Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-22
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Father COnrardy's Colonization and
Land Cultivating Plan for CiviIfz-
ing the Red Man

Land Cultivating Plan for Cfvilfz-
ing the Red Man
The following suggestions on the
settlement of the much talked>of In
dian question has been submitted to
the president and Secretary Lamar by
Rev l. L. Conrardy, who has been
living among the Indian tribes IN the
west for fifteen years in the capacity
of missionary. He spent most of
his time among the Umaulla,, Walla
Walls, and Cayuse tribes. These
three tribes form a confederation, and
number ABOUT one thousand souls.
They are the owners Of about three
hundred thousand acres OF land, not
more than seven hundred acres of
which are under cultivation, and
poorly supply those who have even
gwen ever SO much attention to ag-
rcUltural pursuits, much less having
any beneficial effect upon those who
still follow a nomaaic life. The father
deprecates the policy hitherto pursued,
not because of any fault of the great
father" but that the Indian agents
cared more to enrich themselves than
to better the condition of Poor Lo.
He attributes all the Ills that the
red man has been heir to, to lack
system among them, which is made
tenfold worse by dishonest and I'M
scrupulous agents.
The principal reasons, outside of
those above mentioned, which he as
signs for lack of civilization among
these tribes, are the want of some
general system by which material and
moral progress and education should
go hand in hand together. Then he
asserts that the Indians can be made
self-supporting if they are taught the
rudiments Of agriculture, and under
sef-imposed instructors apply the re-
suits of such education to the tilllng
Of the soil. He states further that the
only practical and successful way to
civiLize them is to work them in small
colonies, and to work for and with
them in imparting the useful knowl-
edge.
In advocacy Of his plans he asserts
that millions of acres Of the public
domain would be saved to the govern
ment, while the Indians would be
made not only self sustaining, but
self~reliant, and acquire habits of in
dustry that would cause them in a
few years to vie with each other as to
the products of their labor. He be-
lieves that the instructors should work
steadily and patiently with the Indi-
ans. After they are once fairly started
in such pursuits they will readily see
the great advantages arising from their
own labor. This, of course, can not
be accomplished IN year or two, bat
If continued must prove not only
beneficial to them materially and
morally, but in the preservation of the
race itself.
An experiment could be made, he
says, by the aid of two competent and
honest men, with himself, at cost to
the government of not more than ST.
900, whereby fifteen youug. vigorous
Indians-being allotted 100 acres
apiece for cultivating purposes could
be taught IN one year the advantages
set forth. This experiment should
not be confined to any one reservation,
but should be tried in Oregon, Mon
tana, Washington territory, Idaho,
and DOkota.
He declares that he will Ee support
ed by all the people in the states and
territories mentioned ia the under~
taking. He will take fifteen or more
if given him, board them, and stay
with them day and night until their
education is completed. Although he
desires no recompense from the govs
eminent himself for his labors, he
would want two practical farmers as
his assistants. He will devote all his
time, attention, and influence to them
and guarantees to keep them in har-
monious condition during the time
required to perfect them.
Of the fifteen Indians he much pre-
fers that they be heads of Families,
and that out of the $50 acres allotted
to each 40 acres should be plowed the
first year, and all the claims to be I'M
proved alike. The entire work, he
suggests, should be done in common
by a colony, such as blowing. harro W.
ing, digging wells. building fences,
planting trees, cultjvating gardens,
| etc.
A house, stable, barn, shelter for
horses, and sheds for the protection of
wagons, plows, and other agricultural
implements should be built on each
$50 acres, under the direction Of skill
ed carpenters, at which the younger
members of the various tribes could
assist. He thinks that at the end of
one years the colony would have such
start as never to become retrogres-
sive. He advocates the sowing of
hay, grain, corn, and oats, as well
the planting Of garden vegetables,
etc.
The second year, ne says, this land
could be taken as an example by am
other party of Indians, enjoying the
experience of their fellows, and forty
acres more opened up IN similar
manner. His idea is that the land
thus cultivated becomes the property
of the cultivators.
Anyone acquainted with farm life
knows that it will take several years
for the soil to pay any rich results to
the tiller; but that the example thus
piven will cauSe great changes in the