OF THE

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR;

BEING PART OF

THE MESSAGE AND DOCUMENTS

COMMUNICATED TO THE

TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS

AT THE

BEGINNING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS.

IN FIVE VOLUMES.

VOLUME I.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, D. C., November 1, 1891.

SIR: The years of the present administration have been marked to a notable degree by the expansion of the public domain for private settlement. European nations strive with one another to plant colonies beyond their borders, even in Africa and on distant islands; but our country is so fortunately situated that within its own boundaries are vast tracts of fertile land heretofore unused, on which communities can establish themselves in a single day, and be protected by an almost instantaneous but easy and peaceful application of our system of laws and government to their new relations.

In two previous annual reports of the present Secretary the measures taken and results attained in this direction were set forth as the most important events occurring in this Department uuder your supervision. The narration must now be continued for the year just past.

OKLAHOMA-NEW PURCHASES OPENED TO SETTLEMENT.

The peaceful and efficient overtures of the government have been met in an intelligent spirit by the different Indian tribes visited by Commissions, and for valuable considerations large portions of their reservations have been ceded for settlement. Agreements were made by the Cherokee Commission during the previous fiscal year in the territory of Oklahoma with the Sacs and Foxes of the Mississippi, the Iowas, the Absentee Shawnees, and the Citizen Pottawatomies. These agreements were ratified by Congress at its last session. The allotments to the Indians were duly made, amounting in most cases to 160 acres each. The counties in this particular region, as well as five other counties in the country of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, were laid off by the Secretary and lands for county seats designated and reserved.