Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1875 — Commissioner Smith’s Report. [ARTICLE]

Commissioner Smith’s Report.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Smith, in hi* annual report, says that the reports of the Indian Superintendent* and Agents convey unmistakable evidence of a year of advance in the civilization of the Indians. Their testimony i» almost uniform to the fact that the civilization of the Indians is not only entirely practicable, but fairly underway. Foity-fwb thousand six hundred and thirty-eight Indians are self-supporting. Their corn crop last year wa* 2.404.000 bushels; potatoes and other vegetables. 421.000 bushels; fields under cultivation. 823.000 acres- -a larger era by 7.000 acres than ever before reported, and nearly 200.000 acres more than in 1871. Nearly 10.000 more Indian families are now living in houses than five years ago. The Commissioner, expresses the opinion that a general Indian war will never occur in the United States. In reference to the Black Hills country the Commissioner recommends that legislation be now sought from Congress offering a fair aud full equivalent for the couutrv lying between {be North and South Forks of the Cheyenne lliver in Dakota. The true 1 equivalent to be dieted the Sioux as helpless w ards of the Government for the Black Hills will be found by estimating what 80 1 square miles of gold-fields are \qprth 'to us. and wind ff.'Stl square miles of timber agricultural and grazing lands are worth to them. The Commissioner says the need of the Indian Territory is a government of the simplest tone possible, and suggests that a government similar to that provided for the Territory of i lie United States northwest of the River oTfto, preliminary to tie: organization of a Oeueral’A*-, -eaibiy. would be best adapted lor that Territory at prc*ent. He recommend* that the matter lie again brought before Congress. The Commissioner opposes the transfer of Hie Indian Bureau to the War Department, but recommends that the purchasing, inspecting and transporting of goods and supplies required to sttnsist the .Indians be done by that department. Tlie Commissioner speaks in the Highest terms of tlie aid afforded by tlie different religions bodies of the country, and earnestly hopes (hat Congress will remove the difficulties w hich have heretofore been experienced in procuring the enactment of laws aud necessary appropriations lor the training aud education of the Indian*. None but the very, best men. he says, should be appointed as Agent*, and he expresses a hope that the Gtfve'ruhieut will still be inclined to call upon the religious bodies of the country to name the men. Jt is not expected that a deficiency for this year will arise exceeding $200,000. The cost of maintaining all the Indians except tlie wilder tribes will steadily decrease from this time until they cease to be a burden to the Government. It is not improbable. however, that such an additional expenditure w ill be required in bringing the wilder tribes into the beginning of civilization as will make the totals of tha appropriations fur three or four years to come equal to those of the last three years, and perhaps greater.