tually be in the possession of those few persons who may own strips of land along the streams.

Attention is also called to the present faulty constitution of the Territorial courts, and the lack of proper deflniteuess in relation to their powers and the manner of their exercise. These courts are anomalous in character, and there appears never to have been a proper consideration of the peculiar circumstances and conditions under which they must act. The method of compelling the attendance of jnrors and witnesses, of empaneling juries, the suitable compensation of marshals required to travel in pursuit of witnesses, jurors, and criminals, over great distances, as well as the present embarrassment attendant upon bringing witnesses from remote parts of the country, all these, with yet others, are matters concerning which the laws are faulty. The courts are of a mixed or twofold character, being at once Territorial and Federal. The organic acts of this Territory and of others declare that "the jurisdiction of the several courts herein provided for, both appellate and original, * * shall be as limited by law." The law, as said before, is not only wanting in definiteness on this subject, leaving the courts ofttimes in doubt on the question of how to proceed in Federal cases, but is so far wanting as to leave the courts to such inconvenient and embarrassing use as they may find it possible to make of the Territorial law and its machinery. In fact what is wanted is not so much definiteness in the matter of jurisdiction as a procedure, fixed by law of Congress, in accordance with which the Territorial courts may proceed when exercising the jurisdiction of circuit and district courts of the United States.

It is also suggested whether some better system should not be provided for determining cases on appeal from the district courts of the Territories. Under the present system one of the three judges who form the court of appeal is the person from whose judgment the appeal is taken. A court so constituted does not seem to supply the place of a supreme court.

A revision of all the laws relating to the Territories, with a view to secure greater harmony, consistency, and adaptation to the existing condition of affairs is recommended.

DAKOTA.

The governor reports a rapid extension of railroads in the Territory, and that prosperous towns are springing up upon all the lines of travel. The Northern Pacific Railroad Company has four hundred miles of road in operation in Dakota at present, and it is expected that it will be completed to the western line of the Territory during this year.

The governor estimates the white population of the Territory at the close of the fall of the present year at 150,000.

Advance in the development of the mining resources of the Territory is reported, and the opinion is given that the Black Hills will yield large quantities of gold and silver for generations to come.

The governor alludes to the great destruction of timber iu the piue forests around the Black Hills by fires started during the dry season either by carelessuess or with criminal intent, and recommends that measures be taken for the protection of the government timber, and that au agent be appointed to sell the same for mining and building purposes. He suggests that a small sum expended in protecting the timber will save millions of feet annually, and that unless something is done to this end mining operations will soon be checked by scarcity of timber. He also suggests that the laws now in force are not adequate for the protection of the sections donated by Congress for educational purposes.

The Territory of Dakota having uo penitentiary, it has been necessary to transport its convicts to Detroit, Mich., for imprisonment at an expense of nearly $10,000 yearly to the people of the Territory. It is estimated that 840,000 will build a penitentiary of sufficient capacity for the present requirement of the Territory. The penitentiaries in other Territories have been built at the expense of the general government, and the propriety of making an appropriation for the building of one in Dakota is submitted for the consideration of Congress.

The financial condition of the Territory has improved so that it is expected that at the close of the present year it will be free from debt.

IDAHO.

The governor of Idaho reports that about one-third of the 55,000,000 acres in the Territory may be considered suitable for agriculture and grazing, besides about one-fifth which might be reclaimed by irrigation. About one-sixth of the Territory is timber land, one-eighth mineral lands, and the balance is mostly arid, being destitute of mineral, timber, or vegetation of any kind.

The soil is generally sandy, with an intermixture of loam iu the valleys. In its varied and beautiful scenery, Idaho is perhaps imsurpassed by any State or Territory in the country. Among the wonders in natural scenery may be mentioned the great Shoshone Falls of Snake Eiver, one of the greatest cataracts iu the world, equal in height and volume to Niagara.

About one-third of the population are engaged in farming and stockraising. The past year has been a remunerative one to farmers; good crops have been raised, and good prices have been obtained therefor. Only in the northwestern portion of the Territory is the rainfall during the growing season sufficient, however, to insure good crops without irrigation. The governor states that when sufficient moisture is had, either from rains or irrigation, the yield of all kinds of grain (except corn) and of vegetables is unsurpassed in quantity and quality. Wheat, he states, yields readily an average of 40 bushels per acre. Oats average 60 to 70 bushels, and barley 30 to 40 bushels.

Timothy and clover hay of good quality aud large growth are produced; fruit trees and vines grow rapidly and produce abundantly.

The extension of the lines of government survey in certain portions of the Territory is urged, as immigrants are slow to settle upon and improve lands, however desirable, to which they cannot initiate claims under the pre-emption or homestead laws.

Stock raising is becoming one of the considerable industries of the Territory, attention being turned chiefly to cattle, though the climate and soil are well adapted to sheep and wool growing. It is estimated that not less than 40,000 head of cattle have, during the past season, been sold and driven from the Territory, at an average of about $12.50 per head.

The mineral resources of the Territory constitute its chief interest, and the one upon which all other interests largely depend.

Gold and silver in paying quantities were discovered within its limits as long ago as 1852, ten years prior to the formation of the Territory, but the mines were, to some extent, abandoned for those more recently discovered in localities where prospecting and mining could be carried on with less danger from hostile Indians. More recently, however, this danger having been removed, important discoveries have been made, and the industry has revived until now there is scarcely a county in the Territory that does not contain one or more mining camps or towns.

