The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-12-03
The Friends and Indians.
Report of the Committee of Balti-
more Yearly Meeting on the Indi-
an Concern.
To Baltimore Yearly Meetimg:
The Standing Committee on In

To Baltimore Yearly Meeting:
The Standing Committee on In
dian Concerns, report -
That we have been unremitting
in our attention to the concerns of
our Indian Brethren, and have Ia
bored with the best wisdom we
could obtain for their elevation and
civilization; and in conjunction
with committees of other Yearly
Meetings. have watched over their
interests everywhere that they
seemed to need our protecting care.
We are encouraged in the be-
lief that much progress has been
made in the last year in the objects
for which our valued Superintend-
ent and Agents have been labor
ing. From reports received from
the several Agencies, and from
Friends who have visited them,
we find that agriculture is claim
ing more and more their attention.
On several Reservations the men
are Industrious, and becoming in
terested in occupations that were
formerly considered effeninate,
and only suited for women. On
the Santee Sioux Agency, some
have built houses, and are prepar
ing to live on their allotm en- is,
have industriously raised corn and
garden vegetables, but have suf-
fered in the destruction Of the crops
by the long continued drought.
The Winnebagoes are also pro-
crossing in tilling the soil, and
preparing to build houses-with
an increased interest and willing
ness to work. Schools under Sid
ney Averill are prospering.
The Omahas have been able to
support themselves without rations
from tue Government, have by
their own labor good supply of
corn, and have provided large
quantities of building materials.
The men have been inspired with
energy and ambition to provide
for themselves, and their energetic
Agent has induced them to burn
two kilns of brick, and they find
the surplus can be sold off the
Reservation. Schools have been
established. and parents are gen
orally anxious to have their chill
dren educated.
In the Pawnee Agency, which is
at present under the i'm mediate
care of Baltimore Yearly Meeting,
there has been an improving con-
dition Of the people, who appreci-
ate the care extended to them by
Friends. Some months ago they
requested that two thousand dol
lars should be taken from their
annuity of this year, TO apply wa
ter power to their mill, which is
now driven by steam and very
recently they directed in council
that five thousand dollars more
should be tax en- from the same an
nuity for the purchase of live
stock, implements, &c. They
make good use of the wagons and
ploughs they have received, and
are particularly pleased with their
Moving Machines. They cultivate
their corn with care, and notwith-
standing the unfavorable season,
have a good crop. The Manual
Labor School elicits the admira-
ton of all who visit the Agency.
About eighty pupils are being ed
ucated in this institution, but there
are four hundred children in the
tribe Of a suitable age to go to
school, most Of whom are receiv-
ing no instruction. A hope is en-
tertained that Day schools can be
established very soon for many of
these /; but it is feared that their
parents will not be able to furnish
them with clothing to ft them for
achnoi. Tho rnmn,;+4oo ...,1,7 ro,1
the atten ton Of the Friends of
Baltimore Yearly Meeting to these
facts, and would encourage all who