The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-01
Favorable Reports Received Con-
cerning the Condition Of North
@ western Indians.
Major Peter Romans Kinder1arten
System of instruction is Cor
tainly q Success.
Tho Iatsraor Department VIII Carefully
Examine Complaints From Yellow
stone Park Tourists.

WAsMNoToN, Aug. S1.-[Speoial.1 Tho
reports to the Indian Office from the agents
ON tho northwestern reservations are just
now coming in. They are made very COM
plete by special direction of Indian Com
missioner Morgan. They include in their
statistics the progress Of the red men in
farming and manufacturing. They give tho
number of houses built by Indians and
summary Of the criminal records. They in
dicate that even on the reservations where
no efforts have been made to induce In
dians to take their allotments desire is ex-
pressed in some quarters for this privilege.
The report of Agent Peter Roman, at the
Flathead agency in Montana, is unique in
that it treats to some extent of the kinder
garten system a. taught to juvenile red
skins Of that tribe. The results are said to
be 90 good that an extension Of the system
is recommended. There are 1874 of this
tribe. They have built Is frame dwellings
in year. They have raised 5000 bushels
Of wheat, 5000 acres have been put under
cultivation, SO marriages have occurred,
tho agent performing the ceremony. In
some twenty have been tried on criminal
charges, of which horse stealing has been
one of the chief. Agent Scobey, who has
charge of the Yanktons and Assinahoines
in Montana, has 1,S42 on his roll. These
Indians are beginning to give up their
tepes of their own accord and are ambitious
to live in frame houses. Six of the men
are learning the blacksmith trade. None Of
the reservation is under cultivation. Fiji
teen offenders have been punished, after
trial by the Indian courts. William II. Til
bot, of Lulalip agency in Washington, has
sent in long report which says that the
Indians are rapidly learning the ways Of
the white man. They do great deal Of
logging and raise good crops. Among other
items they harvested 1880 bushels
Of oats and $500 bushels Of potatoes.
They have good schools. The agent says
that under the Law by which title to the
lands passed by descent ownership il un-
certain and the claims are greatly mixed.
He recommends change. Agent H. J.
Cole, of the Colvillea in Washington, says
atE,ary of his 5000 Indians are uniustly
awaiting the time when they may be given
their allotments. He complains that white
men sell whiskey to them, which preatly
demoralizes them. Nineteen frame houses
dave been built in year and twelve log
huts, and 1900 acres have been put under
cultivation. They have harvested 70.0O(
bushels of oats and about 10000 bushels OF
wheat. They have sawmills which have
sawed 15, 600 feet of lumber. John P. Mo
Glinn. of the Neah Bay agency, reports
among other interesting facts, that forty
eight out of fifty pupils at one of the schools
had the grippe. They have suffered heavy
losses in cattle. The Makaha, one of the
tribes over which this agent presides, wan
to take their lands under the several acts
Mr.. McGlinn says these particular indiana
are very superstitions. They know very
little of religion or morality. They hav.
been in the habit of considering marriage
besiuess arrangement to be terminated al
soon as either party tires of it. The agen
has been trying to teach the civilized ide,
on this subject by imposing punishment TO
violation of tho marriage vows. He hal
succeeded to sonae extent and has marriet
within year thirteen couples, who are OBJ
serving the sanctity of their VOWS H,
believes he has rich ground for missionar,
| work.
Secretary Noble has been very much an
noyed recently over the publication of sto
ries of travellers through the Yellowstone
Park, in which statements have been mad
reaeeting seriously upon the management O
affairs by the transportation company hav
ing the monopoly at the park. Enquire
made at the interior department shows tina
no formal complaint has been fled agains
the company, but the officials are wei
aware that the charges are we'll borne out b.
the facts in the case. Such distinRuishe
personages as Judge Brewster of New Yorl
Hon. Lambert Tree, formerly United State
minister to Russia. and Carter Harrison ar
not in the habit of making reckless asset
tions. Their stories Of ill treatment hav
caused considerable stir at the interior de-
partment. All the trouble seems to hav
originated from desire on the part O
Manager Wakefield of the transportatio
company to save labor for his live stock o
the expense of the health and comfort g
tourists in the park and who hail froz
eyery part of the ,oivilize
world. Discussing the subject to-day
Chief Clerk Dawson of. the interior depart
ment said: "We have been hampered i
making an enquiry owing to the fact tina
no one has come forward and preferre
charges either orally or in writing to th
department and all that is known to q
about the matter is derived from what la
appeared in the newspapers; besides Mana
ger Wakefield has no lease from the interio
department. but is under contract only {
the Yellowstone Park association. II il
however, in the power Of the secretary Q
l A. - I,