a
very small consideration, is rapidly losing title
which should be properly reserved as perma-
nent sources of timber supply. The suggestion
that a change be made in the manner of Secur-
ing surveys of the public lands is especially
worthy of consideration.
INDIAN ALLOTMENT
Though the condition of the Indians shows a
steady and healthy progress, their situation is
not satisfactory at all points. Some of them to
whom allotments OF land have been made are
found to be unable or disinclined to follow ag
ricultural pursuits or to otherwise beneticlally
manage their land This is especially true of the
CheyenneS and Arapahoes. who, as it appears
by reports of their agents, have in many in
stances never been located upon their allot-
ments, and in some cases 90 not even know
where their allotments are. Their condition
has deter1Orated.
1t is evident that the evil consequences of ILL
advised allotment are intensified in cases
where the false step can not be retraced on ac-
count OF the purchase by the government Of
reservation lands remaining after allotments
are made, and the disposition of such remain
ing lands to settlers or purchasers from the
government am convinced that the proper
solution of the Indian problem and the success
OF every step taken in that direction depends.
to a very large extent, upon the intelligence
and honesty of the reservation agents, and the
interest they have in their work.
ARMY OFFICERS AS INDIAN AGENTS.
The indications are that the detail of army
officers as Indian agents will result in i'm
proved management on the reservations when
ever ailotments are made. and any Indian on
lot and cultivated it, or shown disposition to
improve it in any way such lot should certainly
De allotted 10 him. ana THIS Sn0uld De maze
plainly obligatory by statute. In the light Of
experience, and considering the uncertainty of
the Indian situation and its exigencfes in the
future, am not only disposed to be very eau
tious in making allotments, but 1 incline to
agree with the secretary of the interior in the
opinion that when allotmentS are made the
balance of reservation land remaining after
allotment, instead of being bought by the gov
eminent from the Indians, and opened for set
Element with such scandals and unfair prac-
| tlceS as seem unavoidable should remain for q
| time, at least common land. or be sold by
! the government on behalf OF the Indians in an
| orderly way and at fixed prices to be deter
| mined by its location and desirability. and
| held in trust for the benefit OF the Indian
proprietorS.
INDIAN SCHOOLS.
The intelligent Indian school management: OF
| the past year mas been followed by gratifying
results. Efforts have been made to advance
| the work in sound and practical manner
| Five institutes of Indian teachers have been
held during the year, and have proved very
beneficial.
| TIE PENSION ROLL.
At the close of the last fiscal year, on the
/ 30th day of June, 1894. there were $50 .5A pei
| sons our pension rolls, being net increase
| Of 3.5& over the number reported at the end OF
the previous year. These pensioners may bs
| classified follows: Soldiers and sailors
survivors of all wars, 753 96s; widows and rela-
! tives of deceased soldiers, 215.l6s: army nurses
| in the war of the rebellion, Ala. OF these pen
sioners 5000 are surviving soldiers Of Indiar
and other wars prior to the late civil wal
and the widows or relatives Of such soldiers