Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-12-16
Our Nav.

class two OF the second and - other vessels.
ranging from armored cruisers to torpedo boats
There are under construction five battleships
OF the first class. 10 torpedo boats and one sub
marine boat No provision has yet been made
for the armor OF three OF the battleShips, as 1t
has been impossible to obtain 1t at the price
fixed by congress 1t is of great importance
that congress provide this armor. as until then
the ships are OF no fighting value The pres
emit naval force especially in view Of its
increase by ships now under construction,
while not as large that OF few other pow
ers, is q formidable force, its vessels are the
| very best OF each type, aud with the increase
that should be made to it from time to time in
the future and careful attention to keeping it
in high state of efficiency and repair. it is
well adapted to the necessities Of the country.
There should also be ample provision for
| powder and projectiles and munitions of war
and for an increased number of officers and en-
listed men Some additions also necessary
| to our navy yards for the repair and care of
our large number of vessels As there are now
| on the stocks five battleships of the largest
| class, which cannot be completed for year or
two, concur with the recommendation OF the
secretary of the navy for appropriation
| authorizing the construction OF one battleship
for the Pacific coast, where. at present, there
is only one under commission and one under
construction. while on the Atlantic coast there
are three under commission and four under
constructions; and also that several torpedo
boats be authorized in connection with our
general system of coast defense
The Territory of Alaska
The territory Of Alaska requires the prompt
and early attention of congress The condi-
tions now existing demand material changes in
the laws relating to the territory. The great
influx Of population during the past summer
and fall and the prospect of a still larger immi-
grafton in the spring will not permit us to
longer neglect the extension Of civil authority
within the territory or postpone the establish
ment of a more thorough government
A general system Of public surveys has not
yet been extended to Alaska and all entries
thus far made in that district are upon special
surveys The act Of congress extending to
Alaska the mining laws of the United States
contained the reservation that it should not be
construed TO put in force the general land laws
of the country. By act approved March 8. 1891.
authority was given for entry Of land for town
site purposes and also for the purchase of not
exceeding 100 acres then or thereafter occupied
for purposes of trade and manufacture The
purpose of congress as thus far expressed has
been that only such rights should apply to the
territory should be specifically named.
1t will be seen how much remains to be done
for that vast and remote and yet promising
portion OF our country. Special authority was
given to the president by the act of congress
approved July "a. 1897, to divide that territory
into two land districts and to designate the
boundaries thereof and to appoint registers
and surveyors of said land offices; and the pres
ident was also authorized to appoint a surveyor
general for the entire district Pursuant to
this authority. a surveyor general and receiver
have been appointed with offices at Sitka If
in the ensuing year the conditions justify it,
the additional land district authorized by law
will be established. with office some point
in the Yukon valley. No appropriation, how
ever, was made for this purpose. and that is
now necessary to be done for the two land dis
tricts into which the territory is to be divided
I concur with the secretary Of in his
suggestions as to the necessity for military
force in the territory of Alaska for the protec-
ton of persons and property. Already small
force, consisting of p men with two officers,
under command of Lieut. Col Randall of the
Eighth infantry. has been sent to St Michaei'S
to establish a military post. At it is to the in
of fha
velopment and settlement of the country and
its duty to follow up its citizens there with the
benefits of legal machinery, I earnestly urge
upon congress the establishment OF system
of government of such hexfbility as will enable
it to adjust itself to the future areas Of great
est population
The startling, though possibly exaggerated
reports from the Yukon river country, of the
possible shortage of food for the large number
of people who wintering there without the
means Of leaving the country are confirmed in
such measure to justify bringing the mat
ter to the attention of congress Access to that
country this winter be had only by the
passes from Dyea and vicinity which is most
difficult and perhaps an impossible task How
ever, should these reports of the suffering of
fellow-citiZens be further verified. every
effort at any cost should be made to carry them
relief.
The Indian Problem.
For a number Of years past it has been ap-
parent that the conditions under which the five
civilized tribes were established in the Indian
territory un Ter treaty provisions with the
United States, with the right of self-govern-
ment and the exclusion of all white persons
from within their borders. have undergone so
complete a change as to render the continuance
of the system thus inaugurated practically i'm
possible The total number of the five civilized
tribes, as shown by the last census is 45. 494.
and this number has not materially increased;
while the white. population is estimated at
from POO, 900 to 250,0O which by permission of
the Indian government has settled in the
territory. The present area Of the Indian
% pnnt All mob Of
which is very fertile land The United States
citizens residing in the territory, most of whom
have gone there by invitation or with the con-
sent or the tribal authorities, have made per-
manent homes for themselves Numerous
towns have been built in which from 500 to
5000 white people now reside Valuable resi-
dences and business houses have been erected
in many of them Large business enterprises
are carried on in which vast sums of money are
employed. and yet these people, VINO have in
vested their capital in the development of the
productive resources Of the country, are with
out title to the land they occupy and have
no voice whatever IN the govern
ment either of the nations tribes
Thousands OF their children, who were
born in the territory of school age, but the
doors of the school of the nations are shut
against them and what education they get is
by private contribution No provision for the
protection of the life property of these white
citizens is made by the tribal governments and
courts The secretary OF the interior reports
that leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
of land to the exclusion OF the common people
and government by an Indian aristocracy has
been practically established, 20 the detriment
OF the people 1t has been found impossible
for the United States to keep its citizens out
OF the territory and the executory conditions
contained in treaties with these nations have
for the most part become impossible OF execu-
ton Nor has il been possible for the tribal
governments to to each individual
Indian his full enjoyment in common with
other Indians OF the Common property
of the nations. Friends of the Indians
have long believed that the best interests OF
the Indians of the Ave civilized tribes would
be found in American citizenship. with all the
rights and privileges which belong to that con-