Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-08
INDIANS HAVE GOOD YEAR
Winnebagoes Coming to Front with
Farming Operations.
CHIEF CLERK TELLS OF WORK
w. w. Small of Macy Says Red Man
Takes Kindly to Suggestions of
recommendations to
Make Trip West.
(From a staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Sept 7.-(Special Tele-
gram Wv. w. Small, chief clerk of the
Omaha and W1nnebago Indian reservations.
stationed at Macy, Neb.. accompanied by
Mrs Macy, arrived in Washington today
and called to pay his respects to Acting
Indian Commissioner Abbott. Mr. Small
is east partly on departmental business
and, that concluded, will take a short trip
along the Atlantic seaboard for pleasure.
The plan inaugurated by Assistant Com
missioner F. II. Abbott some three years
ago Of appointing number OF practical
farmers to teach the Indians the more
modern methods Of agriculture is now
bearing out the wisdom OF these appoint
ments. Not only in the Winnebago and
Omaha reservations have the Indians taken
kindly to the suggestions of the govern
ment farmer. but upon many other reser-
vadons gratifying reports are being re-
ceived as to crop conditions on reserva-
tions where allottments have been entirely
cultivated by the Indian.
On the Omaha reservation the progress
is not so marked as among the Winnie
bagoes. Still, their work has been lair
this year, considering weather conditions.
Two years before the practical farmer ar
rived on the winnebago reservation there
were but 1900 acres under cultivation by
the Indians. This year there are n,OOO
acres under profitable cultivation. In addi-
ton, 1t is reported that at least 100 homes
have been built by the Winnebaeoes upon
their allottments.
Good Year for winnebagoes.
In speaking Of conditions among the
winnebagoese,. Mr.. Small Said The
winnebagoes have had the best year of
their history. Dozens OF them have gone
upon and are farming their AIlottments;
dozens OF little homes have been built;
they are handling 1900 acres Of land and
are growing crops of an estimated value
Of $4,000 There are not more than 81 per
cent as many chattel mortgages on grow
ing crops as there were last year, with at
least % per cent more crops. There are
now in the course Of construction twelve
homes and plans for as many more are
being discussed.
Drunkenness. which was so prevalent
among these Indians a few years ago, has
practically disappeared.
Assistant Indian Commissioner +. H.
Abbott will leave Washington on Septem-
Der II for a couple of weeks official bust
ness, first at Chicago, to superintend the
opening of bids for the food supply Tor
the Indians for the next fiscal year. From
Chicago Mr.. Abbott will go to Fort Batho DIT
Indian reservation in North Dakota to
attend the first annual Indian fair during
the week of September 20. Mr.. Abbott lie
no stranger on the Fort Bertholdt reserva-
ton, having, in company OF Representa-
tive Hanna, visited the Indians two years
ago and IN council with them a treaty was
drawn whereby some 23S000 acres of this
70
During that visit Commissioner Abbott
gained the consent OF the Indians TO an
appropriation OF $4,000 out OF their trust
fund TO be used in the development OF a
demonstration farm.
Abbott Goes 10 Fargo.
After the fair Mr.. Abbott will go to
Fargo TO confer with Representative Hanna
TO confer and discuss various methods re-
lating to the opening of this reserve. It
appears that underlying these agricultural
lands are large deposits of coal and It is
the purpose OF the department to so frame
legislation that only surface entries may
be made upon these lands. the coal beneath
remaining forever the property Of the
tribesmen. This matter will be thoroughly
discussed by Commissioner Abbott and
Representative Hanna with the Indians
and It Is hoped an amicable agreement may
be reported Mr.. Abbott win also visit
Devils Lake ana Cheyenne in South Da-
kota and hopes to have time to visit the
several Indian reservations in Nebraska.
His last stop on his eastward Journey
will be at Omaha 10 look into affairs per
tanning to the Indian warehouse.