The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-06
INTERIOR AFF AIRS
OF THE COUNTRY
Annual Report Of the Secretary is
Made Public.
INDIANS MAKE FAIR PROGRESS.
There Have Been No Serious Troubles
Durin. the Year-Public Lands.
Pensions and Census Are
Discussed.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The public
business has been promptly dispatched,
ard the work of the several bureaus and
offices is III a most satisfactory condition.
says the Secretary of the Interior, in his
annual report.
In addition to the accumulation of bust
ness arising from the extension and de-
Eelopment Of the country. Congress has i'm
posed new duties upon the department
without any material additions to the
force. The Secretary has accordingly sub
mitted to congress. in the annual esti-
mates. recommendation for ar increased
appropriation.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
The general condition Of the Indians dur
ing the year has continued to be satisfac-
tory: 40 disturbances or serious troubles
have occurred, and a reasonable degree of
progress toward civilization has been made.
The mana CEMENT of the Indian schools has
been good. and their increase in number
as well as in the enrolment and attendance
of pupils indicates a healthy and salts
factory growth.
The population of Indians exclusive of
those in the State of New York and those
in the five civilized tribes of the Indian
Territory. may be stated approximately
to be Isl, $685. an increase of So3 over the
previous year.
Five thousand six hundred and eighteen
allotmentS of land in Seyeralty We're made
during the year. embracing approximately
$50, 9Se . acres. The total number OF allot-
rnents of land made to the Indians since
the passage of the act of February Sth
7S7 ga Stats, 2SSl, number approximately
E2.36S, and have an aggregate OF I.Si5.5s0.2'.
The five nations, or tribes, Of the Indian
Territory comprise the Choctaw. Chicka-
saw, Greek. Cherokee, and Seminole. The
appropriate area of lands embraced in the
and Drfr mi Had
five tribes is l9I76,22S6 acres. with an esti-
mated aggregate population OF S4,.5O IN
dams. including freedmen.
1t is estimated that at the present time
there are approximately between 35ocoo
and 10000 white people, non-citizens, With
IN the limits of the five nations
No ailotments of land have been made
to the members of the five tribes, but in
the Creek Nation there have been recorded
10000 selections for allotments
The aggregate of appropriations or ac-
count of the Indian service for the fiscal
year ending June 30th. 1900, was S.,o'Ss6S.lS.
OF this &.5oi, 1881 was provided Tor IN the
act making appropriations Tor the cur
rent and contingent expenses Of the Indian
Department and for fulfilling treaty st1pu-
lations with various indian tribes. and
Sl74. 0S7.33S by various other acts The totat
amount appropriated on account OF me
Indian service for the fiscal year ending
June 3oth, 1901, is SS,SIS.239A, which Is
81 l2S 2S1 so more than for the current iiscal
year
LANDS.
The Secretary says of the othce OF the
Assistant Attorney-General:
..For- the first time in over twenty years
the work is now practically current, a re-
suit effected only through the unrenlttihs
efforts of the Assistant Acknowledgement
and his assistants in the dispatch Of the
extremely difficult public business intTust-
nI IN the,n. Their work merits ,he highest
commentator. and l take pleasure IN SO
stating.
Twentv-nine thousand five hundred and
1ortv-eisht patents for agricultural L nds
were issued during the fiscal year, con-
tanning approximately 4.721,6S0 acres. oe-
crease of 4.S59 in number. and lilo IN
acreage over the previous year. OF mineral
and mill-site patents LAS We're issued.
embracing an area of u SSSe y acres. a de-
crease from the former year OF ~ patents,
and 40 acres. Sixts-nine coal patents
mere issued. embracing a,1s9l6 acres. an
Increase over the previous year OF II
patents and 5.26s.c5 acres.
The report continues:
1.-The forest policy as inausurated by
my Immediate predecessor in Office has
been continued during the year. and the
result obtained in the conservation OF the
national forests and the protection OF TIM
her on reserved as We'll as unreseFFed
lands have demonstrated the wisdom OF
It's adoption and the necessity, In the IN
terest of the public. for its continuance
and increased appropriations by Congress
Tor the carrying on of he work
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