THE INVASION OF THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
Attempts by evil-disposed persons to invade the Indian Territory and
to take possession of certain unoccupied lands there have so far been
successfully frustrated by the prompt action of the government, but
they have been as persistently repeated. It is reported that another
attempt is in preparation now. The military forces of the United States
in the Territory are instructed to arrest the intruders and to take proper
measures to bring them to justice as they have done heretofore. But it
is evident that the penalty imposed upon repeated intrusion into the
Indian Territory, which penalty consists in a mere fine and is difficult
of enforcement, is not sufficient to deter lawless characters from such
undertakings. I concur with the Commissioner in recommending that
a law be passed adding the penalty of imprisonment to that of a fine.
If this is done invaders will know that such attempts are not without
serious risks to them.
In conclusion I desire to express to the War Department my grateful acknowledgments for cordial and prompt co-operation whenever the exigencies of the service called for it.
PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year public lands were disposed of as follows:
| Acres. | ||
| Cash sales | | 850,740.63 |
| An increase of 228,166.67 acres on the sales of the previous year. | ||
| Homestead entries | 6,045,570.60 | |
| An increase of 785,459.31 acres. | ||
| Timber culture entries | 2,193,184.12 | |
| A decrease of 573,389.81 acres. | ||
| Approved to States as swamp | 3,757,888.99 | |
| An increase of 3,682,500.91 acres. | ||
| Grants to railroads | 1,157,375.01 | |
| An increase of 879,040.90 acres. | ||
| Grants to wagon roads | 19,485.14 | |
| Agricultural college scrip locations | 1,280.00 | |
| An increase of 320 acres. | ||
| Located with military warrants | 88,522.00 | |
| An increase of 37,702 acres. | ||
| State selections: | ||
| Acres. | ||
| School indemnity | 206,089. 06 | |
| Internal improvements | 223,140.80 | |
| Agricultural colleges | 2,360.46 | |
| Public buildings | 3,599.67 | |
| ___________ | 435,189.99 | |
| Scrip locations: | ||
| Sioux half-breed | 4,151.48 | |
| Chippewa half-breed | 3,040.00 | |
| Valentine | 1,720.00 | |
| Cole's | 1,514.27 | |
| Choctaw | 480.00 | |
| ___________ | 10,905.75 | |
| An increase of 6,249 acres. |
