, 1888-12-06

VA O4NA4NL
adjustments of those grants 50 that the
present prospect for an ''immediate" ad.
iustment of those grants is very poor; and
doubtless more or less aid from the courts
will become necessary TO final resolution.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The general condition of our Indian peo-
ple and of the affairs of the government
directed to their care and improvement
has during the past year continued salts
factory. No disturbances and no serious
troubles of any kind have anywhere oc-
Cured. The conduct of the Indians has
been almost universally quiet and orderly,
and taeir disposition perhaps more than
usually peaceable and tractable.
The measure of progress attained neces-
sarily corresponds to the intelligence. en-
ergy and steadfast uniformity with which
their tre atment and the work of their alle-
Walton are prosecuted. Thus it happens
that we have now in some parts of the
country Indian people who are self sup
porting, oftentimes industrious and sue.
cessful TO gratifying degree, who have
established TO demonstration the possi-
bility of the race for the reception of all
the beneficial influences and requirements
of civilized life; while, on the other hand,
there vet remain some who are troRlodytes
in barbarism.
The policy of the government, for some
time past consistently pursued by the
course of legislation and administration,
has wholly broken up the tribal system Of
government among several of the tribes
and bands and with others has weakened
it to stage of disintegration.
CENSUS OF INDIANS.
It was provided by the act Of July a,
1884, that thereafter leach Indian agent
be required, in his annual report, to sub
NIT q census of the Indians of his agency
or upon the reservation under his charges"
but no appropriation was made to meet
the expenses necessarily incident to a
complete census, more particularly OF
the larger tribes, and it could not but re-
suit, as it has resulted, that such census
should fail, except among the smaller and
more civilized tribes and bands. to be a
complete. actual numbering of the lndi-
ans. The reports do not, therefore, taken
as a whole, furnish such reliable statistics
as determine whether the Indian popula-
tion increases or diminishes. The totals
80 reported during the past decade suffi-
ciently prove this. Take the figures:
lsTs79. .252 s97 1881 ........ .26iS69
IS7gsO .256 l27i ISSi-s5 .,.... ."259 4t
isso-si ....., 26I, ,s5iI 1868. ,,,....."I4776i
1881 20 ... ...25y632l lssI-s7- 2i3 2.,9
lSSl-Sj. ZoODool ipof-oo'' @io,uSo
In the total number last reported as
above, viz: 246,095, there is included an
estimated 10000, embracing those who
are scattered over different parts of the
Western country, chiefly upon the Pacific
coast beyond the scope of agencies. Some
of these are located upon portions OF the
public domain under laws granting Indian
homesteads, and are making pleasing eff
forts for moral and social advancement;
but much the larger portion are of the
wandering class. who, in small bands,
abide in remote localities. generally harm
less and peaceable, subsisting themselves
with more or less success. These figures
do not embrace the Indians of Alaska.
The time for taking the eleventh ma
tional census now nearly approaches, and
opportunity will then be afforded for as
certaining with precision the number OF
Indians, besides other valuable statistics
regarding them; and recommend that
some special suitable provision be made
for this end.
INDIAN EDCATIoN.
A condensed compilation of the stats.
tics accessible in the Indian bureau shows
that there were in operation during the
past year, under the supervision Of the
various agents, IS day schools, located on
Indian reservations in the midst or in the
vicinity of the settlements or camps of the
Indians. sufficient in capacity to accOmmo-
date 3344 pupils. in which there was an
enrolment of 3l75 pupils and an average
attendance of 1929 pupils. The cost for
conducting and maintaining these schools
is reported to have been $5S. 1925.
During the year there were sixty-nine
boarding-schools in operation; sixty-four
Of them on reservations under the super
vision of the various agents, and five 1.-TWO
on reservations and three located away
from reservations) under charge of super
intendents reporting directly to the Indian
bureau. The capacity of these sixty-nine
boardinR.schools is reported to be 5372
pupils.
operated under contracts with religious as
sociations, providing for the maximum
limit of 1907 pupils in which there was an
actual enrolment of 30l5 pupils. end an
average attendance of 2498 pupils, for
which there was paid under the contracts
the sum Of S239, ,871 81. These figures
show the sverage attendance upon these
11S boarding.schools as 6839, costing an
aggregate sum of $500, 1926. go. or an aver
age of $119.94 per pupil.
A summary of all of the 233 schools in
operation during the year shows their
total capacity to have been 16,464 pupils
that the total enrolment was Is, ,2l2 pupils;
that the average attendance was IL ,42O
pupils, and that the total amount expended
| for the education of Indian children was
| 81, ,2O3, ,748.30. The increase in the aver
age attendance over the previous fiscal year
is 800 pupils, while the total expenditure
| for each year was about the same.
| II is calculated that there are at least
40. 900 Indian youths of teachable age and