Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-09


rifle was quite . good price, the speculstors
thought though they were somewhat oiscour-
aged BY the capture at Grand river Of steamer
OF theirs loaded with arms on its way TO the
Fort Peck agency. The weapons procured for
the buffalo hides and in trade for many boat
loads OF antelope skins we're wanted BY the
hostile Sioux aud were used later on In the
massacre Of Custer and his soldiers Fort
Peck was during that period distributing
point OF ammunition and guns, at Q time when
the War Department had Issued orders that
even the friendly savages should receive not
more than one pound Of powder and one
pound OF shot weekly.
LOGGING WITHOUT PAT.
Not 80 very long ago, on . Minnesota rsser-
vation, the Indians did winters logging.
Several thousand dollars in payment for their
logs. were given to their agent for them. In
stead OF distributing it among them he put il
out at interest," for his own benefit. The agent
who succeeded him received the money, did
not quite understand what to do with IL and
washed his hands of responsibility by turning
II into the United States treasury. To get it
out will require an act of Congress, so that the
chances are about 100 to one that these unlucky
eavages VIII never see q penny OF the cash due
them. An Indian agent and contractor have
oeen known to divide So 200, allowed by gov
ernment appropriation for transporting sup
paes from steamer landing to n reservation,
oy the simple device of making the Indians
carry the goods on their own backs. The
agents recommendation Of a firm for stock or
implements 10 said to be always good for q
rake of-meanirg percentage for himself.
As famous chief and warrior, in Washington
the other day. expressed it, in his picturesque
aoorlginal way, $50 long as the Indian has Q
leather on his back they pluck him."
A BRIGHTER SIDE.
let there is brighter side to the picture, SO
isr AZ some tribes are concerned. The Usage
Indians are the richest community on the face
OF the earth. They are 1909 in number and
have $4,000, 900 deposited to their credit in tire
treasury at Washington, on which they draw
SloO,oOo interest every three months. This
income will continue until Uncle Sam gets
ready to pay them the principal They also
nave H. 10000 acres OF the best land in OKLA
noma, Tor which tho unterrified boomer"
totally indifferent to the rights of the red man,
nopeicssly signs. HALF Of them wear blankets
to this day.
THE BIGGEST APPROPRIATION
made BY the Indian bill now under considera-
aon In Congress - for the Sioux-22. 600 of
them-who get 81, 79s, 600 in cash annually
BESIDES, each individual receives every day
three pounds of beet, half pound of -four ard
half pound Of corn, and to each 100 persons
are given three pounds of beans, four pounds
OF conee and eight pounds of sugar. All this
Is according to treaty made in 1877, which
stipulated that the allowances In money and
provisions mentioned should be kept up until
these people shall be able to support them
selves" There doesn't seem to be any pros
Pect mat this looked-for period will ever ar
rive, tor Us Red Cloud once remarked to Carl
Schurz, I'VE can't afford to support ourselves,
un9er the circumstances, and We aren't going
THE SUPPLIES AND MONEY ALLOWANCES
provided Tor so-calied 'pauper" Indians do
In TACT represent payment due for lands pur-
chased by Uncle Sam from them at prices usu-
ally most unjust to the savages. Being wards
Oh the nation, they are not permitted to have
the principal OF what ID owed to them, but al Q
allowed only the interest ut per cent until the
time shall arrive when they are considered ca
Pabie OF taking care Of the principal properly
exceptional cases are those of the Kickapoos.
Pottowatomies and Winnebagoes, who, accord
ing to the treaties made with them, can, upon
becoming citizens, withdraw their individual
shares OF capital from the treasury. Other
tribes are at present trying to get possession
OF their own money. Aparagraph has been in
terp0iated In the new Indian bill, authorizing
the Secretary OF the Interior to give q cash
equivalent for rations to such Indians as he
considers able to buy their own supplies Judi
clously. Some authorities on the subject how
ever, doubt the wisdom of the measure. the
danger being that the money would be quickly
squandered, whereas the regular allowance Of
provisions, &C., secure the red men against
starvation.
GIFTS TO THE RED MEN.
There are some instances in which Indian
tribes are provided from government funds
with money and supplies as gifts. The largest
Is granted to 10000 Apaches of Arizona,
amounting to 5000 900 yearly. This sum is an
propriated for their benefit not SO much, it is
said, as matter OF charity as becaues it is
cheaper to feed them than to fight them. The
next biggest gift is Sl25.00 for 5000 Apaches,
klowas and Comanches in Oklahoma, the reason
for 1t being the same. Many small tribes all over
the United States are allowed from "a, 900 to
Sl0,OO0 annually to support the old and infirm
and to pay physicians and artisans. Every tribe
on reservation is provided with ply stefan, car
penter and blacksmith wherever the appropria-
uon admits: Government funds set aside
with fair degree Of iberality for civilizing the
Indians. The new bill appropriates $4,000
Tor "lrrlgatlng machinery and appliances on
reservations" also 81. 600 for -four mill at the
Pimas agency in Arizona whexe the best wheat
In the United States is grown with the assist
ance OF irrigation. The grain is threshed by
ponies and separated from the chaff by the
wind as 1t is thrown into the air.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
Poultry is purchased for the Indian schools
though supplies of domestic animals are ordi-
narily provided for by treaties. Twenty-Five
sAAooSouu SoWo oho A.Ouc DuiiS are now being
bought for the Sioux in fulfilIment of the last
treaty with them. Fish ponds are soon to be
established In connection with two of the train
Ing schools for Indians In order that they NAV
become acquainted with the care and culture
OF fishes. 1t is further suggested that reserya-
tions shall be stocked with the harder game
fowls and that the streams thereon shall be
supplied with carp and other fishes by the
United States fish commission in order thai the
Indians may be afforded agreeable employment
and recreation.
THE Distribution OF nArIoNs
To any one who has never Witnessed the
of rations at an Indian agency the
performance is remarkably interesting. The
government building is ordinarily barn-like
structure, surrounded by platform, on which
the sqcaws form In line, each with her ticket
AS they pass through q door, in single file, a
clerk looks at each woman's card ana shouts
out the number of rations to which she is enti-
tied surprising that there are three in her
family she is entitled to twenty-one rations
for the week, OF course. Her card shows that.
and every time it is presented the clerk
punches 1t once. After 1t has been punched
times, being good for one year, it is
exhausted. Tho squaw passes on to another
clerk who distributes corn. He has number
OF scoops OF different sizes, each holding SO
many rations. The amount Of corn due the
woman he promptly dumps into her shawl,
tied up for temporary use as q receptacle. She
then passes to yet another clerk, who gives her
the -four or sugar due her, and SO on until she
has received her portion Of everything, when