The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-03
PLEADS
THE CAUSE OF
INDIAN EDUCATION
Bectarian Schools Get Hold of
Lives of Indians and Help
in Uplift.

Lives Of Indians and Help
in Uplift.
81 BY DoANE ROBINSON.
81 Pierre, 8. D., March 1.-The discussion
aAf federal support Of Indian education
BOW on in congress is a matter of large
Interest in South Dakota. This is a
Nighty poor time to withdraw any
Educational advantages the Indians en-
teoy.. All of the schools are doing good
work and contribute to the advance
fnent of the Indians, who are really
making a good progress as n rea-
sonable person could expect. All Of the
schools are good, but some are better
than others. n If I might ave my
view carried out I would give a good
contribution of public money to the
aAActarian schools supported by the
Catholics, Congregationalists, Episco-
palians and Presbyterians in South Da-
kota for h 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 then
a genuine deep-rooted sense of re-
sponsibility. 1t is h product Of these
schools that furnish the native a
ers and missionaries. l believe II a
reasonable amount Of public money
ware ALLOTTED. To THESE 6CnOO upon IuS
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,
tty Of the UNCONVENTIONAL schools over
the public schools so far as the moral
development of h pupils is concerned.
and many of them make great sacrifices
to secure the advantages OF these
schools for their children. They SUBJ
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
schools. though they have access to the
public schools, where the children are
clothed n kept free of all cost.
Cost Of Living.
Apropos to the cost Of living prob
lem. public and private, the following
South Dakota may be pertinent: Dur-
ing the past four years the taxation
for township purposes a increased
from 1906, 050.07 to $3.50, 714.80 or SO per
cent, Taxes for municipal expenses
have increased from $719,4A8.42 10 81!
O60. 1883 or AZ per cent: for the sup
portSof the public schools from $685. !
el2; = to ST. $50, 5000 or SO per cent; for
County support from $1.522, 818.63sto ST.
C0bSsl2S.32s or 81 per ent for-statc sup
1pos4 from $s7s;82S.12 0s4l.384,2S2:Se@as
~ per e 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.
The percentage of the increase of the
school tax does not reveal the situation
completely for the income from school
has very materially increased also.
lmpound Flood Waters.
Senator CANDLES amendment for the
impounding Of the food waters in
Lakes Kampeska and Pionsett is d
matter Of far-reaching interest In tho
Sioux valley and will affect the water
powers now in operation at Flandreau,
Baltic, Dell Rapids. Sioux Falls, Beloit.
Calliope n Akron, and il carried out
will no doubt develop other power
plants on the Sioux river. Everyone
will hope the government will give up
the fiction of the improvement Of small
streams for navigation purposes and
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 river in seasons of flood an
abundance of water to keep an average
stage throughout h year to run the
power plants at their maximum. The
tmpounding Of the ood waters in the
big natural reservoirs at Kampeska,
Pellcan Po1nSett and NOrden can ba
accomplished at a nominal cost. The
value Of he 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
en- enroute. The same parties already
have q large lime and gypsum plant in,
operation and are also installing a,
sand-lime brick plant. Still another:
company has been incorporated with.
$4,000 capital. to manufacture hard
wall plaster, and the big United States
Plaster company's plant Is running to
its full capacity. 1t looks now as IL
the gypsum beds of Rapid valley are to:
be the center of the states greatest
brick and plaster industry. though the
Portland cement plants of the Missouri
valley will divide the honors.