River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-11-15
EARNINGS OF THE INDIANS.
Ways I'm which Uncle Sans Proteges Get
Their Money.

Their Money.
There are about IT'S, 600 Indians out
side the five civilized tribes, and they
earn about $1,000, 600 year from the
United States government alone. OF
this they receive about s250,000 for
products of Indian industry. But Uncle
Sam is not their best customer. They
make nearly $1,000. 600 a year from the
sale of their products to others. And
they earn great deal besides by the
transportation of freight and by day
labor of various kinds. The govern
ment pays also S150.000 year for cut
ting and banking logs. There is sn
Indian police which draws more than
100000 year from the public treas
ury, Indian employees at agencies draw
100000 year, and employees at Indian
schools almost as much. Farmers and
interpreters and judges of Indian courts
are the other Indians on the govern
ment payroll.
Who would believe an unauthorita-
tive statement that band of Indians,
containing less than 1000 men and
women, made $3.50. 900 in a single year
cutting and banking logs? Yet that is
"
cousin made in 1898; and they could
have made more if the government
would have permitted them to cut more
timber. Their surplus energies sought
an outlet in the cutting Of the waste
timber into shingle bolts; but this oc-
cupation was denied th.m, because it
was found that some of them cut green
timber for the purpose, contrary to the
department regulations.
The Navajos, who got their first stock
of sheep from the Spaniards in Mexico
by appropriation, are now the owners
of 1,250,000 sheep and 100, 900 horses
and mules. The Sioux and Northern
Cheyenne Indians at the Pine Ridge
agency, the scene of the last In
dian outbreak, are the owners
of 1851 cattle and 1O,774 horses
and mules. Even the Apaches
at the Mescalero agency in New
Mexieo-the much-feared Apaches, the
terrors of the trail, as "0ld Cap. Col
lier" would probably call them if he
was writing this story-own 100 cattle
and rs pounds of butter during the
course of the year. The entire aggre-
cation of Indians under government
supervision and control makes about
100000 pounds of butter in year,
owns 205, 900 cattle and hauls %, 0O0, 900
pounds of freight in year, with 300,-
600 horses and mules. At the Umatilla
agency in Oregon are the great Indian
farmers. They market coo, 900 bushels
of wheat alone every year, with total
male population of sos and a female
population of 606. The female clement
must be taken into serious considera-
ton in an estimate of labor, for the
redskin has not abandoned the idea
that labor was designed for women.
The New York Indians are taking up
agriculture now, having been through
farming experience. The St. Regis
Indians, about 1900 in number, derive
revenue of S35. 600 a year from the
sale of Indian baskets. The Indians at
the Neah Bay agency in Washington
devote themselves entirely to fishing,
and make $4,000 by that work. But,
as a rule, the chief revenue of the In
dian tribes is derived from the sale of
lumber and agricultural products and
from freighting. Much of their pro-
duce is sold 10 the government. The
Sioux Indians of South Dakota sell
more than 100000 worth of wheat,
corn, oats and barley to the govern
ment in year; the Sioux of North Da-
kota sell S35, 900 worth to the govern
ment This is in addition to the $50, 600
worth of produce sold to outsiders.
The Moiave, Yuma and Apache Indians
at the San Carlos agency in Arizona
sell 100000 worth of goods, chiefly agri-
cultural to the government, and 500
900 worth to outsiders. Washington
Star