The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-07-04
Om GorhibnfurS.
The Usage Indians.
PAwHUsKA, INDIAN TERRITORY, J
June 81. 1889. (

To one weary and worn with the work
and anxiety of professional life, this ter
ritory affords grateful change and rest.
In the heart of an Indian reservation fifty
miles square, seventy miles from the whis-
tie of the locomotive or the click of the
telegraph-the home of the savage, the
haunt of the deer and the wolf--so far
from civilization one feels as free from
care as though transported to another
continent. Nature is at its best. The
cold of winter is past. The heat of sum-
mer is not yet. The June of the North is
here. The prairie is in its glory. Flow
ers in wild luxuriance gladden. the eye,
and ripe strawberries tempt the taste.
The landscape is rolling, and in some
places billy. Scattered groves of oak and
walnut give diversity to the scenery. The
bottom lands, like those of Kansas, are
very rich; but the uplands are poor and
stony, and best adapted to grazing.
A rest of week at the Usage agency
has enabled me to hear and see much of
the Indians. l am indebted to Mr.. L. J.
Miles, the agent, and Mr.. j. n. Florence,
the trader, for much valuable information.
The Usage tribe of Indians occupy the
reservation. Mr.. Benedict, our Indian
inspector, tells me they are the wealthiest
nation in the world. Their money at in.
terest, if divided among them, would give
each member of the tribe-every man,
woman and child-over $4,000. They
number only about seventeen hundred, yet
their annuity amounts to 100000. The
government will pay them in cash this
year $4,000. By treaty with the gov
eminent they received Sl25 per acre for
their lands in Kansas, the land to be sold
to actual settlers and the proceeds in
vested for them by the government at
| five per cent. Heretofore most of the
annuity has been paid in provisions,
clothing and cattle. But the government
is trying the plan, at the request of the
Indians, of paying them in money and
letting them use it as they wish. 1t is
still question whether so large annuities
are blessing or curse. 1t lifts them
above want and makes them proud and
happy. No Usage will beg. But it re-
moves from them the necessity of work.
1t fosters Incidence and extravaganza.
They are still uncivilized; they cling
with great tenacity to the blanket, though
they are much superior to many other
tribes. The agency has been in charge
of the Quakers ever since General Grant
inaugurated the "Quaker policy" Their
administration has fully justified that
policy, 30 far as this tribe is concerned
The agents have been honest, Christian
men. They have gathered about them
those like unto themselves. They have
befriended and protected the Indians
and have secured their confidence. They
have aimed to civilize rather than Chris
tianize them, and the government has
nobly aided them. Their success has
not been marked, At one time they 10
Gated farmers in the different bands, tt
teach and encourage them to cultivate
their land. But the pillow and hoe hac
few charms for them. The government
then planted peach orchards for them
but most of the trees have died for wan
of care. Log houses have been built TO
all who wanted them, but they only oc
cupy them in winter and dwell in lodge
in the summer. Their annuity was partl.
paid in cattle, to encourage them to en-
gage in stock-raising, but most of thei
, cattle were sold to white spectators be
| fore the cattle were issued. Still, an
, told there has been quite An improve
ment in ten years. Some are adoptin
, citizens dress, and more are living il
3 houses some are keeping cattle; most Q
, them have farm wagons and team
f they are beginning to order plows an
3 hoes and stoves. They see and acknow
edge that the white mans way" is be-
ter than theirs. They are more willin
y | W btuu tuclT W AUOu
+ the agency live harness and shoe-make
5 a farmer, blacksmith, miller, docto
t agent and two clerks-all paid by tn
3 government. Two stores are kept by
9 censed traders. A fine stone schoo
r house affords accommodation for hui
a bred children. A superintendent and
1 corps of teachers have the school in charg
, and about sixty children have been induce
r to attend. But all who are familiar wit
y the workings of this school say that littl
v can be accomplished towards educatin
9 and civilizing the children on the reservi
| ton. They see their parents and Wis
o their homes too often, and, as soon as r.
n leased, they go back to their old name
n of life.
s The results of mission work are meagi
g indeed. The Catholics, generation ag
y instituted o. mission school among then
g when on their reservation in Kansa
Many of their children have been e,
ucated at the Usage (Catholic) mission
hut IN returninp IN their trihe thav IA h