Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-11-29
GREAT PACIFIC nd5 BIT.
URGES THE FUNDING OF - aE
PER CENT noNDs INA s
A THREE PER CENTS. Ss.
Says That Capitalists Could BE Sc
cured TO Take the bonds ana
Liauidats the Debt.

Washington. Nov. 2s.-Secretary
Hoke Smith, OF the interior department.
has made his annual report to the presi-
dent. 1t reviews the varied work OF
the department beginning with the
Indian service.
Referring TO the subject OF allot-
ments. the secretary says there are a
number Of changes which require con-
gresslonal action In regard to the
present system OF allotments, Accord
ing to the law an Indian becomes a
citizen OF the United States upon re-
ceiving his allotment. In many cases
he is ready to receive land before he
is prepared for the consequences of
citizenship. Allotments should be made
long before reservations are opened.
Each Indian should be settled UPON
his homestead and be selt-supporting
before citizenship is conferred upon
him.
The secretary presents a copy Of the
report of the Dawes commission. which
recommends.
|. A territorial government over the
FIVE civilized tribes adapted to their
peculiarly anomalous conditions, 50
framed as TO secure full rights OF resi-
dents In the same and without impair
AlE tht NtakNh VI AlAt NiAiENb
Indian or other person not an Intruder.
.. The extension of the Jurisdiction of
the United States court in the territory,
both In law and In equity, to hear and
determine all controversies and suits
of any nature concerning any right In
use and upon occupation of the trlbal
lands OF the several nations to which
any citizen indian or any person OF
the tribal government OF any nation Is
or may be made party, plalntlff OF de-
PENDANT.
The report estimates the amount OF
public lands undisposed OF to be about
100000, 900 acres at the close of the
fiscal year and shows that 'he total
receipts OF the year for public lands
amounted to over s2OOO.OOO, The TN
adjusted land grants to railroads
amount to nearly 10000, 900 acres. After
reviewing in detail the work " the
land office during the past Twelve
months he takes up the question Of the
disposition OF arid lands and the pres
ervation of the forests. He urges these
two questions are closely allied, for
the quantity OF arid lands far exceeds
the present water supply, even II It
were all utilized for irrigation. The
Increase of the water supply makes the
dependence upon the growth and pre-
servation Of the forests
one OF the interesting features Of the
tween the government and the Pacific
bond-nided roads In tho matter of coll
Letting the amount due the govern
ment from these ronds. The report
urges that two things are to be con-
sldered:
/, The collection of the debt due the
government
2. The creation OF great through
line from the Missouri to the Pacific,
which was TIE original purpose 81 the
government leading to the issue of
subsidy bonds, the amount of The In
terest which the government has paid
on them and the amount of the first
mortgage bonds.
The secretary snys the government Is
already out s1l7 $4,000 upon these
bonds only amount TO S6i.6i3.0O0; that
the property is worth vastly more thnn
the first mortgage bonds and that the
government In this can be protected
II necessary by taking up these bonds.
He says that all OF these bonds are now
maturing and draw six per cent, shat
they could easily be replaced with a
three per cent bond n the government
guaranteed them and as the government
holds q second lien and must protect
the property against the first Hen the
government should see to II II sny
rev ret OF bonds are Issued that the
first mortgage bonds draw no higher
rate OF interest than government bonds
should draw. As the road could easily
earn the interest on these bonds and
should be found who would buy the
property subject to the bonds and pay
a fair suri into the treasury each year
towarda their llouidation