Semi-weekly herald., 1916-01-10

tion. Nearly every crop which ear
be raised in the temperate zone cur
be produced.
There is an abundance of water il
the Pine river and the government ha:
constructed an elaborate irrigation
system by means of which nearly
every tract of Indian land can be
watered. There is plenty of fuel
both wood and coal, and forage for
animals. The Denver & Rio Grande
railroad passes thru the Indian land
and Durango, beautiful city of g.
600 inhabitants, is but 20 miles away.
White settlers have taken as home
steads that part of the land not al
loted to the Indians and they have
prospered. They have built schools
and churches and have constructed
roads which are marvel to the visitor
and delight to the auto tourist.
They occupy good, substantial, well
built homes and own big red barns.
These white settlers have taken the
inferior land. that which was left
after the Indians were given the
choicest tracts.
Meanwhile the Indians have mani
Tested no desire to take a hand. They
have been Indifferent to the fact that
their own land, tho by nature far SUI
perior, has lain idle, covered with
sage brush, producing nothing. Eigh-
teen months ago the total value of
their home property did not exceed
$4,000; they had few horses, but pom.
les inumerable; few plows, but many
saddles; they spent their substance
freely for whiskey but not for milk
for their babies. They were consum-
ers, but not producers. Virtually
every one of them, male and female,
young and old, strong and weak, was
given rations regularly by the govern
mcnt, upon which they depended for
support.
Now it is different Cato Sells, fed.
eral Indian commissioner, had not
been long in office when he became
conyersant with the Southern Ute sit
uation. 1t was clear to him that these
Indians needed change of treatment.
The greatest need Of the moment was
"A local manager for the Southern
Utes. Walter G. West was selected
for the place and his appointment has
proved to be happy one for the Utes.
Mr.. Sells policy is to give every
Indian a chance and this is exact
ly what has been done at the South
ern Ute agency. In order that he
might have means of support while
raising a crop and TO purchase seed
agricultural implements, teams and
other things, there has been set aside
$4,000 of the funds Of the tribe
This was placed in local banks, draw
ng interest to the credit of the In
dians, 800 for each individual. This
money is available for expenditure for
any good purpose when approved by
the local superintendent.
Another $4,000 of their tribal
money was set aside as a revolving
fund" with which to purchase in the
larger markets agricultural imple-
ments, household furniture and seed
in large quantities, to be sold to the
individual Indians as they require,
the money paid by them to go back
into the revolving fund to be used
again for the same purpose. In this
way the Indians are able to secure
staple articles at much lower price
than they would have to pay in the
local markets.
A campaign of education was inaug-
urated among the Indians. Super
intendent West is a trained agricul-
turist and to assist in this work there
was engaged graduate of the Kan
sas State Agricultural school, a man
who for years taught agriculture and
allied subjects in the Agricultural
college of Oklahoma, Frank II. Hutto
also trained teacher of domestic
science.
Nor has the health of the Indians
been overlooked. A resident physi-
clan is employed who devotes his
entire time to the Indians. When not
engaged in treating those who are
sick he visits their homes, instructs
them in proper sanitation, ventila-
ton, diet, personal hygiene and right
living in general. BY this means the
health Of the tribe has been gradually
improved.
The Southern Utes take kindly to
the treatment they are receiving at
the hands of the government. They
are responding with new hope and a
determination to become independent,
self-supporting, useful citizens. Dur
ing the last year and half thirty
two new homes have been constructed