Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-11-28

annual report Secretary Hitchcock Of
the interior department Endorses the
conclusions submitted by Commission
ar OF indian Affairs Jones regarding
the present Indian education system.
The secretary says:
"The management Of the Indian SER
vice in the field and in the schools,
while satisfactory under existing con-
aitions, is not deemed to be the best
for the welfare of the Indians, and diff
serept methods will hereafter be
adopted. The policy contemplates re-
curing the working by indian allottees
able to do so of fair portion Of lands
allotted to them, and the contributing
by their industry to their own support
of all not entirely disqualified by &C
tnal disability, physical or Otherwise;
the discontinuance of the issue of ra-
lions to those able to support them
selves"
The income Of the various Indian
tribes from all sources during the
year aggregated $5,338,388O, a falling
off of $260,952, mostly due to the ex-
piration of treaty obligations.
In the future full leasing privileges
will be confined to those whose dis
ability or inability actually disqualiacs
shem from working any part Of their
allotments and in a lesser degree to
those whose disability prevents their
working more than small part of
A. 10 I'M
clearly shown; all other allOttees to
be required to work at least forty acres
of their allotment.
The Dawes commission to the five
civilized tribes in Indian territory re-
ports that the rolls Of membership of
only one nation, The SeminOles, so far
have been approved and their lands
have not yet been entirely allotted.
The time cannot be fixed with certain
~ when the enrolment of the four re-
manning tribes will be finished.
Secretary Hitchcock recommends
that the commission be increased by
four members. He also fayOrs a mOdi-
Rcation of the law requiring distribu-
ton OF lands on the basis of equal
valuation and that definite period be
axed for the completion of the work.
The report says that the act Of June
8, 1887, known as the timber and stone
act, if not repealed or radically amend
cd, will result ultimately in the com
plete destruction of the timber on the
anapprOpriated and unreseryed public
hn hnd mi XynH
ing 10 the secretary, when reservoirs
must be built and managed as g. part
of national system of forest and
water conservation.
The report highly endorses the work
and recommendation of Commissioner
of Pensions Evans, and says that the
veterans have no more sincere friend
than their COmrade, the commissioners
who himself served as an enlisted
man in the armies of the union, and
he but maintains and defends the
honor OF their patriotic service, when
refusing to ignore both the letter and
the spirit of the law, he declines &c
permit the impostor, whether claimant
or agent, to share in the bouny pro
vided for the veteran and those de
pendent upon him"
On the question of reclamation Of
hhe arid region the secretary recon
mends that construction at once be
begun as follows: The San Carlos
storage reservoir in Arizona, reclaim
ing 100 900 acres of more of public
land a an estimated cost of 81, 040 900;
reservoirs in the Sierra Nevada iI
California for retaining desert lands
IN Nevada; the diversion OF St. Mary's
river in the headwaters of Milk river
in Montana An appropriation OF
$3.50, 600 is asked to carry on the hydro
graphic work of the geological sur
gey.
The secretary says that the net earn
ings of the bond aided and land grant
railroads amounts to over $4,000, 900
and the increase in gross earnings to
sS7,000000 The debt of the Central
Pacific road to the United States now
stands at $5S,S12,15.
Maratime Canal Report.
The secretary submits the annual re.
port received from the maratime
canal company of Nicaragua, which
shows that since its organization TO-.
las shares of it's capital stock have
been subscribed for at par, aggregat-
ing $1,0l4 500, and that the total
amount of cash received in the treas,
ury reported by the company Ia
$l,114,60S. The expenses of the com
pany have been $1,172,771 in cash, 81.
$50 shares of full paid capital stock
100000 of first mortgage bonds, and
its obligation for $1.S55.O0O of these
first mortgage bonds. 1t also has is
sued 100000 shares of its capital stock
at par value in payment of concession.
airy rights, etc.
Its assets comprise it's unused cap.
ital stock. the $51S,500 first mortgage
bonds, and the liquidation of the
claim against the Nicaraguan Canal
Construction company, the concession
etc, and the plant, railways supplies
and other property in central erica