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Show XXVI REPORT OF TIIE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. he reimbursed when Indian lands are sold, it is believed that a similar sum ahould be appropriated for the next fiscal year, in order that the work may proceed without embarrassment. LEASES OP INDIAN LANDS FOR GRAZING PURPOSES. Attention is invited to re~uarksm ade in my last annual report, upon this subject, as folloms: If Congress would authorize Indiana to clispoae of thiir grass or would take an-j definite action asto the policy rrhiolr thin omce osn legally pursue inregard toIndian grazing lands, it would mstcridly lenseu the perplexities confusion which now pertain to the subject. lloreover,if some way could be adopted by whiOh, under proper restrictions, the surplus grassonthe ~everaIln dian reservetions could beutil-ized with profit to the India~la,t he ~ n n o aalp propriations needed to care for the In-diana could be correspondingly and matarially reduced. At the second session of the Forty-ninth Congress a bill (8.R. 10226), to proride for the leasing of unoccupied ,Indian lands, was introduced by Mr. Throckmorton, and referred to the Hopse Committee on Indian Affairs, but I do not find that any further action was taken on themat-ter. . With the exceptions mentioned on page XVIII of my last annuillre-port, the leases* made by several Indian tribes substantially remain ia statu quo. It would relieve this office from much ernbarrass~nenti f Congresswould take this mat,ter inhaud and legislate upon it, one way or the other. The cattle interest has increased to such an extent of late years that erery available foot of gra.zing ground is eagerly sought after. TRESPASSERS AND TfMBEB DEPREDATIONS ON INDIAN LABNDS. The Forty-ninth Congress adjouned withouc taking definite action upon measures again introduced for the better prevention of these of-fenses. So much has already been said on these subjects in a,unual re-ports of this office for years past that anything I could now say would simply he reiteration. I can only again commend them to the 8tte11- tion of Congress as subjects nrgei~tlyd emanding legislation. AGRICULTURE. There are three tests which partioularly mark the advance of Indians toward civilization, viz, the adoption of the dress of the white man, en-gaging in agriculture, and the education of theirchildren. In reference to the first, I may say that marked improvement is continuously observ-able among most of the tribes, some tribes having entirely disregarded their aboriginal style of dress. Bnt this evidence of dawning civiliza-tion is far less noteworthy and siguifioant of advaucemeut than evi. deuce given along the other two lines of progress. Of education I have 'For a list of the leases see Senate Ex. DOCN. o, 17,Fostg-eighth Congreas, eeoond ae881on. |