Waterbury Democrat., 1901-11-25
WORK OF INFERIOR.
Secretary Hitchcock's Annual Report
 Published.

Published.
 WASHINGTON. Nov. 25.-The an- nual report of Secretary Hitchcock of the interior department is made pub lie. It indorses the conclusions sub mitted by Commissioner of Indian Af- fairs Jones regarding the present In dian education system. The secretary says:
 .'The management of the Indian serv .ce ill the field and in the schools, while satisfactory under existing conditions, is not deemed to be the best for the welfare of tho Indians, and different methods will hereafter be adopted. This policy contemplates requiring the working by Indian allottees able to do so of fair portion of lands allotted them and the contributing by their industry to their own support of all not entirely disqualified by actual dis ability, physical or otherwise, the dis continuance of the issue of rationS to those able to support themselves and the extension to the latter of every possible aid for their well being and encouragement, the Inauguration of industrial training i'll all schools where not now established, so that such In dians of both sexes may be taught the trades or industries adapted to their circumstances"
 The income of the various Indian tribes from all sources during the year aggregated $5,33S, ,8S0, falling off of S260,952, mostly due to the expiration of treaty obligations.
 The report says that the act of June 3, 1SS7 known as the timber and stone act, if not repealed or radically amend ed will result ultimately in the com- plete destruction of the timber on the unapproprfated and unreserved public lands.
 The time has arrived, according to the secretary, when reservoirs must be built and managed as part of nation al system of forest and water conser- vation. They cannot be successful if maintained, however, without thor ough system of forest protection. The introduction of practical forestry on the forest reserves has now begun.
 Legislation to correct the abuses that have grown up ill the practice of lieu selections of land is urged. The report highly indorses the work and recom- mendation of Commissioners of Fen sions Evans and says that the veterans nave no more sincere friend than their comrade, the commissioner, who him. self served as an enlisted man in the armies of the Union, and he but main tains and defends the honor of their patriotic service when, refusing to ig- nore both the letter and spirit of the law. he declines to permit the impostor, whether claimant or agent, to share Ill the bounty provided for the veteran and those dependent upon him."
 On the question of reclamation of the arid region the secretary says:
 .sThe investigations which have been carried on demonstrate that there is no one question now before the people of the United States of greater impor- tance than the conservation of the wa ter supply and the reclamation of the arid lands of the west and their settle ment by men who will actually build homes and create communities. It is recommended that construction he commenced at once as follows: The San Carlos storage reservoir in Arizona. reclaiming 100000 acres oI more Of public land at an estimated cost of S1. .O4O, ,O00; reservoirs in the Si erra Nevada in California for reclaim ing desert lands in Nevada and the di version of the St. Mary river into tho 1 head waters of Milk river ill Montana. An appropriation of $250,0 is asked 1 to carry on the photographic work or 1 the geological survey.