St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-03
Interesting Statistics Regarding
the Original American.


1t was provided by the act Of July 4,
1884, that thereafter leach Indian agent
be required, in his annual report. to
submit census of the Indians of his
agency or upon the reservation under
his CHARGE but no appropriation was
made to meet the expenses necessarily
incident to complete census, more
particularly of the larger tribes, and it
could not but result, as it has resulted,
that such a census should fail, exec Dt
among the smaller and more civilized
tribes and bands, to be complete,
actual numbering of the Indians. The
reports do not, therefore, taken as a
whole, furnish such reliable statistics
as determine whether the Indian popu-
lation increases or diminiSheS. The
totals so reported during the past dec
ade sufficiently prove this. Take the
figures:
187e'-79. 49,. 252, s97t 1888 81 .o64, 500
1879 so 80, 527 lSs4-sS ....259' "a ~
1Ss1-'s2 .259. 632i 1885, IT,. 243, 299
1892 SO .265 ,565 1887 9s. .246, O95
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 efforts for
moral and social advancement; but
much the larger portion are of the wall
dering class. who, in small bands, abide
in remote localities, generally harmless
c,th f.n hnv cnl
with more OF less success. These fig
ures do not embrace the Indians of
Alaska.
INDIAN EDUCATION.
A condensed compilation of the statis-
ties accessible i'll the Indian bureau
shows that there were in operation DUR
ing the past year, under the supervision
of the various agents, eighty-hye day
schools, located on Indian reservations
in the midst or in the vicinity of the set
Elements or camps OF the Indians,
sufficient in capacity to accommodate
1874 pupils, in which there was enroll
ment of 3,175 pupils, and all verage at
tendance of 1929 pupils. The cost for
conducting and maintaining these
schools is reported to have been $751;
1925. Besides these there are large
number of boarding and industrial
lEdlHlHS SCllOOlo. II VI dfl VI
the 233 schools in operation dur
ing the year shows their total capacity
to have been IL, AGA pupils; that the total
enrolment was 15,212 pupils; that the
average attendance was 11.420 pupils,
and that the total amount expended for
the education of Indian children was
81 ,203, 1850. The increase in the aver
age attendance over the previous fiscal
year is 900 pupils, while the total eX-
penditure for each year was about the
same. 1t is calculated that there are at
least 40, 900 Indian youths of teachable
age, and within range of educational
facilities, which might be wisely pro-
vided, who ought now to be undergoing
instruction, training and discipline:
Assuming the average expenditure of
the past year for Indian educational
purposes at about S102 per pupil, a total
appropriation of over S4,0o0,00O is indi-
Gated as necessary to meet the require
ments of the case. Whatever be neces-
sary ought to be furnished, even if the
sum be large.
FFhe secretary here inserts a lengthy
report on the Sioux reservation, the
material points of which have already
reached the public