The times., 1898-11-25
AFFAIRS OF THE INTERIOR
Secretary Bliss Makes Public
His Annual Report.
RECENT INDIAN TROUBLES
Exhaustive Review of the Events of
the Ycar-The Development of
AiaslSn-RecIamutio of Desert
Lands-Interesting Facts About
Territories Reference to the
Frcedmen's Hospital Controversy.

The annual report of the Secretary or
the Interior for the fiscal year ended June
80. 1895 has been transmitted to the Pres
ident and was made public yesterday. II
reviews the work of all the bureaus un-
der the supervision of the department
and is accompanied by reports, in exten-
sive detail. of the commissioners of In
dian affairs and of the general land office
The increased sales of public lands Is
referred to. the cash receipts for the year
showing an increase of sSSi,s'5H over
those of the previous year. The entries In
Alaska have also largely increased. One
town site entry and fifteen non-mineral
entries have been made in the territory.
The town site entry, Juneau. and one nom
mineral entry have been patented. while
the others have been suspended for va
rious reasons.
To Reclaim Desert Lands.
Considerable space is given to the re-
port on the reclamation of desert lands
SO called from the fact that they do not
produce native grasses in sufficient guam
tity to make an ordinary crop of hay in
usual seasons or do not. without irriga-
tion, contain sufficient moisture TO pro-
duce a natural growth of trees or make
an agricultural crop of any kind in
amount TO make cultivation remuner-
aIiVe.
OF the three hundred and odd million
acres CT desert lands requiring irrigation
to render them valuable farming lands.
the available water supply is sufficient
for but II. u.5C0G11 acres. thus leaving an
estimated area of 25O, 600 acres suitable
only for grazing purposes.
The percentage of lands that can or will
DE so entered is of course a mere matter
Of conjecture, ultimately depending upon
a consideration of their proximity TO irri-
gable lands and the individual preference
of the entryman. 1t is known, however,
that the most valuable of these lands are
being selected by the States under their
several grants for educational and other
purposes: and while, of course, some
parts of the available water supply will
be used in the irrigation of these State
lands. by far the greater portion will re-
main in their natural condition and will
be- utilized for grazing purposes.
fT@ Thirty Forest Reserves.
The number of forest reserves at The
ci9se of the year, exclusive of the Afog
mac forest and fish culture reserve in
Alaska, was thirty. These were created
by Presidential proclamation under Sec
ton "a of the act of March 8, 1881. They
embrace an estimated area of i0,7I9,i1i
acres.
Since the close of the fiscal year the
increased appropriations which became
available on July !, 1888, have admitted
of considerable expansion of the forestry
service, enabling the department to inau-
gurate a forest system by placing a
graded force of officers in charge of the
reserves.
The good results OF this have already
been felt in many sections. The patroll-
ing of the reservations by forest rangers
has not only prevented destructive fires
from gaining headway, but has lessened
the actual number of fires this season.
The report sets forth the need for
amended legislation respecting timber on
Inteserved lands, and refers to the depre-
dalions. upon public timber, involving
large amounts of money.
Progress of the Indians.
The secretary reviews at considerable
length the detailed report of the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs The report says
that the progress of the Indians during
the past year, in civilization as well as
education, has been gradual, though sub
stantiaI. There has been but one dis
turbance or outbreak of a serious char
acter. and that was among the Chippewa
Indians of Minnesota. 1t was of very re-
cent occurrence, however and happily
has been suppressed.
The population of the Indians exclusive
OF those in the State of New York and of
those in the Five Civilized Tribes. may
be stated 10 be, approximately, $50 1S2
that of the New York Indians 531S and
nf he iNfl Trin
I7,457 freedmen, as 77,0lS.
The policy heretofore inaugurated of
extending to the Indians every facility
tending to make them an independent and
self-supporting class has been continued.
The acceptance by many Indians of the
opportunities thus presented to put them
selves In position TO acquire a knowl-
edge of farming, the trades and other
useful occupations, by means of which
they can compete with the white man.
has proved the wisdom of such course.
During the year there were employed
l,5l2 Indians In the agency service proper
as herders, teamsters, harness makers,
clerks, shoemakers, butchers, black
smiths, and kindred occupations, to whom
were paid salaries aggregating s2s6 2i5;
and In the Indian school service there
were employed LES for the work of
1urses, matrons, clerks cooks bakers
laundresSes, Industrial and other teachers
usually as assistants but occasionally at
The head of the respective departments.
receiving salaries ranging from $50 to $500
per annum, and aggregating s277.56
Since the passage of the act Of February
S, 1887. IS. .467 allotments have been made
to Indians, embracing an acreage of
e,70Se2s acres. Every encouragement has
been extended the Indians to go upon
these allotments and work the same.
Deprived Of Acting Agents.
Owing TO the necessities of the service
and the immediate requirements of the
War Department, the following officers
of the regular army, who had been in the
service of the Interior Department as act
ing Indian agents. were recalled TO their
respective regiments:
Lieut.. Sedgwick Rice, San Carlos Agency
Ariz.; Capt. William Z. Dougherty, Hoo
pa Valley Agency. Cal; Lieut.. Francis G.
Irwin, ir.; Fort Hall Agency, Idaho; Capt
George w. H. Stouch, Blackfeet Agency,
Mont; Capt. Charles L. Cooper, Pueblo
and Jicarilla Agency, n. Mex; Lieut.. Vic
tor T. Stottler, Mescalero Agency, n.
Mex: Major Constant Williams, Navajo
Agency n. Mex: Capt. Frank d. Bald
win, Kiowa Agency, Okla; Lieut.. Col.
Henry B. Freeman, Usage Agency. Okla. {:
Capt George A Cornish Uintah and Ou-
ray Agency, Utah; Capt. George l.. Scott
La Pointe Agency, Wis.
TIE department has regretted to lose
these officers. but great care has been ex-
excised in the selection OF their civilian
successors, and the present Indian agents
are. generally. of a high character, and
are proving to be very competent in the
execution of their trusts.
The following officers of the army are
stin connected with the department in
the capacity OF acting Indian agents: