Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-03-27
et OF au n Lavenng PoweU s Goyt Report. aug. l7 sss
ABSOLUTELY Pure
our INDIAN POPULATION,

Some Interesting Statlsfics Compiled
frusn tho Consua.
Census bulletin No. % has this to say
OF the Indian population OF the United
States, and their behavior when the
enumeartors were making their rounds
Many OF the special agents engaged
in the work met with serious and dan.
gerous opposition. The enumerators oi
the tive civilized tsibes in The Inaia,
Territory were mostly Indians, 81.
pointed on the Recommendation Of the
governors or principal chiefs, but some
changes were made, and almost oil were
changed in one of the tribes, for reason.
Four special agents were sent to the
Indian Territory to supervise the work
by an arrangement with the governors
or their representatives. The wisdom,
OF this policy was apparent when the
peculiar nature of Indian politics he.
came known.
At Orsibe, in Arizona, trouble was
threatened, and factional disturbances
occurred on the question of enrolment
or non-enrollment. One Of the enumer.
ators was confined for several weeks
in Moqui town, but finally released.
In some localities meetings we're held
and native clergymen advised their
people against enrolment.
Some of the reservation Indians were
very cautious in their reception of the
enumerators. Their portfolios were
suggestive OF books, and many Indians,
considering them books of new religious
creeds. refused to answer the questions.
Others advised resistance, claiming that
this enrolment was a scheme to get
their names, which would then be at
tached to an alleged treaty. and they
would be robbed of their right to re-
main on their lands. Naturally suspic.
ious of the white man, and doubly so Of
a government official, it was only by the
cool judgment and patience of the
special agents that the work was per.
formed. The enrolment of the Shaw
nee. Miami, Winnebago. Sioux. and other
tribes presents many curious and inter
esting features. Some Indians of these
tribes are reported as eighty, ninety,
one hundred. one hundred and ten, and
in one case one hundred and fourteen
years OF age, and speak only their tribal
language. The philologist, with the
aid Of the phonograph, could, by visit
ing the reservations and meeting these
aged persons, preserve the Indian
tongue of many tribes now nearly ex.
tinct.
The number of reservation Indians
engaged in agriculture for livelihood
is smaller than that of those who obtain
o living through root digging. hunting,
fishing, or horse trading. The Navajos
are entirely self-sustaining as sheep and
horse raisers. The increase in the
number of ration Indians can only be
prevented by the reservation Indian be-
coming more of an agriculturist or q
herder Of his own bunch of cattle or
horses. If the United States will suf-
ficiently provide the Indian herders
with cattle or horses aud those disposed
to agriculture with tools. seeds, and in
structors in farming, and continue to
locate them permanently on their own
separate tracts of land. the number Of
ration Indians will decrease. Observa-
tion and the reports of the special agents
upon the condition of the Indians, give
the data for this conclusion.
The decrease of 1921 in . total Of
l33, 1892 reservation Indians since the
Commissioners report Of 1889 to June
30. 1890. is approximately correct.
Indians occupying large reservations
bury their dead in places distant from
the agency and seldom report the event.
It is almost impossible, therefore, to gel
q correct census of deaths on these res.
ervations. One fact is apparent; the
reservation Indians are decreasing from
natural causes.
The total indian population Of the
United States, exclusive of Alaska, but
including 50, ,567 counted in the general
census, being the taxed or taxable In
disns, numbers 249, ,273.