Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-10
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The Remainder of Our Public Land
should be Carefully Guarded.

The report Of the secretary Of the interi-
or presents IA comprehensive and Interesting
exhibit of the numerous and important
affairs committed to his supervision. Ii is
impossible in this communication 10 do
more than briefly refer to a few Of the sub
jects concerning which the seer stary gives
full and Instructive information. The mon
ey appropriated on account of this depart
ment for its disbursement for the fiscal
year ended June 30. 1896, amounted TO
more than Sl5T. 900, 1000. or n greater sum
than was appropriated for the entire main
tenace of the government for the two fiscal
years ended Jurc 80. 1851.
Our public lands. originally amounting 20
1 $40, GOO. 900 acres. have been reduced that
only about 600. 0G.0o acres still remain In
government control excluding Alaska. the
balance being by fax the most valuable
portion. has been given away TO settlers. to
new states and To railroads, or sold at a
cor paratively nominal sum The patent
Ing Of land In execution Of railroad grants
has progressed rapidly during the year, and
since the 4th day of March. 1893. about
%, OO0,0 900 acres have thus been conveyed
to these corporations | agree with the see
rotary that the remainder OF our public
lands should be more carefully dealt with.
and their alienation guarded by better
ecopomy and greater prudence.
The commission appointed from the mem
bersirip OF the National Academy of Sci
ences, provided far by an act or congress
to formulate plans for a national forestry
system. will. II Is hoped, soon be prepared
to present the result OF a thorough ana IN
telligent examination OF this Important
subject.
The total Indian population OF the United
States Is Iii. 23J. according to n census
made In 1895, exclusive OF those within the
STATE OF New York aud those comprising:
the five civilized tribes. Or this number.
there are approximately $4,000 children OF
school age. During the year, 23.303 OF tdese
were enrolled In the schools. The progress
which has attended recent efforts TO extend
indian school facilities ard the antie pa
tion of continued liberal appropriations 10
that end cannot fail 10 afford the utmost
satisfaction to those who believe that the
education OF Indian children Is y pfine
factor in the accomplishment OF indian cf~
i~iization. Ii may be said. IN general terms.
that in every particular the improvement
II the indians under govern hent hHs peeh
most marked and encouraging. The -ecfe
tary. the commissioners of Indiaa affairs alti
the agents having charge OF Indians 10
| whom ailntments have been made, strongly
! nrge the passage of a law prohibiting fae
sale OF iiuuor 10 a~liottees who have takEa
heir lands In seyeralty. | earnestly join ~
( this recommendation. aud venture 10 ex-
Dress the hope that the lndian rl9y flr
speedily protected against the greatest or
ali obstacles 70 his we'll being and asgdayf-
ment.
Pensions.
The dlminution OF our enormous i;eus g
| oil and the decrease Of pension eyps'et
ure which have been so oftrn coinarp3&
oretold, still. fail In material reaNza..o's
T. ~ ~ III N~ 0 IN.