Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1916-11-24
Under Federal Guidance Crows
Prove Better Cattlemen
Than Whites.
NOW FARMERS And BREEDERS
Wotk Too Has Raised the Price Of tho
Grazing Lands Upon tho Reserva.
tions--Take Good Care Of
Cattle.

Washington. n.--The Grow Indians Of
Montana went into the cattle-raising
business two years ago, under the su-
pervision and expert guidance Of the
department OF the interior. The 9TH
er day. Cato Sells, commissioner Of
Indian affairs of the department, an
nounced that the Indians little fier
In cattle had netted them no less than
S350,OO0.
In announcing the climax of this
bit Of business Mr.. Sells told how he
had personally aided In the recent sale
of 81 carloads of Crow cattle at the
Chicago stockyaris. The day before
the Chicago sale IL other carloads Of
cattle had been sold at Omaha.
II was In June, 1914 that the Indian
commissioner persuaded the Indians
TO make their cattle Investment The
funds for the accumulation of herd
were obtained by the sale Of Grow
lands, and for the Indians the govern
ment agents bought 1000 young helf-
ers, 1000 yearling steers and $50 bulls.
The care Of the herd was personally
supervised by government agents in
Montana.
Took Great Care Of Cattle.
The year the herd was purchased
the Indians took extraordinary pre-
cautions to protect their bovine
charges from the rigors of Montana
winter. The summer before they cut
and stacked no less than 1000 tons Of
hay, and while starvation and cold
were cutting into the profits Of white
stock raisers at an alarming rate, the
Indians had the satisfaction Of seeing
only per cent Of their herds succumb-
ing to the rayages Of cold.
Heretofore" said Commissioner
Sells. In speaking of the venture Of the
Indians, "our conduct of the stock
business among Indians Of the various
tribes has consisted largely Of the up
breeding and development of herds.
Everywhere, the Indians have taken
tremendous interest In their stock,
both as to tribal herds and those In
dlvidually owned, and the increase In
number and value has been such as
to insure business mans profit"
In the good old days 1t was the pol
Icy Of the Indian tribes on reservations
to lease their grazing lands to white
cattle owners at some ridicul0usly low
figure with the usual result that the
white man made most Of the money.
Within the past three years, however,
the Indian Office has been encouraging
Indian stock breeding, and the fnan-
cial results after two years of stock
raising by the Grow Indians seem to
justify the value of this policy.
Three years ago, for example, one
Indian reservation In the northwest
had $500 acres under cultivation. As
result Of the interior departments
policy In urging the Indians to do
their own farming and stock raising,
this same reservation had 1900 acres
under cultivation last year.
Now Prosperous Farmers.
Back Of the idea of encouraging
farming and stock raising. however, is
the basic Idea Of the department of
the interior 10 change the western In
dim from q plainsman into an IN
tensive farmer. This change, Of
course. cannot be made In a genera
tion. and no such rapid transforma-
tion is expected, but the Indians have
met the intentions Of the government
more than half way, It is declared.
Many Indians on reservations are now
the most wealthy and prosperous
farmers In their section, while as
stockmen they are even more success
full.
The Indian Of the plains, the Indian
Office declares, Is a natural herds
man. He Is lover Of horses. and
readily adapts himself to the raising
Of cattle and sheep. During the last
three years the Indian office has pur-
chased with funds gathered by the
Indians, more than, 50, 900, 900 worth Of
cattle. horses and sheep, both for
tribal and individual herds.
In cases, however. where the do
partment agents have been unable to
persuade Individual Indian land own
ers to 60 into the business Of cattle
raising, they have In many cases en-
nbled the Indians to get higher prices
for the leasing Of grazing privileges.
For instance, on the San Carlos reser-
vation In Arizona, the Indians are
now receiving about $4,000 more a (,
year for this privilege than they re-
reived few years nSo.
If the plans of Commissioner Sells
,na Ills assistants can be carried out
10 tliclf fullest extent. officials believe