The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-12-17


OUR IOWA uNDSANs.
Report o. The Soc ona Hox H.
dtans-NO PreUress ln Ctsi011o-
tl0n. sfs 4.
The Indian Agent at Toledo, Iowa,
has transmitted the following report
to the Commissioner Of Indian At
fairs:
| AGENcY OF THE
Sac AND Fox INDIANS IN Iowa, =
TOLEDO, a., Sep,.1S ,1S7A II
Sr.-In obedience to the require-
ments of the Indian Department at
Washington, / have the honor to sub
init herewith my second annual report
Of the condition Of the Indian Agency
under my care. have no very i'm.
portant changes to note in regard to-
the Indians in my charge since my
last report. This part Of the tribe o.
the Sac and Fox Indians Of the Mis-
sissippi, embracing almost one-half of
the whole remaining tribe, reside on
lands in Tama county, Iowa, which
they purchased from individuals, and
the settlement was made by permis-,
sion Of the Legislature OF Iowa. This
tract of land, which is not very valua-
bic, is situated along the Iowa river,
and embraces an area Of four hundred
and nineteen acres. About one hum,
dred and ten acres Of this land are
under cultivation; the balance is used
for pasturage for the ponies. Nearly
all is enclosed with . substantial
fence. Most Of the Indians have been
located this summer, as last summer,
on from three TO ten acres per family,
and have cultivated, under the direc-
tion of the farmer, well what Was -,
signed to them. The number Of In.
dians is about the same - reported
last year, an increase Of three. The
number at this time is as follows
Men, 1903; women, SO; boys, "a;
girls, II; total, 1913. Several old In
dians aud number Of children have
died during the past year. The
health of the tribe, Is ageneral thing,
is good; they have no epidemic dis.
eases among them, and very little
scrofula or venereal disease, that pre-
vail to such an alarming extent among
some tribes of Indians. They have
had plenty Of good food and clothing
during the past year. In this respect
there has been = manifest improves
ment this winter. sss
With few exceptions lam not able
to report any very great progress in
tho way of civilization during the
past wear. These Indians cling with
great tenacity to their old ideas.-
They follow their natural instincts ~
the voice Of the "Great Spirit TO
them. They are an intensely relig-
ious people in their way; they OBJ
serve the ceremonies Of their system
of religion with the greatest punct-l
uality and fervor. Only few have
or seem to have disposition to adopt
the "white mans way Of living. II
they are to be civilized, they must be
educated, and this cannot be done -
long AS they roam about more than
half Of the year, engaged in hunting
and trapping. ! am Of the 0piaiqn,
that there should be . system Of COM
pulsory education inaugurstsd in the,
case Of this tribe, if they arc not TO-
remain in Iowa. | contemplate ask
ing the Legislature of Iowa for some
Legislation on this point. 1t Is OF the
highest Importance that something be,
done that these Indians be put in .,
condition that they can be reached
by missionaries. As long as they
persist in roaming over the country
at their pleasure it is utterly impossi.-
BILE to accomplish much in the way Of
their civilization and Characterization.
To-day you may be able to induce
them to send their children to school,
but the next day, in order TO prevent
their children from attending school,
they are off on hunting expedition
with their squaws and children. !.
About the usual number lAborcd
faithfully during last harvest for the
neighboring farmers, binding wheat
aud making hay. The statistical re-
turns Of farming for the year ending
August 81, 1874 (which | herewith
transmit), show the individual wealth
OF this tribe to be nearly thirteen
thousand dollars, not including their
lands. They have too many ponies.
They are a detriment to them. |
have been trying TO induce them TO
exchange some Of their ponies for
COWS; trust | will succeed by and
by.
In conclusion, have only to say
that such is the unsettled condition Of
these Indians at present, owing TO
the almost constant agitation OF their
removal to the Indian Territory, that
but little can be done to civilize and
christianize them under these circum-
stances. 1t is matter, therefore, Of
great Importance whether they shall
be allowed to remain in Iowa or 60
to the Indian Territory, and should be
disposed Of one way or the other. II
they are permitted to remain where
they are now, the buildings necessary
for educational and missionary pur-
poses should Mt once be erected. If
they must go, the fact should be COM
municated to them distinctly, and
measures taken to accomplish the end
without delay.
Yours, respectfully.
A. r. HowBERT,
United States Indian Agent.
Hon. Z. P. SMITH, Com'r of Indian
Affairs.
The spider.
This is a ,nseck that cetches flies
in a net like fish net, but not in the
water. The net is called . web, and
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