Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-11-05

white men for a minimum rental, and
likewise much of the agricultural land;
that the Indians were not making
proper Industrial progress and that
their income from the leased lands was
much less than should have been de-
rived either when rented or cultivated
by themselves; all of which meant lack
of progress and large appropriations
by congress, neither of which was in
any sense satisfactory, and all de-
manding radical change. To remedy
this condition, the Indian office has
made q vigorous and unceasing cam
paign with gratifying results. For ex-
ample, three years ago one reservation
in the northwest had $500 acres under
plow; last year there was in cultiva
ton by Indians on this reservation
15, 900 acres, but 1t is exemplary of the
progress being made by the Indians
as farmers on practically all the reser-
vations.
1t cannot be expected that all In
dams shall advance, from plainsmen to
intensive farmers in one generaucn,
but that they are now making tre-
mendous progress is apparent
throughout the entire country, many
of them being among the best and most
prosperous farmers in the vicinity of
their residence. frequently comp ing
favorably with their white neighbcrs.
AS stockmen they have been even more
successful. The Indian is q natural
herdsman. He loves horses and readi.
| ly adapts himself to raising cattle and
| sheep. During the last three years the
| Indian bureau has purchased with
funds of the Indians (not a dollar of
the amount invested being gratuity)
more than 100000 worth of cattle.
horses and sheep for tribal herds and
| individual Indians. most Of the pur-
chases being for upbreeding stock and
young stuff-heifers for breeding pur-
poses, at the same time an Industrious
effort has been made to dispose Of in
| ferior male animals. Accompanying
these activities there has been a cor
responding reduction in the leased &C
reage. The carrying capacity for re-
servation pastures has been re-estim-
ated, rentals increased to determine
where lessees failed to pay for the full
number of stock grazed under their
permits. For example. on the San
Carlos reservation in Arizona, charges
to grazing permittees were advanced
so that the Indians on this reservation
now receive $4,000 annually more
than at any time heretofore, and on
this same reservation cattlemen have
been required to pay $4,000 excess
grazing fees. The new leases cover
the count upon which this excess pay
ment was made. Long time sheep
leases on a reservation in the north
west, which recently expired. have
been made to new lessees on a compe-
titive basis for $4,000 annually. which
previously paid $4,000, all of which
charges and collections are entirely
reasonable and fair "as between man
and man" and should be equally just
as between whitemen and Indians.
While the protection of our wards is
first consideration, we have not been
unmindful of the interests of the stock
men In matters of'fencing, water sup
ply. and leases sufficiently long to
realize on their improvements and in
vestment.
| The result is that on several of the
big Indian reservations there is now
for the first time an income sufficient
to relieve the government of every dol
lar of administrative expense.
| Pony stations are no longer used.
and the horse stock is being so rapid
lily improved that on many reserva-
tions the Indian-own horses are
marketed for prices almost, IL not
quite. equal to those raised by white
ranchmen. The southwestern Indians.
notably the NaSajos of New Mexico
and Arizona are among the best sheep
raisers in the United States. The Nav
ajos own more than two million sheep
and they are now being upbred so
rapidly that buyers are eager to pur-
chase their wool at the same price
paid to white sheep men. Two years
ego we purchased. with reimbursablc
funds, a band Of sheep for the Jicarilla
Indians and last year their net pro-
fit from Wool alone was a. 601 Ro