The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-20
THEY WILL WORK
Clerk Carroll of the A K and
c Indians
TELLS PECULIAR TRAITS
What the Work of an Indian
Agent Means.

Mr.. James A. Carroll, chief clerk at the
Indian agency at Anadarko. o. T., who
has been here conducting a civil service
examination for the Indian service was
at the Carey yesterday and told re-
porter for the Eagle many interesting
things about the Indians under the Ana
darko agency.
This agency has charge Of the Wichita
Indians. and also OF the Apaches. Kio-
was and Comanches, who are known COL
lectively as the A K. c. tribes and live
| on an entirely separate agency from the
| Wichitas
In speaking Of the tribes, Mr. Carroll
said: There are about 400 Indians at our
agency, 1000 Wichitas, and 5000 Of the
A. K. c. Although these reservations
are a part Of Canadian county, Okla
homa, they have never been opened for
settlement and the Indians hold all the
land in common Most Of this land IS
leased to cattlemen for grazing purposes
only. They pay about 10 cents per acre
per annum. Half this lease money is
paid in April and the other half in Octo-
her. Every man, woman and child among
the Wichitas gets 800 al each payment.
and each Of the a. K. and C Indians
gets $50 per capita This makes our In
dams practically independent and they
are, generally speaking. very well con-
tented
Mr.. Carroll was then asked 10 say
something about the industrial and edu-
cational conditions among the Anadarko
tribes.
There IS one thing about our Indians"
he said, land that is their willingness to
work. Most Of them take a great deal
Of interest in farming and are carefully
instructed by the government farmers
If the agency wants to buy so many tons
Of hay, or so many bushels Of grain, or
so many cords Of wood, it is almost in
variably supplied by the Indians, and
they are given the preference.
Another point is that there is almost
no objection on the part OF the old Indi-
ans to sending their children to school
The government has three schools on the
reservation, one at Anadarko, another at
Rainy Mountain. and the third at Fort
Sill Besides these all the principal
church denominations missions have
schools which are also we'll patrenized
The children first take course AT the
reservation schools which might be com
pared with the common schools. excapt
that they do not go quite as high Then
they are sent to one of the non-reserva-
ton schools, such as Haskell Institute at
Lawrence. Kan, or the famous school at
Carlisle. Pa At these schools there is no
f-os+ r1a Al
Indians can study all the higher
branches OF which they are capable.
ut may surprise some people TO know
that family relations among the Indians
is not what it is usually pictured. Among
some Of the northern tribes. especially
the Sioux, all the stories about swapping
and abusing squaws and making Them do
all the work are true but among our
Indians things Of this kind are never
heard Of Most Of the men are very fond
Of their wives and children. There are
a few cases where a buck has two wives.
but these are very rare. In general the
domestic life of the Indians about the
Anadarko agency is as good as the white
mans"
Mr.. Carroll was next asked If he did
not think that civilization would lead to
the extinction OF the Indians as a race.
Yes. I believe it does said Mr.. Car
roll. ''The way to civinze Indians is to
educate them. A we'll educated Indian
is about as good as anybody This will
lead to intermarrying with the whites
and the pure Indian blood will gradually
be absorbed"
well. are not your Indians a rather
well behaved LOTT" interposed the re-
portef
They are" replied Mr.. Carroll. 'T
don't believe there is a better behaved
lot in the country. They are sober. indus
trious and never give any trouble. I at
tribute this condition largely to the fact
that they have the utmost confidence IN
their agent. Lieutenant Colonel James 7.
Randlette. a retired officer Jusc prior to
his retirement. Colonel Raudlette was
acting agent for the Uintahs and Ourays
in Utah He made 4 great success OF his
work there and on his retirement. the
president gave him his present appoint
ment which was confirmed by the sen
ate. As Mr.. Raudlette IS a retired officer
and q regularly appointed Indian agent
he has no AK IN grind and IN all his &C
lions the only thing he takes into consid-
Grafton IS the good Of the Indians. Those
under him have the greatest respect for
him, and that IS why 7 believe the Wi1h- +
itas and the A. K. and C.'s are such
model Indians
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