Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-01-05
WASHINGTON CHAT

Land Commissioned Hermann Says
that the timber which has beer esti-
mated on Leech lake and Cass lake
will be put up for sale about May 10.
The timber to be sold is located on ten
townships within transport reserva-
tions, and the amount to be disposed
of will be made public at an early
date.
The Land Commissioner has practi-
cally come TO the conclusion that the
dead-and-down operations on the In
dian reservations will come TO an end
after the work of the coming season
Trouble has constantly arisen since
the beginning of these operations, and
while 1t claimed by the officials that
the result has been fairly satisfactory
as far as the Indians are concerned. it
is deemed wise to discontinue the work
after the present season.
1t is not probable that the proposed
visit Of representatives Of the various
bands of Chippewas will alter the de-
termination Of the officials. although
the views of the Indians will receive
attention. 1t is not improbable that
the Menomonie plan. which has been
conducted with so signal success by
the Indians i'm Wisconsin. will be
adopted in the future, as this system is
very much in favor with some of the
officials of the department.
=
The report Of the condition of the
national banks OF Minnesota, exclu-
sive of the Twin Cities. has beer made
public. Compared with the previous
statement in September, it shows in
creased individual deposits and the
average reserve, while a shrinkage is
noted in loansa and discounts. Individ-
ual deposits in the current statement
aggregate SIT ,542. 500, against $1G,-
94S,SS1 in September, while the aver
age reserve has increased from 31.72
per cent TO 1908. Loans and discounts
in September were $14, GA, It's and
S14,230,I0 in the current report. The
present holdings OF coin aggregate
1858, IT'S. an increase Of more than
$4,000 since September.
Land Commissioner Herman denies
that a reduction is to be made of the
corps of estimators. The information
that a number Of the estimators
would be dismissed was based on a
communication from the commissioner
to a member of the Minnesota delega-
ton who recommended one Of his co.,
%stituents for a place on the Seelye
corps. The commissioners says the
contents of the letter were overlooked,
and that there was no intention to re-
duce the corps, as there were sufficient
funds to cover all expenses until
March /, when it is expected congress
will ave made provision for the next
year.
Protests have been received here
from Minnesota and other Northwest
ern states against the Cromwell bill,
recently presented in the house. The
bill provides that wne Of logs float
ing In streams shall be required to pay
to persons picking up such logs at the
rate of So per thousand feet. Lumber
men claim that the passage of such a
measure would be a hardship on them,
as it would require the employment OF
a large number of men, thus entailing
considerable outlay. 1t is probable
that IL the bill comes up ii will be de-
feated. Northwestern members gen
orally are opposed to the measure.
The officials of the Indian office are
worried yer the failure of the house
to adopt the provision of the Indian
appropriation bill providing for the
employment Of an assistant to the ar
chitect of the Indian office. The work
of this branch Of the Office has been
seriously hampered for some years for
want of help. and. with the increased
number Of buildings planned from
year to year, the school plans have not
received the attention required. The
Indian commissioner says that a pro-
vision should be Incorporated I'm the
legislative bill providing an assistant
TO the architect. and probably one adj
d.tional draughtsman.
The Indian commissioner ridicules
the idea Of another Indian outbreak in
Minnesota. rumors of which appear i'm
the newspapers which come here. The
commissioner says he has letters from
well informed persons on the reserva-
tino stating that there are no indica-
tons of further trouble.
DENIED ny ASHLEY.
Ann Arb0r Has Not Purchased the