Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1879 — The Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. [ARTICLE]

The Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Washington, November 20. The annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has been submitted. Itahows that during the past year there has. been among the Indians in general a steady-advance in civilization, which has had no parallel in any previous year. In this the Ogaialla and Brule Sioux have taken the lead, and their progress during the last eighteen months has been_ simply marvelous. It ‘itaOf longer a question whether the Indiana' will work those who are anxious to do so are now largely in )he majority. From all, except the five civilized tribes in Indian Territory, there Is a ealLfor lands in severalty. There Is a largely-increMMSdi defeire for houses and agricultural implements, wagons, etc.,-and also for citizens’ clothings p'. The following table shows the substantial results of Indian labor during the year. Thef are much larger thanever before, and but for the severe drought in the Indian Territory and among the NataJoes, the increase ’ini crops would have been much greater, especially in the corn crop,ft which is less than that of last year: By Indians, exclusive of the five civilized tribes of Indian Territory, in 1679: Number of acres broken... 27,131 Number of acres cultivated... .157,056 Bushels of wheat raised. ..32t’,tK17 Corn, bu.. .;t-41.286 Oats and barley, bd....189.064 Vegctables, bui. >390,098 Hay cut, t0n5i48,333 By the tlve civilized tribes: Acres cultivated.£....} 273,000 Bushels of wheat raised 565.400 Corn, bu 2,015.010 Oats and barley, bu;.L.«....7.SCOjOflfti Vegetables, bu.......'X6.000Hay cut, tons... .> 176,500 The only sure way to make the Indians advance in civilization under the best ebhdition to promote their welfare Is to give each hend of a family 160 acres of and to each ‘unmarried adult eighty acres, and ttplssiraf patents for the same. a THE L’TE OUTBREAK! -'J The history of the Utcoutbririk js given in detail without disclosing any new facts. In reference to the removal of the Utes to some other location, the ComriiisSfoner suggests that a commission be appointed to vipit the tribe and obtain its consent to remove from the State upon payment of the full value of lands now occupied. The advantages to be obtained by removing them to the liMian Territory are: 1. An abundant supply of- arable land and cultivation. 2. Impiunity-frCtr. white encroachment; and, 3. Better security for keeping Indians peaceful, ns the country is not adapted to Indian-fighting, and. everywhere oilers open fields for use of aft i fiery and all the appliances of civilized warfare, so that whatever fee the disposition qf the Indians, if resort to force should bo necessary it could be made effective in the interests of P The Commissioner considers the enactment of the bill extending the criminal.-laws of respective States or Territories OVeei’-Indlan reservations of vital importance. The Indian policemen have shown the .utmost fidelity to the Government, and have when necessary arrested even friends and relatives with absolute impartiality. Several instances are cited in proof of their fidelity. There is but one drawback which should be removed by Congress, and that is inadequacy of pay, which by law is fixed at $5 per inonth. The Commissioner recommends that it be increased to sls pet month. a V’-. NOVEL RECOMMENDATION. The following novel recommendation is made: “A penal settlement-for the confinement and reformation of the more turbulent and troublesome individuals among the various Indian tribes is a pressing want. For murderers and the worst class of refractory Indians, one settlement should be in Florida, which is far enough from the Indian reservations to make any attempt at escape hopeless. Another settlement should be at some point in the Northwest where considerable land dan be found upon which imprisonedjndians may be taught to work for their own support. The settlements should be guarded by sufficient force to exercise perfect discipline,and trades, as well as agriculture, should be taught, and when the time arrived for them to be returned home the captives would have reached an advanced stage of civilization.” I THE SALE OF FIRE-ARMS. Outside the Indian reservations .men are everywhere found driving a thrifty business in selling the latest and best patterns of arms and fixed ammunition to non-eivilized Indians. The sales thus made are limited in amount only by the ability of the Indians to purchase. Previous to the late outbreak Indians were amply supplied with Winchester and Spencer rifles and fixed ammunition, obtained from traders outside their reservations. There is no statute against this crime, and the Commissioner recommends that legislation be specially directed against such sales by Congress. Prohibiting, under severe penalty, the sale of both fire-arms and fixed ammunition, and further legislation requiring non-civillzcd Indians to be disarmed, are the only common-sense and practical Tnethoda of putting an end to this dangerous traffic. THE PONCAS. The Poncas are reported as doing well on their new reservation, and rapidly advancing in ways of civilization. The progress of the youths trained in the Indian schools is of the most hopeful character. Exclusive of the five civilized tribes of the Indian Territory there are now over 7,100 Indian children taught at the agency schools. The five civilized tribes have 6,2sochildren at school. INDIAN MARRIAGES. Among the other recommendations of the report is one for the enactment of a law to prevent polygamy, and provide for legal marriages among the Indians. For this purpose it is proposed to make civil magistrates of Indian agents.