Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-07
INIERioR pEcAnrnEnI.
Pubiic Lands, Forests. Indians, Pc,
sions, Railroad. Etc.


INTERIOR DEpAHTdEnI,
Pubitc Lands, Forests. Indians, Pes.
aions, Railroad. Etc.
The report Of the secretary Of the In.
tetior presents q comprehensive and
interesting exhibit OF the numerous
and important affairs committed TO his
pervision. 1t is impossIble 10 thls
communication 10 DO more than briefly
refer to few OF the subjects concerning
which the secretary gives full anu In.
struotive Information.
The money appropriated on account
OF this department Tor its disbursement
tor the 6scAl year ending Jun SOth,
1896, amounted TO more than 1857 ,0OOI.
OOO, " a greater sum than was apprVpri.
at.d Tor the entire maintenance Of the
government for the two flscsI years
ended June 80. 1851.
Our public IsDOs, originally amount
Ing to /, $40, 000, 900 acres, have been 30
reduced that only about 900, 900, 900
acres still remain In government con-
troll, excluding Alsska. The balance,
being by lar the most valuable portion,
has been given away t. settlers,
to new states AMI to railroads, or solo
at comparatively nominal sum.
The paientiDg OF land in execution OF
railroad grants has progressed rapidly
during the year, anu since the 4th day
Of March, 1898, about 5000, 900 acres
have thus been conveyed 10 these cor.
porations. agree with the secretary
that the remainder OF our public LANDS
should be more carefully dealt with
ANA their alienation guarded ny better
economy aud greater prudence.
he commission appointed from the
membership OF the national academy
OF sciences, provided for by an act OF
Congress to formulate plans Tor ma
tional forestry system, Will, 1t 10 hoped,
soon be prepared 10 present the result
Of thorough and Intelligent examina.
lion of this important uOjecl.
The total Indian population OF the
u nited States is III 285 according to u
census made in 1895, exclusive Of those
those comprising the nve civilEed
trites. or this number there are APP
proximately 81, 1000 children OF school
age. During the year 28, 1893 of these
were enrolled In schools. The prog ress
which has attended recent efforts to
extend Indian school facilities and
the anticipation Of continued lib-
eial appropriations TO that end cannot
fail to afford the utmost satisfaction to
those VINO believe that the education OF
Inuian children 10 prime factor in the
accomplishment Of Indian civilizi lon.
Ii may be said in general terms that
In every particular the Improvement
OF the Indians under the government
has been most marked ana encouTsg-
ing. The secretary, the commissio ner
OF Indian affairs aud the agents hav.
ing charge OF Indians to whom alIot.
men,s have bssn made, strongly urge
the passage OF law prohibiting tue
sale Of liquor to ailotIees who have
| taken their lands IN severalty. 1
| earnestly Join In this Recommendation
and venture to express the hope thai
| the Indian msy be speedily protected
against this one greatest OF all evils tC
his we'll being anu advancement.
The condition OF hffairs among the
Ave civilized tribes, who occupy large
tracts OF land in the Indian Territory
and who have governments Of theil
own, has sssu ineu such an aspect "a Il
render II almost indispensable that
there should be an ehtire change In
the relations Of these Indians to tn,
general government. This seems 10 os
| utCotuhty VI tuoiE wv u
interests as well as for the protsc
ton OF nou-Indian residents A In
their territory. A commission or
gauixed and empowered under severa
recent laws are now negotiating will
these Indians Tor the IeliDquishmen
of their courts and the divisio 1
OF their common lands in Be vefalty
and arc aiding IN the settlement Of tht
| truubleEume question of tribal me m
bership. The reception ,of their first
proffers Of negotiation was not encouf
aging; but through patience and suci
conduct ON their part as demonstrated
tnat their intentions were friendly ant
In the interest OF the tribes, the pros
pect OF success has become NOR,
promising. The effort should be- I,
save these Indians from the coma
queuces OF their own mistakes an,
improvidence and to secure to the rea
Indian his rights as against intruder
and proiefseu friends who profit by hi
retrogIession. A change is als
needed to protect life and propert.
through the operation OF courts con
Quoted according to strict justice an,
strong enough to enforce their man
dates, As q sincere friend OF the In
dian l am exceedingly anxious tina
these REFORMS should be accomplished
with the consent and ald OF tue tribe
and that no necessity may be presente
for radical or drastic legislation.
hope, therefore, that the commission
nOw conducting negotiations will 500
De able TO report that progress has beel
existing difficulties.