The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-25
RECLAIM ARID
LANDS OF WEST
Hitchcock viii Urge Congress to
Take Action.
VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS
TREATS OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
AND FOREST RESERVES.

WASHINGTON. NOV. 24-The an
wv nual report of Secretary Hitch
cock Of the interior department,
made public today, endorses the con-
illusions submitted by Commissioner of
Indian Affairs Jones regarding the
present Indian education system The
secretary says:
The management of the Indian ser
vice in the field and schools, while sat
isfactory under existing conditions, is
not deemed to be the best for the well
fare of the Indians, and different
methods viii hereafter be adopted.
This policy contemplates requiring the
working by Indian allOttees able to
do so, Of a fair portion of lands al
lotted them and the contributing by
their industry to their own support of
all not entirely disqualified by actual
disability physical or otherwise; the
discontinuance of the issue Of rati1ns
to those able to support themselves
and the extension to the latter Of ev-
cry possible aid for their we'll being
and encouragement: the Inauguration
of industrial training in all schools
which are not now established. so that
such Indians of both sexes may be
taught the trades or Industries adapt
ed to their circumstances.
Education of Indians.
The income of the various Indian
tribes from all sources aggregated So
3SS.SS0, q falling of of $3.50, 952 mostly
due to the expiration of treaty Obliga-
tions. The curriculum of Indian
schools. the secretary says. should be
restT cted to the common school course
and the further extension of non
reservation schools should not be per
mitted.
In the future full leasing privileges
win be conferred to those whose dis
ability or inability actually disqualify
them from working any part of their
allotments. and in a lesser degree 10
those whose disability prevents their
working more than 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
civilized tribes in the Indian territory
reports that the rolls Of membership
Of only one nation. the SeminOIes, so
far have been approved, and their
lands have not yet been entirely al
lotted. The time cannot be fixed with
certainty when the enrolment of the
four remaining tribes viii be finished.
There is a vast amount of labor yet
TO be performed by the commission.
and Secretary Hitchcock recommends
that the commission be increased -
four members.
Wants Act Repealed.
The report says that the act OF June
3, 1887, known as the timber and stone
act, If not repealed or radically amend
ed, VIII result ultimately i'm the COM
piete destruction 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 part of a
national system of forest and water
conservation. They cannot be success
ful if maintained, however, without a
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 commits
siOner of the land Office, is that addi-
tional forest reserves, with boundaries
drawn to li0erate the smallest amount
Of scrip, should be created during the
winter.
The good win Of the residents in
or near the reserves should be gained.
forest fires guarded against and the
resources of the reserves should be