Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-12-09
Our NAVY.

class two of the second and ds 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 rs II
has been impossible to obtain II nt the price
fixed by congress- 1t Is Of great importance
that congress provide this armor as until then
the ships nre OF no fighting value The pres
ent naval force especially In view OF It's
increase by ships now under construction,
while not as large Us that OF n few other pow
ers, Is formidable force, It's vessels IRE the
very best OF each type and with the increase
that should be made TO II from time TO time In
the future, and careful attention to keeping II
In high state Of efficiency and repair, II is
well adapted TO the necessities Of the country.
There should also be ample provision for
powder and proioctiles and munitions OF war
ana for an increased number OF officers and en-
listed men. Some additions are also necessary
TO our navy yards for the repair and care OF
our large number OF vessels AS there are now
on the stocks Ave battleships OF the largest
class, which cannot be completed for year or
two, concur with the recommendation OF the
secretary OF the navy for an appropriation
authorizing the construction OF one batteship
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
construction; 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-
lions now existing demand material changes In
the laws relating to the territory. The great
influx OF population during the past summer
and full and the prospect Of n stlll 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 n more thorough government
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 II should not be
construed to put In force the general land laws
OF the country, BY act approved March 3, 1891,
authority was given for entry OF land for town
site purposes and also for the purchase Of not
exceeding 1850 acres then or thereafter occupied
for purposes OF trade md manufacture Tho
purpose OF congress MS thus far expressed has
been that only such rights should apply to the
territory MS should be specifically named.
IL will be seen how much remains 10 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, 1907, to divide that territory
into two land districts and TO designate the
boundaries thereof and TO appoint registers
nnd surveyors of said land Offices; and the pres
ident was also authorized to appoints surveyor
general for the entire district Pursuant to
this authority, n surveyor general and receiver
have been appointed with Offices mt Sitka, If
In the ensuing year the conditions Justify II,
the additional land district authorized by law
VIII be established, with an oflce ut 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.
l concur with the secretary of war in his
suggestions rs TO the necessity for n military
force In the territory Of Alaska for the protcc-
tion OF persons and property. Already n small
force, consisting OF % men with two officers
under command Of Lieut.. Col. Randall OF tho
Eighth infantry, has been sent to ST, Mchaels
to establish military post At IL is to the In
terest OF the government to encourage the de-
yelOpment and settlement Of the country and
Its duty TO follow up It's citizens there with the
benefits Of legal machinery | earnestly urge
upon congress the establishment Of II system
Of government OF such Aoxbility Us will enable
II 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 ure wintoring there without the
means Of leaving the country are confirmed In
such u measure as TO justify bringing the mat
ter TO the attention Of congress Access to that
this winter can 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
our fellow-citi2ens be further verified. every
effort at any cost should be made TO carry them
relief,
The Indian Problem.
For II number Of years past II has been ap-
parent that the conditions under which the five
civilized tribes were established In the Indian
territory under trenty provisions with the
United States, with the right OF sef-goyern-
ment and the exclusion Of all white persons
from within their borders, have undergone so
complete change as to render the continuance
Of the system thus lnauguratcd practically i'm
possible. Tho total number Of the Ave civilized
tribes as shown by the last census Is 49, 19i,
and this number has not materially increased;
while the white population IS estimated at
from 200, 900 TO 25O,0JJ, which by permission OF
the Indian government has settled In the
territory. The present area Of the Indian
territory contains j6l acres much 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 Of the tribal authorities, have made per-
manent homes for themselves. Numerous
towns have been built in which from 800 TO
: NTs.n..
lences and business houses have been erected
In many Of them Large business enterprises
lre 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 or tribes,
OF their children who were
born in the territory are 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 or property of these white
,itizens Is made by the tribal governments ana
courts The secretary Of the interior reports
that leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
If land to the exclusion Of the common people
and government by an Indian aristocracy has
been practically established, 20 the detriment
)f the people. II has been found impossible
or the United States to keep It's citizens out
Jf the territory and the executory conditions
contained In treaties with these nations have
or the most part become impossible OF execu-
Ion Nor has II been possible for the tribal |
governments to SECURE to each individual
indian his full enjoyment In common with
)ther Indians OF the common property
If the nations Friends Of the Indians
laYe long believed that the best interests Of |