In addition to gold, silver, lead, copper, aud other metals and ores, coal beds and rich deposits of fire and pottery clay of the finest quality have been found. Since the discovery of gold aud silver in the Territory its mines have contributed to the material wealth of {he country not less than $75,000,000.

The relations with the Indians have, during the past year, been very satisfactory. There have been no disturbances, and no depredations have been committed by them, the people having enjoyed unusual security, even in the localities most exposed to danger. Although since the Nez Perce" and Bannock wars the reservation Indians have remained more generally upon their reservations, yet large parties of them almost constantly roam over the Territory hunting, fishing, and begging. The visits of these roaming parties naturally tend to create a feeling of uneasiness in the minds of the settlers, especially in remote and isolated settlements.

The feeling of insecurity thus caused is liable to result in the organization of the settlers to drive the Indians away, and from such collisions often commence bloody and devastating Indian wars.

Another question presents itself for consideration. Long before the Fort Hall Reservation was set apart for the Bannock Indians there were numerous settlers upon portions of the territory selected who still remain within the bounds of the reservation, which fact is liable to cause trouble. The governor suggests that these settlers should be paid for their improvements and removed, or stipulation should be made with the Indians by which that portion of the reservation settled by the whites may be ceded to the government. There is ample room on the reservation to admit of the latter course, and he thinks the Indians would readily consent, upon reasonable terms, to such a plan. He also believes that many of the Indians, especially of the Xez Percys, many of whom are now thrifty farmers, could be prevailed upon without difficulty to select lauds in severalty. Could this be accomplished a large portion of the Nez Perce Reservation, which embraces an extended area of valuable agricultural land, might be restored to the public domain.

The greater portion of the timber in the Territory is in the mountains, and consists principally of pine, fir, and cedar, though it is found to some extent along the rivers and smaller streams.

To prevent the destruction of timber in violation of law, the governor recommends the amending of the act of Congress of June 3, 1878, so as to provide for the survey and sale of the timber on the public lands, say every alternate section, with a heavy penalty for cutting or destroying the timber on the sections reserved by the government. This would supply the people and create an interest which it is thought would prevent the wanton destruction of timber.

The population has increased from 20,588, in 1870, to about 40,000, including Indians, in 1880, a gain of nearly 100 per cent.

With the opening up of railroads, it is reasonable to expect a much larger gain in the next decade. There is at present but one railroad into the Territory—the Utah and Northern, a narrow guage, running through the eastern part, though other lines have been projected, the most important of which is one to run from Ogden, Utah, to some point on the Pacific coast in the State of Oregon. Though lacking in railroad facilities, the Territory is well provided with first-class stage routes to all the important points. As before suggested, much of the laud in Idaho, suitable for agriculture, cannot be made available except by irrigation, and development in this way will be very slow so long as indi vidnals are so restricted in the amount of land which they can enter. Under existing laws individual interests cannot be large enough to warrant irrigation on any very large scale. The propriety of so amending the desert land laws as to permit the disposal of this class of lands in large quantities to persons or corporations pledging themselves to the building of canals for their reclamation, and restricting them as to withdrawal of the lands from the market and as to the maximun price at which they should be sold, is suggested.

The number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one is about 6,000, and the annual revenues raised for school purposes is .about $25,000. The. necessity for making some provision in the interest of public schools in the Territories is urged upon Congress.

It may be said in general of the Territory that its affairs are in a highly satisfactory condition. Good health has prevailed during the year. Agriculture, stock raising, and mining nave prospered. Crime is not more common than in older communities in the East, and, with one exception, infractions of the law meet with as sure and speedy punishment. The one exception is the utter failure or inability of the officers of the law in certain counties to punish violations of the law of July 1, 1862, against polygamy. Further legislation is earnestly recommended looking to the effectual suppression of this vice, which, under the guise of religion, is spreading throughout these Territories in violation of law and in direct opposition to the moral sense of the people of the country.

OFFICIAL SALARIES.

In the estimates of expenditures for the next fiscal year I have recommended an increase in the salaries of various officers and clerks in this Department, and in the report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, presented herewith, there will be found an elaborate and instructive letter addressed to me by that officer upon this subject. There is no doubt in my mind after the experience of nearly four years in the conduct of this Department, that the pay allowed to almost all the higher grades of its officers and clerks is entirely out of proportion to the ability required in the discharge of their duties, the labor exacted, and the great responsibility borne by them. The duties performed by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior are such that I see no reason why his salary should be less than those of the Assistant Secretaries of the Treasury. I am, on the contrary, of the opinion that all the assistant secretaries are underpaid. The public interest demands that those places be filled by men who in the absence of the respective Secretaries may be trusted temporarily to perform their duties and to discharge their responsibilities. Their compensation should be at least equal to that of the Comptrollers of the Treasury.

The office of Commissioner of Indian Atfairs is one of the most arduous places in the government, devolving upon him probably more work and responsibility than falls to the lot of any bureau chief in any of the executive departments. Of the Commissioner of the General Laud ()ffice and of the Commissioner of Pensions almost the same can be said. These positions require great knowledge of affairs and more than ordinary executive ability. The Commissioner of Patents is a little more favored in point of salary; but, considering the cost of living here, I do not thiuk that, in any great government in the world officers of the same rank, discharging the same high order of duties, and bearing the same responsibilities, are as badly paid in proportion. Not one of them should, in my opinion, have less than $5,000 a year. If the American people desire that the public business be well done, and that the high places of the government be filled with men of corresponding character and ability, the salaries ought to be such as to command what is required in that respect. Most of the division chiefs in the General Land Office, such as the chiefs of the Mineral Division, the Division of Private