Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-08-20
AMERICAN INDIANS.
Increase of Births Among the Various
Tribes and Nations of Red Skins.

Increase of Births Among the Various
Tribes and Nations of Red Skins.
The belief is quite popular that the
Indian is rapidly passing away. This
is not the belief of those who have given
the most study to the subject. Accord
ing to the best authorities, as race,
there are now as many Indians in our
country as there ever were. Since the
discovery of this continent by Column
bus, the Indian has held his own. But
beyond this general statement, how far
is it safe to goP While some smaller
tribes in New England have undergone
the process of humiliation and amalga-
ton with the white population so as to
almost lose their tribal identity Gas, for
instance, the Pequots, of whom only
one full-blooded male is now hving),
yet the Indians as people are not thus
disappearing; neither do we believe it
to be their destiny thus to disappear. If
we notice the record of single tribes, in
this respect, the above is most emphati-
cally true. The Cherokee nation, be-
ing one of the Oldest of which we have
ally dutHtntlC lCCOldS, Will SClNC 90 Ola
illustration. In 1909, under the direc-
ton of the United States Indian agent,
there was made an actual enumera-
ton of this tribe, which proved the
population then to be 12,395.
Drake, in 1885, estimates the Cherokee
population at 1888 Gallatin, in 1886,
on the authority of the Indian depart
ment, reports the Cherokee population
at $4,000. Passing over forty years, we
find in 1876, that according to Govern
ment report, the population has in
creased to q, 072; and in 1884 to &c, 100;
This shows gain in seventy-five years
QS09-1884) of 13,705. and in forty
eight years (1836-l884) a gain of II, 100.
and inteight years (1876-1ssD, 5.O2S.
To the above increase should be added
the 1900 which persisted in the removal
of 1888, with regard to which Commits
sioner Hayt says Qndian report, 1870
enforced expatriation has probably
done more to retard the increase of In
dian population than war, pestilence or
famine; perhaps more than all combined.
From the time they (the Cherokees) were
gathered into camps by the United
States troops in May and June, 1888,
till the time the last detachment reached
the Arkansas country, which was about
ten months. careful estimate shows
that not less than 1000 or 1850 were
removed by death, being on an average
from thirteen to fifteen deaths a day,
for the whole period, out of a popula-
ton of 10000, or one-fourth of the
whole number" The Navajo tribe are
commonly reported to have doubled
their population within the last fifteen
years. The actual statistics, as reported
by the Government, are as follows
Population in 1873, 9.114; population in
1888, 1900; gain in ten years, 1886.
With regard to the increase among
the Sioux, Rev. Stephen r. Riggs, after
forty years of service among the people
as missionary, says: ''At various
times in the progress of our mission
work we have kept life-tables for sin.
gle Dakota village, and always, l be-
lieve, with the result that the births
somewhat exceeded the deaths.n AnC
in reply to the question, is the Indiar
dying outp he answered.: mo, sir;
do not think that the facts which ar,
before us at all justify the belief tina
the Indians are necessarily at all van
ishing race" Rev. j. p. Williamson
after a life of work and observation
says regarding the increase of the sam,
people: ''Forty years ago the Siou,
were supposed to number $4,000, which
was probably an overestimate, as i
was based on the number of lodges, tn,
rule being to count ten persons to {
lodge, which l think very seldom tn,
case. Now Q877), the Sioux are est
mated at SOC though 10000 would
probably be better count, and as nea
the truth as rs, 900 was forty years ago
which would show an increase of sixty
per cent. in forty years.
If we turn now from the increase o
single tribes to the question of the in
crease of the Indian nation as a whole
we find that the total number of birth
for five years (1S79-1884) is IL, 587; tn,
total number of deaths for the sam,
years, 1872; making clear gain il
births over deaths for a period of fiv,
years, 2,S05. Again. this gain in pop
ulation is not. as many suppose, merel,
the natural gain which comes from tn,
decrease of mortality among the infant
and small children, While the agencv
physicians, better knowledge of tn
laws of health, better homes, clothin,
and food, will in part explain this in
crease, yet the fact still remains tina
the actual birth-rate is also increasing
Referring again to the report of the In
dian Commissioner, we find that tn
total number of births in 1874 was 2, 1852
while in 1884 it had risen to 4,751.-
Charles w. Shelton, IN Missionary Her
aid.
The wonderful stories told of grain
which had been made to grow aftel
having lain dormant for thousands O
vaarc in tho hands IF Y,upomiac do M