Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-13
OYMPA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY MAY 49, 1884,
The Yakima Indians.


Mr.. Wilbur, the agent in charge ot
the Yakima Indians, makes report
as follows: ct have been particu.
larly gratiied to notice the increas-
ing industry and providence mani
tested by these Indians in building
more fences. and making more per.
manent improvements than ever be-
fore. Besides the agricultural i'm
plements belonging to the Govern.
ment, the Indians themselves own 4
moving machines, 4 combined NOW.
ers and reapers, about 100 plows, as
many sets of good harness, rs wag.
ons, and other evidences of civiliza-
tion. Probably not less than from
Is to 25 sewing machine es are owned
and operated by Indian woman, while
many others are taking steps to ac-
quire them. Quite number will
this year thresh from 400 to zoo
bushels of wheat and very many
from 100 to 800 bushels, all the pro-
duct of their own labor. 1t is ex-
ceedinely difficult to arrive at COR
rect estimate of the amount of grain
raised by the Indians, because. in
addition to the larger farms. where
from s to 80 acres are each year
sown to wheat, there are hundreds
of smaller parcels of land whose
owners each year raise from l to 5
acres of grain, only sufficient for
their own consumption during the
year. This, however, may be said
enough is raised each year to fur
nish not only breadstutfs for the In
dians actually belonging here, but
to afford subsistence for over 500 To-
Gated here as prisoners, besides o
large amount sold to parties outside
the reservation. On Government
account We have this year raised
about $500 bushels of wheat, $50
bushels Of oats, and 75O of barley.
An estimate of the amount raised
by the Indians would be little bet.
ter than conjecture; but from all the
evidence I can obtain, together with
my own observation, l atm satisfied
that it cannot be less than from 35,-
600 to 40, ,O00 bushels. During the
year have caused to be built fo1
them (the Indians themselves fur.
nishine a part of the lumber, and
sometimes part of the labor) IL
good comfortable farmhouses. which
for the purposes intended, would be
considered first-class in any coun.
try. Nearly all are neatly painted
and, scattered about the reservation
impart an air of thrift and prosper
ity and add materially to the beauty
of the landscape. From $50, ,000 to
400 900 feet Of lumber have been
sawed for the Indians and on &C.
count of the Department, which has
largely been used in building and
fencing. During the season we have
put up at the hay ranch about 600 tons
of hay, worth on the ground at leas1
81 per ton, a total of 50, 400, and 15(
tons at the agency, worth IS per ton
or 5000, making total value of about
So, 800. Our stock have done well
and, Notwithstanding the continual
drain necessary to provide subsist'
ence for the Piutes, are increasing
in numbers. The mills are in good
condition and capable of doing con.
stant end effective work. About
100 acres have been broken by Gov
ernment employees for use Of the
Indians, about one-half being in
tended for support OF the Piutes,
which expect to sow to grain this
Fall. We have also built over two
miles of fence, inclosing the ground
newly broken, and replacing por
tions of old fence destroyed by
storms. During the year the Indiar
with slight assistance, have built
large and comfortable church, cap
able of seating about seven hundred
handsomely finished inside and out
which will compare favorably witt
any in this part of the Territory
Although the object in building Wal
to secure church large enough te
accommodate all the people who
habitually attend, yet it is each Sun
day filed with well-dressed, and
well-behaved congregation, and
numbers unable to obtain seats arr
compelled to remain outside. Tht
building formerly occupied as
church has been converted into
school house, where a day schoo
has been kept for the greater part o
the year."
Wuat MRs. Polk ACCOMPLISHED -