The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-12

with the belief on the part OF the average
Congressman that he knows by intuition
more than anybody else knows
from years Of study Of the subject. leads TO
appropriations totally inadequate, and Grip
Piles greatly what would undoubtedly be
marked success with reasonable assistance.
So great is the visible need of more funds
for this good work that the churches and
charitable Institutions of the country, aided
by individuals, have contributed largely to
the enterprise. Commissioner Price says in
mis- report just issued: Congress having made
its annual failure to appropriate funds for
the purchase of farm for the Carlisle
School, Captain Pratt has solicited funds
therefor from private parties. and $4,000
tract, covering l57 acres, has been pur.
chased. on which $4,000 has been paid. An
other tract of similar size is needed. The
Superintendent OF the Hampton School
complains Justly of the cutting down of the
rate of compensation from S167 per pupil to
Sl53.33, and new exactiop that he shall
ray q specified sum, which is one.half the
sum asked for that purpose. Congress has
been in habit of asking private schools to
do work worth $500 per pupil for Sl67, but
has never before reduced the amount below
that sum- Considering the advantages
which Hampton offers, and the large pri-
vate donations she has secured for Indian
education, 1 can not but consider this any
thing but blunder, and one too serious to
go uncorrected. OF the boarding schools
twenty three, with LOCI pupils, are super
vised and largely assisted in their support by
religious societies. OF the day schools,
forty.three, with 2, 173 pupils are supported
wholly or nearly so by religious societies.
Since only $50, 900 was appropriated this
year for erection and repair OF school build
ings no ex tensive work has, of course, been
done. There is no obstacle to progress in
Indian education with which this Office has
tn contand so great "a the want of monev
to furnish suitable and even decent school
buildings.
In the midst of this serious condition of
affairs Captain Pratt has resorted to sys-
tenn which he calls planting out" and
which may, perhaps, prove the last require
meDt in the solution OF the problem which
this Congressional merit has so delayed. He
sends out from the school during a part of
the year the young Indians who have suf.
fcientlY progressed in the use of the Ian
guage, hiring them out to farmers, black
smiths timers or whatever their trades may
be, the girls being sent into familses who
will teach them house work. They here thus
made not only self-supporting while they
are getting practical knowledge of civilized
life but are also enabled to learn the pleas
ures OF earning and owning money of their
own. Some of these also are to attend the
public schools instead of returning to the
Carlisle School. These experiments have
been successful in high degree, and why
may not this prove the true solution to the
Indian problem? Theae are school accom-
modations for 10000 and where they can be
taught 1.-THE rudiments of language, etc., to
ft them to go into families and public
schools. Why might not the 10000 who
have already this experience be transferred
tofamilies throughout the country, and
when another 10000 can be prepared let
them be transferred, and so on until within