The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-16

I
The Indians. both fun and mixed hoods,
with very few exceptions. are always
in need of money and notwithstanding
some Of them have large incomes. they
are al deeply in debt. 4 large portion Of
the Usage lands have been surveyed into
$50 pastures. containing from q few hun
bred 10 = of-1 acres. These pastures. which
were formerly leased for few cents per
acre. are now let 10 the highest bidder,
and the best bring from 90 10 Il cents. The
smaller pastures remaining unleased
bring from s TO Is cents per acre. accord
ing 70 grade. The Indians win this year
receive a revenue Of nearly Sl50.0o5 from
their pastures alone Several hundred
whites are now living on the reservation
and are taxed one dollar per month.
called permit tax. for the privilege. Cat
tie and other stock not belonging 10 the
Indians ranging on the reservation are
taxed 50 cents per head. This money all
goes into the Usage treasury. Nearly
every Indian has one or more farms which
are leased to white men. ither for grain
or cash rent The farms vary in size
from five to seven hundred acres. They
bring from one dollar to two ana one
third of the crop If grain rent is given.
Preriuos 10 the advent Of the present
agent AIr. o. Il. Mitscher, OF Oklahoma
City .. T. very little attention was given
these leases. The consequences were the
Indian was numerically swindled. The
present agent. assisted by & leasing clerk.
now pays especial attention 70 leasing
these farms and collecting the rentals.
A neat sum is added yearly 10 the IN
dams income thereby. The Indians were
formerly granted what was called the
Usage council consisting Of twenty mem
bers. The nation was divided into ter
districts and each district was allowed
tWo represented lives who were chosen by
ballot This council elected governor.
secretary. treasurer and high sheriff. It
was the duty or these officers 10 levy
and collect the grass tax. permit money.
too Corruption among these officers was
the cause II the abolition Of the council
The laws passed by the council were US
ua'I}- recoEnized providmg they did not
let with auv L. s. statute or rulings
Il the interior department Bitter strug-
giles took place ar each election between
the fun and mixed bloods for control Of
day but very few Of them being able
70 talk. read or write English mixed
bioods we're usually chosen 10 iii the re-
sp0asi5le Offices. 1t was among these Of
fc.als that the embellishments took place
Some Of them owe the Usage 1,ation
thousands Of dollars. With al records
DESTROYED there is no way Of detarmin-
Ing the exact amount The entire control
Of the reservation now rests WITH the
agent subject only 10 the United states
laws ard rulings OF the interior DEPART
ment. The agent Is assisted in his Office
by TWO clerks and-a stenographer. Eight
constables ars stationed at different
points on the reservation to protect citi-
Zens 70 carry out the mandates Of the
Office. horse thieves. hog thieves and
whisky peddlers are a great source OF an
noyance 10 the agent ana officers. II is
when by stepping across the border they
can buy all the liquor they have money
10 pay for. The fact that it is q state
prison ofense does not deter the Risky
Feddler. some are caught and sent TO
prison, but by far the majority escape
al punishment. The officers of the VII
lagos along the border protect. as much
a-d whisky pe1dlers in selling to uhe IN
dams. They viii stoop to most enything
in order % secure Usage money. One
plan of the whisky peddIer is 10 give the
Indian q 'tiD' where Il bottle of l:ouor
can he found. Tire peddIcr can easily
swear that he did NOT sell the Iiqsor to
the Iadian. and the Indians memory. in
most instances. is a complete blank re-
earding all transactions M % the tine
of finding the boule- Should the Indian
tell he VIII set no more liquor from that
source. Tor time at least. IN great
many instances the Indian does not know
the ps5dler and would not recognize him
should they meet. Lemon essence. vanilli
and patent medicines, especially Peruna.
are eagerly purchased. Very little liquor
is brought into the reservation, most or
Il being drunk Just across the border. The
school at Pawnuska is considered che or
the best in America. The buildings are
an Of stone which is found IN great alum !
canoe among the hills Two large dorma-
tories. a recitation building. hospital and
numerous minor buildings make up the
school. improvements amounting 70 g.
CO.. viii be added in the near future. The
assisted by an able corp Of teachers. as
the Indian service possesses The tuild- I
mss are lighted by gas. heated by steam (
and the school has its own system OK /
water works. This water has been eX 1
tended 20 some portions of the town. /
which contain about $50 inhabitants The /
hospltol IS N charge Of a trained nurse /
The farrs connected with the school is /
- an experienced farmer and /
the agricultural education q the Indian 4
bows Is in charge Of an industrial teacher 4
q graduate of the agricultural depart +
-rent cf the Wisconsin university. All 4
children from 8 10 IS years of age are (
required q attend during the entire school (
wear These children are not allowed /
eava without permission from the agent /
They are given priviIs re of visiting their +
,1-ents once month. but the parents +
are allowed 20 caH at the school Nhen- I
-ver they please. There are ~ present +
ah7u1 ISL children enrolled besides con +
siderable number are attending 1T Chlocco 4
=Fas2ru and Cariyie- The parents love /
children often causes che agent F.
considerable trouble 10 induce them 70 +
--aee thl .- children in school. When IN 4
camp the child IS very seldom classified +
4nd receives very iittle care This is due
.o ,he INDECENT vsvs CT the Indian and +
-ot 10 lack ~ affection when going about +
own the chud IS usually carried On the
Mothers back. although It is no uacom-
-cn sight 10 see the father totinE the
itae one at5aud. The nl hoods wear
, heavy Blanket wrapped around them
,ver Tia II leggings and shirts. both sum
80 rlnnr alr.t 81 tie rnslEer