The Arizona sentinel., 1900-06-13
JOHN s. SPEAR.

John s. Spear is a native of Bloom ington, Illinois, and left that state the
 last time about six years ago. He was
 educated at the state normal school in
 his native town. He taught public
 schools in Illinois and Nebraska, his
 last place being as principal of the
 schools at Golconda, III. In January,
 1893, he entered the Indian service as
 teacher at the Pine Ridge Indian ] agency and later was changed to the Omaha agency in Nebraska In Oc-
 tober, 1899, he came to the Fort Yuma
 agency. During his incumbency here
 the agency was never In better or more
 proficient hands.
 Since MT. Spear has been in control
 he has let the contract for a new dor
 mitory and also for rebuilding the
 kitchen and dining room This ability
 to overcome red tape and get an inn
 provement started so soon after taking
 charge atteets the confidence the. de- partment has in the superintendent's judgment and ability.
 Although as yet 1t Is not visually ap- parent yet 1t is a reasonable certainty
 that MT. Spears request for an irri- gating plant at the foot of the hill to irrigate ten acres of land and cultivate 1t with school help will be granted. The land would be devoted to raising al- falfa, fruits and vegetables, etc. This would not only reduce the cost of main tenance to the government, but would diversity the menu of the pupils, at the same time affording knowledge superior to geography or arithmetic for practical fnr fhn h0r leaving the school with knowledge of this character the pupil would undoubt- edly have an incentive to become a producing citizen of the substantial l class rather than an imitation of the | Ideal To with the attendant blanket | and breachclout.
 MT. Spear has recently, following his | ideas of an utilitarian curriculum, rec commended the establishment of a har- ness shop in connection with the shoe shop already existing.
 Since coming here all of the buildings have been repaired, the two largest buildings entirely replastered and the others partially so. If outside help had been employed the cost to the gov would have been $50 or $60. AS 1t was the total expense was two dol lars for two trowels. Besides saving the expense two boys have become pro- fcient workmen at this work a trade that will be of practical use for them In every day life.
 It has been the policy of MT. Spear that wherever 1t was at all possible the boys should be utilized in preference to hiring outside help. The Indians have been objecting to this policy, claiming the boys should be paid for their labor, forgetting that the boys are paid in 'ood, clothes, education, etc. They are as 1t wouIu appear to white nan, of appreciating that this policy s in the interest of the boys, for their ( uture life and livelihood will to great .xtent depend upon what they can do 'ather than what they know.
 Heretofore, these Indians have been lnder the Mission agency with the gent 200 miles away, which made them g practically without an agent. Soon af- I CT coming here the reservation was aken from the Mission and MT. Spear i vas appointed agent. Tn line with the employment of the : ,oys in practical ways 1t may be said g hat before letting the contracts for the 6 lew buildings the superintendent per c onally assumed about S1,000 worth of ) york which he would have done by the l and male pupils; that all the f i'd buildings have been saved; that 6 arrangements are being made by which t he Indian employees who now live on I he reservation will have quarters at ( he school, and as near as 1t is pos- 8 ible, placed on an equality with the white help. t In all his Improvements and in the onduct of the school MT. Spear has c lad the hearty cooperation of all the q eachers and other employees, and they S ave ever been ready and willing work c IS. Some have been in the service for c many years before coming here, others or short time, while with some this 5 their first experience in Indian work, ut taken as a whole a better force Is not found in the service. s In a social way MT. Spear is @ mem i er of the A. O. U. W. and the M W. c f A. Politically he has never held any y ther position than his present one, c xcept one term as county clerk of Hamilton county, Kansas.
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