The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-03-10

determine rom the census report HU6E
how many Indians there are in the Unit
ed States. The first estimate was made in
1888 and set the entire number at ZIG. 600.
Two years later Gilbert INLAY collected
the reports Of travellers and military
men and placed the number at go COO
Louisiana territory and Florida having
been annexed. ia the year 1920 Superin-
tendent Morse estimated our Indians at
III. 036. The secretary of war declared
this an absurdity and placed their num-
bers ct 129. 336. The next secretary Of
war thought the truth lay between these
extremes and computed the number at
BIZ. 600.
La 1880 Texas. California, ETC.. having
been annexed, the first regular census Of
the Indians was made under the super
vision Of 81. r. Schoolcraft, and he made
the number 398, 229. Adding the New
York and other eastern Indians, their
humble was placed in the census at 400,-
764 This was high water mark. Only
I'D wears later the census reported the
total at 254 ,801, and the general opinion
was that the race was rapidly dying out
But in 1870 they were reported at 8l8, 712.
Cause o. che Variance
And how many are there now2 Wen,
it would take a talented calculator to
make out just what the census ONCE
means by its figures. The number is
first stated generally at PAT, 4O8. Then
the different kinds Of Indians are stated.
and the addition makes the number 325,-
48A 1t IS added ia a foot note that ia
the I've civilized tribes of the Indian
Territory the white and cOlOred people to-
gether are about twice as numerous as
the Indians, and that the whole popula-
ton of that territory is IT'S, 097. This
would at first seem to be the explanation
of the variance. but this is followed inn
1nediately by another enumeration nam
Ing the civilized, half civilized. reserva-
ticn Indians, prisoners, etc, exclusive Of
the i've civilized tribes, and this again
brings the number above 300. 600.
The final enumeration shows those to
whom rations are issued and the self
supporting. etc. and this again brings
the number down much below the for
mer. The only explanation that seems
to me plausible is that the SO 600 Indians
who live IN the various states as citizens,
dress ike white men and are counted in
the general population are in some OF
these tables counted as Indians and ia
others as common folks. If this be cor
rect, then we have in round numbers
325, 600 Indians.
Few Are Civilized.
OF these almost exactly one-ffth are
completely civihzed-that is, they own
and work land, live ia well built houses.
dress and vote and pay taxes like white
men, and Incidentally drink whisky and
chew tobacco alice samee Mclean man.
Another fifth are SO far civilized a. to be
completely self supporting, and still an-
other fifth. though nOminally wards of
the nation, are practically under no gov
ernmental supervision. OF the 133, AIT
reservation Indians q very large num-
Der are self supporting. The Navaioes.
for instance, although living in what
seems at first view an almost complete
desert and on plateau where there is
frost every month in the year. own
I. 400. coo sheep and have such a surplus
Of horses that they sell large numbers
every year.
The conclusion both of the census. au-
th0rities and the Indian bureau is that
the Indians are certainly not decreasing
and are probably increasing The I've
civilized tribes Of the Indian Territory
show 3 steady gain by births over deaths,
as do the New u oTk Indians, the Cher0-
KEGS of North Carolina and the eastern
Indians generally. OF the Indians over
20 years of age 7,455 can read, and of
those under 20 years of age 13,OS7, while
there are &c, 433 Of the nOncivilized In
dams who can speak tolerably plain Eng
1ish.
Ar Indian Dude.
After quoting various testimonies Mr.. +
Donaldson makes the following summa-
ry- ssThe real reservation Indian is filthy
ia person and habits. He eats uncooked
food and vernain, changes his clothes
when they drop off from decay, is Of
fansive in odor and thriftless in all things
He is the constant and agreeable com
panlon of every kind of vermin. On the
bank of q river stood an Indian III the
land of the Piutes, some years ago, in
the bracing air of a May morning, dress
ed ia an abandoned society coat, but
toned backward a pair Of eyeglasses
and high white hat with a Grape band.
He was an Indian dude, the envy of his
tribe. That might he was murdered by
a fellow Indian and thrown into the
river. and the next day his murderer APP
peared in the dress suit
Certificates OF Character.
Ia the same document the facetious
Mr.. Donaldson presents some specimens
of the certificates Of characters presented
by roaming Indians, among them these.
ROSE FORK. Ida, July a. 1868.
This Indians name is Iayt0ber- He is
ping. Ea is also gentleman. and you can bet
your life he viii do what he agrees to do. Make
him your friend. for he is q good one DO the
square thing by him. and he is honey cooler.
DO anything mean to him, and he Is Jonah
and VIII get even Brace him up with food
Errg-no rum. but beef and plenty OF it,
WILLIAM TROTTEFs AID UNCLE.
BRIDGER, u r., June j. 1867
This wiz be presented by Moss Rose. or