The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-01
Gods Image in Red CLAW.

The Indian problem is not so difficult to
solve as it appears at first glance. There
are in this country, about 100000 Indians.
Of this number 13S,000 have adopted the
dress and manners of the white man, and
are engaged in industrial pursuits. A little
over hundred thousand now run wild.
Some of these will be domesticated each
year, and finally all will, in self-preservation,
be forced to come within the pale of civliza-
ton.
The census returns contain interesting
statistics concerning the aborigines who
have made that progress in learning aud in
dustry that would entitle them, if we re-
tanned the symbolism of the old school geog-
raphies. to have their territory marked on
maps by a Westinghouse with an explana-
tory note that the design signifies ''civilized,
but not enlightened" A rare and radiant star
marked the enlightened nations in those old
textbooks. Of the civilized Indians more
than third,-in exact figures 54,50O,-are
found in the Indian Territory, and are of
the five celebrated tribes, Cherokees,
Choctaws, Creeks, Seminoles, and Chick
asaws. Last year .ethey built 2,709
new houses, and now occupy 1920. They
have II boarding and 1888 day schools, with
$3.50 scholars, and raised for the support of
these schools last year S156,S56, the govern
ment paying only S3,5OO They have 131
church buildings. The Chcrokees, and
perhaps some Of the other tribes, have an
organized government of their own, with
governor, legislature and courts. They have
books printed in their own language,
in phonetic characters, invented by
a Cherokee Indian, George Guess,
many years ago. Of the other tribes in the
Indian Territory, 77,546 dress like white
men and II, 900 can read. They occupy H.
634 houses, have so boarding and 1O7 day
schools, with an average attendance of 4,4SS
children. Concerning the Indians in other
Territories and States the following statis-
tics are given by tie census reporters: In
Michigan there are about 10000 Indians, all
of whom wear citizens dress, and 100 are
engaged in farming and other civilized pur-
suits. There are S schools and II churches
among them, and nearly 1000 of them can
read. Last year they cultivated 1850 acres
of land. In Wisconsin there are 1910 Indi-
ans, of whom 1000 wear citizens dress and
about $500 are engaged in civilized pursuits,
more than half of them as farmers. There
are II schools and over 1900 Indians can
read. They till S,645 acres. In Minnesota
there are 6, 157 Indians, of whom about 2 900
wear citizens dress, and about 100 are en-
gagged in farming and other civilized pur-
suits. There are schools, and 400 Indians
can read. Their crops last year comprised
26,200 bushes of wheat, 1926 bushels of
corn, S971 bushels of barley, $1,000 bushels
OF vegetables, etc. In Dakota there are
over 27,500 Indians, of whom about 10000
are in citizens dress. About 5000 are en-
gagged in civil pursuits, most of them as
farmers. Over 1900 Indians can read and
there are 20 day and boarding schools
among them. They cultivate 1O,15O acres
of land. In Montana there are 19, ,79l In
dians, about 1900 of whom wear citizens
dress, and less than 500 are engaged in civil
pursuits. There are schools, attended by
2S7 children. The Montana Indians till
1859 acres. There are 4165 Indians in Ida
no, of whom 1900 wear citizens dress, and
about 250O are engaged in agriculture and
other civil pursuits. There are II schools
attended by sos children. About 5000 acres
are under cultivation. In Washington ter
ritory there are IA, ,46S Indians, three-fourths
of whom wear citizens dress, and over 300
are in civilized pursuits. There are IA
boarding and day schools among them, and
the daily attendance is $40. There are 800
Indians who can read. About 10000 acres
are cultivated. In Oregon there are 1926
Indians, 34S5 of them civilized. There are
5 schools, with $50 for the average attend
ance. The acreage under cultivation is
6319
After reading these statistics no one
ought to despair of the future of the Indi-
ans. They seem to be getting along very
well.