New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-13
CI|ILTZTNG b.. THE INDIANS.
EDUCATIONAL WORK ADVANCING AMONG
THE TRIBES

Washington. Oct. l2.-The annual repor, of VIII
lam A. Jones. Commissioner Of Indian Affairs,
shows general steady advancement IN the cond.-
ton OF the Nations wards" Educa ton the
greatest factor in solving the status Of the Indians
Is being pushed forward I'm the service and now
there are liI well-equpped boarding schools ard an
equal number Of day schools engaged in the edu-
cation of 90 952 pupils. The average attendance
and enrolment have steadily increased Cor the las,
twenty-one years.
Inquiries made by Commissioner Jones the last
year show significantly that SO per cent OF those
pupils who have gone through the schools and re-
turned TO their homes are reported 10 No IN good
physical condition. contrary 10 the frequst sugges-
ton that the change might break naturally
strong and vigorous constitution. or the pupils at
tending school. per cent reported as excellent
or first-class 10 per cent good or medium while
only "a per cent considered bad or worthless
showing in the Commissioners Judgment the value
or system which can In a generation develop
from savages 70 per cent OF good average men and
women.
Under the present management the large net de-
crease in enrolment and attendance OF last year
has been changed into ne; Increase OF 90 and
s9S enrolment and average attendance. respective
ly. for the present year. The reservation schools
show the largest gain. Agents are now being urged
to greater exertions 10 I'll the schools to the limit
Of their capacity by placing therein every child Of
school age on the reservations whose physical
( condition Will warrant school confinement.
Future developments, Mr. Jones predicts will
undoubtedly emphasize that a regulation enforcing
compulsory attendance upon the schools must he
enacted. The placing OF Indian children In the pub
lie schools Of the country for the purpose OF coedu
cation OF the races does not appear TO meet with
much success. but fuller test OF its value and
practlcabllity is 10 be made this year.
The school property In the service is valued at
100000 and larger funds for keeping II
In repair are urged out Of the general school sup
port fund he Indian Office contempates the OK
penditure OF sufficient radically to Increase
scholastic facilities for the great tribes OF the
Southwest and 10 that end adequate additions
will be made to the schools now established for the
Pmas. Papagos. Navajos. Moquis and Apaches, at
Sacaton. Fort Defiance. Keans Canyon. San Carlos
and Fort Apache. There are on these reserya tons
and adjacent thereto thousands of Indians with no
/ school advantages.
Special efforts for school Advancement are to he
made with the Jicarilla Apaches the southern Utes
and the Seminoles I'm Florida.
Referring to the tOrtIring and burning or semi
noles In Oklahoma last January, the report says
II is thought indemnity will soon be paid by ina
! Government all members Of the Seminole Ma
ton injured by the mob Of lawless whites In That
occurrence, and the whites guilty Of the outrage'
are now being prosecuted. The report gives IN de-
tail the work that has been going on at the various
reservations during the year