The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-11-02
The Indians.
WAsHINGroN. Octo

WASHINGTON, -OcCODer u.
Commissioner Price, of the Indian Bureau
has transmitted to the Secretary of the Interi
or his report for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1852. The Commissioner says: Land has
been opened to cultivation, houses for Indian
residences built schools opened and operated,
and in many cases and in various ways the,
cause of civilization generally advanced. The
difficulty of procuring agents of the right
stamp is regarded as one of the most inn
portant causes which operate to retard the
Improvement of the Indians" . p
The cooperation of the religious societies is
regarded by the Commissioner as very import
ant auxiliary in the civilization, of the Indians,
and he points to the dement's derived from
their work during the past few years. The
present appropriations are regarded as entire
ly too small to compass ends to be obtained
within reasonable time. The Commissioners
says: I" If S1,000,000 for educational purposes
given now will save several millions in future,
it is wise economy to give that million at once,
and not dole 1t out in small sums that do little
good. The evils of cash anliuities are
commented upon, and an instance given
where, after q cash payment to the
Utes, S2,c00 were spent for firearms, ammu-
milton and whisky in Salt Lake City, and in
short time nine-tenths of the payment went in
the same direction. The funds appropriated
ey Congress in the regular appropriation bin
Tor the support or the Indians proved ent1rely
insufficient, mainly owing to the high price of
beef and flour. The total number of Indians
in the United States, exclusive uf Alaska, Is
1928
The Commissioner comments in severe
terms upon the iniquity of the liquor traffic
among the Indians, and quotes many Instances
OF trouble arising from it. He recommends
greater stringeney in the laws on the subject,
and says those sections of the statutes which
allow army officers to introduce liquor into the
Indian country should be repealed. The re-
port declares there is urgent necessity for ad-
ditional legislation to prevent Intrusion upon
Indian lands.
Exclusive of the five civilized tribes, the
whole number of Indian pupils attending
school the past year has been 8,508. OF these
468 were in attendance at the Carlisle, Hamp-
ton and Forest Grove training-schools. OF the
remainder, 4,5l0 attended reservation board
ing-schools and 5,99S reservation day-schools.
The average attendance for the year was 5,249.
Industrial training for boys is carried on at
agency bolrding-schools, and is receiving more
aud more attention each year. In connec-
tien with ffty-seven schools, l. ,428 acres are
under cultivation. Blacksmithing, tailoring
and harness-making are taught at four schools.
Soven teach shoe-making, ten carpentering
arsd fifteen raising and care of stock. Train
ing in these branches is greatly stimulated by
the success of experiments at Carlisle, Hamp-
ton and Forest Grove. An appropriation of
not less than $4,000 should be made by Con-
gress at its next session to properly equip the
existing agency schools for industrial work.
The whole number of schools in operation Is
lD1 or five less than last year.