El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-18
MAKING INDIANS
SELF SUPPORTING
Commissioner Valentine IN
Annual Report Tells OF
PROGRESS Made.

Il -
tempting to put Uncle Sans indian
wards on a self-sustaining basis. the
bureau OF indian affairs, during the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1910 bent
every effort to bring about that end'
according to the annual report OF com
missioner Robert G. Valentine to the
secretary Of the interior, made public
today. Through the efforts Of its edu-
cationaI. farming and employment
branches the bureau has been well re-
warded in its efforts to make the in
dian a competent citizen Of the-gnited
States.
Wonderful progress was made dur
ing the year covered by the report IN
teaching the indians how to work their
own lands. says the commissioners.
Speaking on the farming problem,
commissioner Valentine says: THE in
dian service realizes that instruction
in farming is an essential basic part
Of its present educational policy, and
is, therefore, making use Of every pos
sible resource in order to promote farm
ing among the indians" During the
year a number Of expert farmers were
employed to teach the indian the art
of agriculture. Declaring that the
agricultural fair has been convincingly
proved a means Of stimulating interest
success among the Crows, commission
er Valentine continues: The fair pro-
notes healthy rivalry among indians
and furnishes a rational basis for meet
ing together, which ought eventually
to take the place Of the indiscriminate
gatherings Of indians, which are
usually productive Of considerable
harm"
Railroads Offer TO Help.
T,- 1----,x
systems have offered to provide op
portunities for school boys who
learning trades or who are mechanical
" inclined, the commissioned says that
the systematic connecting Of the in
dustrial education Of the schools with
the real work Of the world will mean
the dawning Of a new day IN indian
education, and, from the human side,
the bridging over of that critical pc
Rod IN boys life when he leaves
school and starts to work, is q service
of far-reaching Importance. Sympa
thetic direction during those two or
three critical years the commissioner
goes on to say, will mean the eco
monte and moral salvation Of many
boys and young men"
In declaring that the health worR
of the bureau is not merely to care
for and cure those who are sick nor
rather TO increase the vitality of the
indian race and to establish for it a
new standard Of physical we'll being,"
the commissioner says that one Of the
principal features Of the attack is: IAN
intensive attack upon the two diseases
that most seriously menace the health
Of the Administrations and tubercu-
losis."
Keeping the Indians Sober.
As a result Of the increased appro-
priation for the suppression Of the
liquor traffic, the report says, unusual
" extensive operations were conduct
ed covering practically every state OF
the union in which indians reside. - The
commissioner says that the bureau has
been aided in its efforts in this line
by the cooperation Of the state Off
Gals
Progress, says the commissioner, is
being made in the work OF connecting
the indian schools with the public
schools, and the association of indian
children with white children will be
a definite means OF promoting the as
similation Of the indians into American
life.
Indians In Schools.
"A comprehensive survey of the con-
dition Of the schools throughout the
service was made during last year.
reports the commissioner. Out OF q
school population Of about 10000 (this
does not include the five civilized
tribes). there are in school 29,1S5, Ieav-
ing out Of school 1855. Including
public schools within reach Of indian
children. there are accommodations for
6S44 being unused, thus leaving 4471
for whom there would appear to be no
school accommodations. The chief
supervisor OF schools is Of the opinion
however. that win the exception of the
Navajos and Apaches, all other indian
children can be well cared for IN
schools already in existence
After saying that there are millions
of acres OF indian lands in indian res
ervations, the report says that thus
far about 10000 acres have been irri-
gated; Of this number lis, $40 have
been irrigated by indians and 42,0SO
by white lessees and purchasers
1.-THE government no longer looks
upon its duty to the indians as merely
involving an honest accounting for its
trusteeship Of indian lands and funds -
says the commissioner. 1T consider
the trusteeship Of this property as the
means Of bringing the indian 10 posi-
ton Of self-reliance and independence.
where he may be able to accept the
opportunities and responsibilities of
American citizenship"