The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-03-03
ROBINSON PLEADS
FOR The CAUSE OF
INDIAN EDUCATION
Sectarian Schools Get Hold Of
Lives of Indians and Help
in Uplift.
BY poANE ROBINSON.

LII DoSiNE nSoilN$SSs
Pierre, S. D., March 1.-The discussion
Of federal support of Indian education
now n in congress !s G matter ct large
interest in South Dakota. h Is a
mighty poor time to withdraw any
educational advantages the dia en-
JOY. All of the schools are doing good
work and contribute to the
lnent of the Indians, who are really
making a good progress as any rea-
sonable person could expect. All of the
schools are good, but some are better
than others, and IL | might have my
view carried out l would give a good
contribution of public money to the
sectarian schools supported by the
Catholics. Congregationalists, Episco-
palians and Presbyterians in South Da-
kota for the benefit of the Sioux With
in my observation they are the schools
which are really getting a hold upon
the lives of the Sioux and giving them
a genuine deep-rooted sense of re-
sp~onsibility. 1t is the product of these
schools that furnish the native teach
ers and missionaries l believe If a
reasonable amount of public money
We're allotted to these school, upon the
basis of the number OF children edu-
Gated more for the future of the Sioux
would be accomplished than by any
other method.
The better class of Indians them
selves quite understand the superior
ity of the UNCONVENTIONAL schools
the public schools so far as the moral
development of the pupils is concerned,
and many Of them make great sacrifices,
to secure the advantages of thess
schools for their children. They sub
scribe generally to the support Of the
schools and many parents clothe and
pay part of.the living expenses of their.
! children to get them into the religious
| EphGpiS thnJ,pb thew have nnnaSS To the
public schools, where the children are
clothed and kept free of all cost.
Cost of Living.
Apropos to the cost OF living prob
lem, public n private, the following
figures pertaining to public expense in
South Dakota may be pertinent: Dur
ing the past four years the taxation
for township purposes has increased
from s305, 050.07 to $560,714.S0 or SO per
cent. Taxes for municipal expenses
have increased from 719,44S.42 to ST.
060, 1888 or AZ per cent; for the sup
port of the public schools from $l,S3S,-
612.S5 to So, 556, 5000 or 80 per cent; for
county support from $1,522, S1S.63 to ST.
051, G26.32 or "a per cent; for state sup
port from SS7S,S29.12 to 81, 2S4, 2S2.66 OF
AZ per cent. OF course growth of popu-
lation is an important element in the
increase cost of government, but actual
living expenses is a still larger factor.
| II p0iS CilcSl vi llt illSICdSC- vi III
school tax does not reveal the situation
completely for the income from school
fund has very materially increased also
%lmpound Flood Waters.
Senator Candles amendment for the
impounding of the flood waters in
Lakes Kampeska and Pionsett is q
matter of f~ar-reaching interest in the
Sioux valley and will affect the water
powers now in operation at Flandreau,
Baltic. Dell Rapids. Sioux Falls, Beloit,
Calliope and Akron, and if carried out
Will no Il develop other power
plants or the Sioux river. Everyone
will hope the government will give UP
the fiction of the improvement of small
streams for navigation o. and
take hold of the improvement of such
streams where possible for the more
important matter of power development
and the consequent conservation OF
forests and coal measures.
Annually there runs off through the
Sioux liver in seasons of Hood an
abundance of water to keep an average
stage throughout the year to run the
power plants ait their maximum. The
tmpounding of the flood waters in the
big natural reservoirs at Kampeska,
Pelican, Poinsett and Norden can be
accomplished at a nominal cost. The
value of the lands which will be
flooded about Poinsett will no doubt be
the largest item of cost.
Manufacturing in Hills.
Rapid City is to. have an extensive
pressed brick plant. the machinery for
which has been purchased and is now
enroute. The same parties already
have a large lime and gypsum plant in
operation and are also installing a
sand-lime brick plant. Still another
company has been Incorporated with
S150.000 capital. to manufacture hard
wall plaster. and the big United States
company's plant is running to
its full capacity. 1t looks now as ii
the gypsum beds OF Rapid valley are to
Be shS SSffer oT tle states greatest
brick and plaster industry, though the
Portland cement plants OF the Missouri
valley will divide the honors