New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-24
AFFAIRS OF THE INTERIOR.
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK's ANNUAL RE-
PORT TO THE PRESIDENT.

Washington. Nov 22-The annual report OF Sec
Rotary Hitchcock reviewing the work OF the De
rartn1ent OF the Interior has been made public
The Secretary says that he has heretofore had oc-
-ason "a advert the great increase in the bust
ness Of the department and to the measure OF re-
sponsibftv involved in its consideration and dis
patch. The last year has been characterized by
f1rther increase in the volume Of business notably
so in the Patent Office. General Land ONCE. Geo
logical Survey and the Secretary's office. While
in consequence thereof II has been necessary, in
some instances. TO extend the hours Of labor the
service required has been cheerfuy rendered and
the work dispatched in an expeditions manner
Considerable progress has been made in the IN
.3uguration and carrying into effect OF necessary
reforms in various branches of the service.
The advtsability Of the early enactment of legis-
Iation looking the reclamation % 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 national
Importance Of irrigation by the passage Of the
reclamation law, approved June L. 1902. This law
creates fund from the moneys received from
sales of public lands. 10 be expended in the con-
struction irrigation works. which pass ultimately
into the control of the settler the moneys received
therefor be applied to the further extension or
the irrigation system The act is general in char
acter. and leaves 10 administrative action most or
the details thereby imposing on the Secretary OF
the Interior great responsibility in carrying 1t
into effect 1t has been considered wise at the out
set not to create separate bureau with new OFF,
GERS ana In-Tied regulations, bul 10 permit Ilc
steady growth and extension of the work. which
may be considered as having been initiated in 1855
under Major J. W. Powell the former Director OF
the Geological Survey. TO whom great credit Is
given. The work. which begun under his d.
Tection fourteen years ago, after passing through
many vicsgitudes. has. by process of evolution
become the photographic Investigation OF the
United States The engineers. starting as young
men this work. have gained broad education
and experience, particularly in western or ara
lands and many of them, between intervals OF ser
vice for the government. have been concerned in
The planning and construction OF irrigation works
Taking this body OF a nucleus and with the
guidance Of the rules and regulations OF the Geo
logical Survey, engineering corps has been
formed. designated the Reclamation Service, this
being. for administrative purposes, branch OF
the Geological Survey.
New forest reservations have been estah lished
during the year, the forestry service has been ex
tended. a better and thorough system OF
trolling the reservations has been perfected. and
the work Of reforestatiou on tae various reserva-
lions has been entered upon with satisfactory re-
The unlawful fencing Of. the public lands for
some sections Of the West the Secretary says, and
grown fragrant as to cause much concern Wig
garding these unlawful occupants OF the public
domain and prompt steps taken looking to me IN
Stituuon of civil or criminal proceedings against
Timber on the unreseryed public lands cannot
thereto and especially the act Of June g. ls1s
known the timber and stone act II not re
Pealed or radically amended, will result ultimately
complete
inappropriate and unreserved public lands. The
situation demands the passage Of remedial legisla-
lion.
Under the act Of January A. 1898. the Chippewa
Indians failed receive the full amount OF money
which they were entitled from the proceeds of
the sales of timber their coded lands in Mime
sofa. owing improper classification of lands, 10
fictitious values of timber fixed by incompetent
estimaters. and frauds perpetrated by the con-
tractors for the handling of the timber Under the
Of June q. 1902 timber Will be sold only under
sealed bids and not at public auction The meas
Irement will hereafter be made at the stump, and
Is to be removed until il has been cut banked
end scaled where cut. insuring to the Indians full
value for their property result which IL not
practicable to obtain under the administration Of
the old law
In the Indian service regulations have been adopt
ed providing for the consideration of sealed bids
for leases Of Indian grazing lands, and awards
made TO the highest responsible bidder, thereby
the leased lands Usder the old method Of per
uniting the tribes TO enter indiscriuinately into
contracts for the use Of their lands such result
was not practicable.
Civilized Tribes Of the Indian Territory whereby
just allotnents Of land can be made TO them in
severaly. Provision has been made for the leasing
Of 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 Chnc
Jaw and Chickasaw nations. respectively in such q
manner TO protect the interests of all parties
A definite time has been fixed for the closing Of
the citizenship rolls Of the several Indian tribes.
result OF which. IN all probability will
close its work in the Territory within the next two
years.
Reference Is made TO the reports Of the Commits
floner or Pensions the Commissioner Of Education.
GERS which have already been made public