The San Francisco call., 1901-11-25
REVIEWS WORK
Of DEPART MENT
Secretary Of the Interior
Hitchcock Suggests
Many Changes.
Calls Attention to the Neces-
sity Of Reclaiming Arid
Lands. -


WASHINGTON, Nov. 24-The annual
report of Secretary Hitchcock Of the In
terror Department, made public to-day,
fndorses the conclusions submitted by
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Jones re-
garding the present Indian educational
system. The Secretary says:
The management of the Indian service in the
neld and schools. while satisfactory under ex-
isting conditions. is not deemed to be the best
for the welfare of the indians and different
methods will hereafter be adopted. This policy
contemplates requiring the working by Indian
lands allotted them and the contributing by
their industry to their own support of all not
steal otherwise. the discontinuance of the
issue of rations to those able to support them
possible aid for their well-beng and encourag ge-
ment: the inauguration of Industrial training
In all schools which are now established. so
that such Indians of both sexes may be taught
the trades or industries adapted to their cir
cumstances.
The income of the various Indian
$50. falling off of $3.50, ,952, mostly due to
the expiration of treaty obligations. The
curriculum of Indian schools, the Secre-
tary says, should be restricted to the
common school course, and the further
extension Of non-r4s servation schools
should not be permitted. In the future
full leasing privileges will be confined to
those whose disability or inability actu-
part of their allotments, and in a lesser
degree to those whose disability prevents
their working more than a small part Of
their allotments, all other allottees to be
required to work at least forty acres OF
their allotment
The Dawes Commission to the five civil
1zed tribes in the Indian Territory re-
ports that the rolls of membership of ony
one nation, the Seminoles so far have
been approved, and their lands have no.
yet been entirely allotted. The time ca-.-
hn ynd rryff h r%14x,
rollment of the four remaining tribes VII
'be finished. There is a vast amount of
labor yet to be performed by the commits
sion, and Secretary Hitchcock recon-.
mends that the commission be increased
by four members.
Tavors Construction of Reservoirs
The report says that the act of June g.,
1887, known as the timber and stone act
if not repealed or radically amended will
result ultimately in tn. complete destruc-
ton of the timber on the unappropriated
and unreserved public lands.
The time has arrived, according to the
Secretary, when reservoirs must be built
and managed as a part # a national syS-
tenn of forest and water conservation
They cannot be successful if maintained
however, without thorough system of
forest protection. The introduction of
practical forestry on the forest reserves
has now begun. The general policy, as
announced In an outline memorandum to
the Commissioner of the General Land
Office is that additional forest reserves,
with boundaries drawn to liberate the
smallest amount of scrip, should be Gre
ated during this winter.
The good will of the residents in or near
the reserves should be gained, forest fires
guarded against and the resources of the
reserves should be made available for the
conservative use of the people. Systemat-
ic investigation designed to make them
accessible and useful should be under
taken, and each forest reserve and part
thereof should be dealt with on it's own
merits.
The report highly indorses the work
and recommendations of Commissioner of
Pensions Evans, and says that the veter-
their Commissioner, who has served as
an enlisted man in the armies of the
United States, and he but maintains and
defends the honor of their patriotic ser
ter and spirit of the law, he declines to
permit the impostor, whether claimant or
agent, to share in the bounty provided
for the veteran and those dependent upon
him.
On the question of reclamation of the
arid region the Secretary says:
The investigations which have been carried on
demonstrate that there Is no one question now
greater Importance than the conservation of
the water supply and the reclamation of the
arid lands of the West and their settlement
by men who will actually build homes and
create communities.
Central Pacific Railroad Debt.
1t is recommended that construction at
once be begun as follCWs The San Car
los storage reservoir, in Arizona, reclain-
ing 1OO 600 acres or more of public land, at
an estimated cost. of 81 ,040, 600; reservoirs
in the Sierra Nevadas. in California, for
reclaiming desert LANDS in Nevada, and
the diversion of st. Mary's River into the
headwaters of Milk River, in Montana
An appropriation of $25c,0O is asked -
carry on the hydrograrhic work of the
geological survey.
The Secretary says the net earnings OF
the bond-aided and lard grant railroads
amount to over $1300O,OG0, and the increase
in gross earnings to $4,000, ,000 The IN
crease in expenses for the year was ovef
S24 OO0 900. The debt of the Central Pa
cifc road to the United States now STANDS
at $5S,S12,715.
The Secretary submits the annual re-
port received from the Maritime Canal
Company of Nicaragua, which shows that
since it's organization 11,145 shares of Its
capital stock have been subscribed for at
par aggregating $1,14o,G0O, and that the
total amount of cash received in the
treasury as reported 10y the company is
S., ia, ,6O3 The expenses of the company
have been 81, ,172,771 in cash. 1880 shares
of full paid capital stock, $5,000,000 of fiji st
mortgage bonds and its obligation for
$1,SS5, 600 of these first mortgage bonds. 1t
also has issued $50, 900 shares of its capital
stock at par value in payment of conces-
sionary rights etc. The liabilities of the
company consist of the amount still due
under its concession Of the S,SS5. 600 of
bonds mentioned and of cash liabilities
outstanding aggregatilg 100000. Its as
sets comprise its unused capital stock
the S115S, 100 first mortgage bonds and the
2420 shares Of capital stock received in
liouidation Of the claim against the Mica
raguan Canal Construction Company, the
concession, ETC., and the plant, railways,
supplies and other property in Central
America.
NOTED CATHOLIC PRELATE