The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-10

soil is very light, and as tney KNOW
nothing of scientific fertilization d
move every three years is necessary
OF account OF the soil having become
depleted.
Indian Lands.
The Florida State Legislature, at
the session held in 1889, set aside So
townships as Seminole reservation.
and while | can find no record of the
repeal OF this act, yet | find that
practically all the land has beel
decided to p rivate parties Late in
the session held in 1911 Hon. l.. A
Hendry, of Lee county, introduced 4
bill setting aside fifteen townships
in Monroe county to compensate, in
measure, for the loss OF the former
thirty-six townships. This bill
passed the House, but was not calico
up in the Senate. Mr.. Hendry pro-
poses to remtro.luce this bill early
in the 1913 session and hopes to Sc
cure it's adoption. At the present
time the government owns $4,000
acres in the region inhabited by the
Seminoles. If allotments were made
at this time, there would be but
forty acres for each member of the
tribe The major part OF the 60
eminent land is low, wet prairie
with small low islands scattered OVER
it. When it is taken into conside "a
ton that after the drainage project
has been completed this terrific Y
will still be dotted with lakes anil
swamps, together with the fact tn 1t
the tribe is increasing year by year,
it will be seen that the size of tl3
reservation is entirely too small FOR
future needs, Sufficient lands
should be secured, SO that an allo,-
ment of at least SO acres could De
sven to each adult male as soon rs
he shows sufficient knowledge of
agriculture and a disposition to Gull
tivate a farm. What is known as tho
South Canal has been extended fron
Lake Okechobee to the Miami river
and is practically completed. This
canal passes within about or 10
miles of township As south, range 81
east, which contains 10000 acres
(the largest tract of reservation
lands). If this land proves to be of
value for agricultural purposes, the
question Of lateral canals will need
o be considered later. The Protestant
Episcopal mission. which is situated
on the reservation. is investing a con-
siderable sum Of money in an expert
mental farm for the Indians Only
Indians will be employed in all cases
where the work can b. done by therl.
This Is a move in the right direction
and should receive every encourage
ment. If 1t is successful however, II
will soon become too large an ents--
prise for the struggling mission to
handle, and plans for the larger vor6
will OF necessity have to be consid-
erel by the government
Schools.
The Florida Legislature, some time
ago, provided for the maintenance of
an Indian school, but, owing to the
fact that it is contrary to the tribal
laws for an Indian to learn to read
or write, nothing has been done as
yet. Although the penalty for in.
fractions of the tribal law in this
matter is that of having the ears
cropped and is still inflicted in GER
tain cases. yet several of the young
r,tn have slight knowledge of both
reading and writing. Assurance has
been given that after the death Of
the present council the ban on educa-
ton will be removed by their success
sors. Then the matter of schools
combined with industrial features
will need to be considered.
Conclusion.
The future outlook for the Semi.
noles in Florida is much brighter
than ever before. Interest in them is
Increasing in every part of the State
md the national government has at
Hst started in permanent work
,mong them. While n mnst No. 10