The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-03-16
REPORTS ON INDIANS
The Annual Statements of tho
Agents Will Soon Be Submitted.
EXISTING CONDITIONS UNFAyORABLE


Washington, March 12.-Thc annual
reports OF the various Indian agents
throughout tine country are being
prepared by the Indian Office and will
be submitted to the secretary of the
interior in conjunction with the re-
port of the commissioner of Indian af-
fairs in about two weeks. The entire
Indian population of the country, ac-
cording to the report, is 267,SO5. The
number wearing citizens dress is
95,670. The number that can read is
IL, j07 and that can speak sufficient
English for ordinary conversation, 3d.
314 There were 1,153 dwelling houses
built for Indians last year, in addition
to the 1926 dwellings already occu-
pied by them. There are 266 male and
l4l female missionaries now among
the Indians. There are 81 ,6j5 Indian
church members and 34S church build
ings upon the various reservations.
The amount of money contributed
during the last year by religious and
other societies was. for education,
S2OG.s3S; for general church work,
$119.4O7. This estimate does not in
cludc the $lG.O1G from New York for
the support of the school established
by that state.
There were $50 marriages during
the year and 63 divorces. The num-
Der of births was Apr and the deaths
1888. The deaths exceeded the births
by 1,O16. There were 20 Indians killed
by Indians and one Indian killed by
whites. There were 10 suicides and
seven whites killed by Indians. The
number of Indian criminals punished
was 1,4G9. OF these IDS received their
sentence in courts presided over by
Indian officers. The number of whisky
sellers punished was 1854.
The conditions reported as existing
in many of the Indian districts during
the last year are unfavorable. Great
difficulty is experienced, according to
the report of the school superintend-
ent, in persuading Indians to become
educated. The character and condi-
tions Of the different tribes show
great variations.
One nation, such as the Hulapa, is
| found 10 be extravagant and improvi-
dent. desiring condition OF idleness
rather than one of profitable labor
while the Moquis are extremely in
dustrious and provident After the
smallpox scourge, which recently de-
vastated the nation, had abated and
the work of cleaning and fumigating
their houses had begun. it was found
that the Moquis had an abundance
of corn and dried peaches stored away
in their habtations, in most eases
sufficient to last for two years.
The report will state that the popu
lation of the various nations is steadily
decreasing. There is found in th'
government schools the 81 eatest DIM
Guilty in teaching the Indian. The ia
tclligcnce of many of the tribes Il
said to be of high order, but th,
nature of the Indian does not aDpca
to take kindly to customs ditleren
from his own. Much of the hardship
so prevalent in the Indian countr.
is attributable to the aridity of tn
regions in which most of the reserva
tions are situated. Many of the tribe
are allowed to practice their own re
ligious observances, for instance, tn
Kiclapoos at the present time of tn
year observe their own feast to tn
Great Spirit, at which dog is ldlle
and eaten each day during the hol
season.