The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-24
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Summary of Secretary HitchcOck's
RepOrt to the President.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-Ethan Allen
Hitchcock, secretary of the interior, has
submitted his annual report to the Presi-
dent. 1t is largely review of reports of
bureaus made public from time to time.
The secretary says:
al have heretofore had occasion to ad-
vert to the great increase in the business
of this department., and to the measure of
responsibility involved in its consideration
and dispatch. The past year has been
characterized by a further increase in the
volume of business, notably so in the Pat
ent Office, General Land Office, Geological
Survey and the secretary's office While
in consequence thereof, it has been neces-
sary, in some instances, to extend the hours
of labor, the service required has been
cheerfully rendered, and the work dis
patched in such an expeditions manner that
l am gratifed to state the public business
is well in hand and there is but little ar
rears; such increase in the force, ETC., as
existing conditions appear to demand has
been noted in departmental estimates to
be brought to the attention of Congress in
the manner prescribed by law.
considerable progress has been made in
the inauguration and carrying into effect
OF necessary reforms in various branches
of the service. The advisabiity of the
early enactment of legislation looking to
the reclamation of the arid lands of the
country has been frequently mentioned in
previous annual reports of the department,
and Congress at its last session recognized
the passage of the reclamation law ap-
proved June IL, 1902. This law creates
fund from the moneys received from sales
of public lands, to be expended in the con-
struction of irrigation works which pass
ultimately into the control of the settler
the moneys received therefor to be ap-
piled to the further extension of the irri-
cation system. The act Is general in char
acter, and leaves to administrative action
most of the details, thereby imposing upon
the secretary of the interior very great
responsibility in carrying it into effect.
New forest reservations have been es-
tablshed during the year, the forestry serv-
Ice extended, a better and more thorough
system of patroling the reservations has
been perfected and the work of reforesta-
ton on the various reservations has been
entered upon with satisfactory results.
THE unlawful fencing of the public lands
for grazing and other purposes referred
to hereafter has greatly Increased in some
sections of the West and grown so fragrant
as to cause much concern; vigorous meas
ures: however, have been pursued regard
ing these unlawful occupants of the public
domain and prompt steps taken looking to
the institution of civil or criminal proceed
lngs against them.
Timber on the unreserved public lands
cannot now be properly protected; existing
laws relating thereto, and especially the
act of June g. 1873 known as the timber
and stone act If not repealed or radically
amended. will result ultimately in the COM
plete destruction of the timber on the I'M
appropriated and unreServed public lands.
lHe SITUATION demands the passage OF the
remedial legislation this subject herein
after mentioned.
Under the act of Jan. IA, 1898 (25 Stat L.,
CAD, the Chippewa Indians failed to receive
the full amount OF money 10 which they
were entitled from the proceeds of the
sales of timber on their coded lands in Min
nesota, owing to improper classification of
lands, 10 fictitious values of timber fixed
petrated by the contractors for the hand
ling of the timber. Under the act of June
q, 1902. enacted by Congress upon the rec
ommendation of the department, timber
will be sold only under sealed bids and not
at public auction. The measurement there
of will hereafter be made at the stump. and
none is to be removed until ii has been cut,
banked and scaled where cut: the quantity
as per scale to be paid for at the price bid
per LOCO cubic feet insuring to the Indians
full value for their property. a result which
administration OF the old law.
I'm the Indian service regulations have
beer been adopted providing for the considera-
grazing lands, and awards made TO the
highest responsible bidder, thereby secur-
ing to the Indians a just return for the use
OF the leased lands. Under the old method
of permitting the tribes to indisc~iminately
enter into contracts for the of their
lands such a result was not practicable.
Agreements have been negotiated with
the Five Civilized Tribes of Indian Terri
tory whereby just allotments OF land can
be made TO them In severalty. Provision
mas Deen made Tor leasing or coal. asphalt
and other minerals in the Seminole Creek
! and Cherokee nations, respectively and
/ also for the sale of coal and asphalt lands
in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. re-
spectively, in such manner as to protect
the interests of all parties definite time
has been fixed for the closing of the citi-
ZenShip rolls of the several Indian tribes
as a result OF which. in all probability. n
will be practicable for the Five Civilized
Tribes Commission to finally close its work
in the Territory within the next two
I