Evening star., 1915-01-16


work is all done by the women,
chiefly during their spare time.
plan to lessen the production OF
blankets of an inferior quality and to
protect the public against limitations
has lately been devised. 1t consists of
a linen tag and lead seal which is at
tached to blankets purchased direct
from Navajo Indians. The Indians re-
ceive sS or more for each blanket in
money or it's equivalent. The tagging
system is now being tried at the
Moqui, Western Navajo ana San Juan
reservations. If it proves successful
lit will be extended to all the other
Navajo reservations.
| L
| During the year 1915 thorough in
ventory will be made of the timber
| resources of
Inventory to Be Made the Indians.
of Timber Resources memo ane most IN, I'M
| gle industrial enterprise in the Indian
service is the Menominee Indian mill at
Neopit, Wis. On the Menominee reser-
walton the stumpaEe is not sold, but
the government manages all the phases
of lumber manufacture from the time
the tree is cut until the finished prod
uct is placed in the car ready for
market During 1913, 32520,33O feet
of logs were delivered at the mill,
from which 37.50O.00O feet of lumber
were produced and 23,17s,511 feet sold.
Much valuable lumber exists in other
reservations, which has heretofore
of white men. This condition is to be
changed in the future. More than forty
Indian agency sawmills are now in
operation
A great interest is developing among
the Indians in favor of building new
houses from their own lumber. This
will provide a new industry for them.
as well as better and more sanitary
nome conditions The mining and oil
lands owned by the Indians are being
conserved or operated under the most
advantageous terms to the owners
one OF the means by which Indian
products are being brought into public
notice is through the annual fairs
Whlch nave come into popularity with
in the last few years. These fairs are
heid upon the different reservations.
ana are similar in scope to the county
falrs of the white man. Prizes are
awarded for all sorts of products
grown or manufactured by the In
dians, and under proper conditions the
indian fair can be made to supply a
great impetus in their industrial de-
velopment
In a few instances. however. the fair
mas Deen the occasion of too much dis
sipation. The dances and games Of
chance have caused serious detriment TO
individual Indians so that for a time
the fair was in diSfavor
Commissioner Sells sees in the properly
managed fair an inspiration to arouse
the Indians to
Fair an Inspiration greater ap-
to Arouse the Indian. 1heir p'eG.a',om onnor OF
tunities He has written a letter to the
superintendents of the different reserva-
tions stating the things which the fair
should emphasize and the things to be
avoided. The exhibits of high grade
products will tend to emphasize the diff
ference between those which are inferior
in size and quality The improvement of
farm stock can be well demonstrated.
Enthusiasm and rivalry between the
men, women and children in showing
their own handiwork beadwork, blan-
ketS, canned fruit, SilverSmith work, lace
and needle work we'll agricultural
products will make for the general prog
resS of every exhibitor.
The features to be avoided are those
WHICH teHo 10 uiileTeutidle eHe lluitu
rom the white man. These include wild
west features, where the Indians are eX-
hibited in their former conditions of
savagery. The tribal dances are also
Objectionable because they tend to over
fatigue and in most cases are accom-
panied by drunkenness.
1t is the policy of the Indian bureau to
discourage absolutely the engagement of
Indians for any sort of exhibition pur-
poses. The ideal of independence brought
about by the DEVELOPMENT of their own
resources should be kept constantly be-
fore them. Their employment in cir
cuses. travelling shows other exhibi-
tions tends to degrade them morally and
to lessen their desire for real civiliza-
tion.