The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-06

Nnen payments out OF trlDal IunuS
authorized by congress at the last session have
been completed, including an earlier distribution,
the Indians will have received from the govern
ment $10,5S5,6SS. In addition, during the last
three years about $4,000, 900 has been advanced to
stock Los ranges on various reservations and to
purchase farm equipment. From this capital in
vestment he is now receiving returns in some in
stances of more than so per cent.
The Indian office has just completed the pay
ment of S633,300 to the members of the Chicka-
saw Nation, the distribution of which was au-
thorized In 1914. Further payments authorized
this year began on August 10. These will amount
to $6,239, 700 to the Choctaws, $93S,10O to the
Seminoles, S 1,26O,S 500 more to the Chickasaws,
making in all, including the earlier distribution,
S9,o71 900 which these Indians have received in
cash.
To the Chippewa Indians in Minnesota pay
ments will be made under the recent act amount
ing to S. ,513,7 SS. The adults competent to take
care of their interests win receive their share of
the money. In the case of minors and others the
money will be deposited in banks to be used for
their benefit under the supervision Of the officers
of the Indian service. -
OF greater interest, however, is the fact that
the American Indian is not only the holder, but
also the producer of wealth. He is beginning to
put money into the bank himself as well as having
the government put it in for him.
This is largely the result of a plan to enable
him to make use of the natural resources avail
able on the various Indian reservations heretofore
utilized to a great extent by white men for their
own benefit under the leasing system. Only last
week there were put on sale at the Chicago mar
ket 30 carloads of cattle from Indian herds. In
many places the Indian has shown that he can
not only raise cattle, but also obtain the top
market price.
During the last three years about 100000 has
been expended in the purchase of cattle, sheep
and horses to stock the Indian ranges. The han
ding of these herds by the Indians has more than
irstifod tho Investment For ovapnn1n tho tribal
herd placed on the Grow Indian reservation in
Montana in the spring of 1914, at a cost of $405,-
Jos, showed a net profit on December 81, 1915, Of
~$297,G01. The tribal herd of sheep on the Plea
rila reservation showed gross returns in the first
year of $17,250 on an investment of S23,477.
The live stock on the various Indian reserva-
tons is worth more than $2S,000,000 as compared
with 500, 777,075 in 1913. In addition to this in
crease of more than 100000 in value the In
dams have sold 81, 49S,266 worth of stock and
slaughtered $2,307 ,431 worth for their own needs.
AS q herdsman the Indian has been particularly
successful. The highest price paid on the Chi
cago market for a CRASHED steer was recently re-
ceived by an Indian of the Crow tribe on a day
when the general market value of the cattle was
lower than on other days of the season.
Gradually the original unhyphenated American
is taking possession of his own again. He is man.
aging his own farm and reaping his own harvests.
Leases of allotted land decreased in number from
2S,S47 In 1913 to 1926 in 1915, a change in acre
age of from 100000 to 1,S6S, no. In 1915 the
area of tribal lands leased was S,122,91S acres.
in 1913 was 10,56S,94S
The Indian is becoming a competitor at the
agricultural fair with the white man. He is rails
ing his own supplies, relieving the government to
a considerable extent of the necessity of making
gratuitous issues of food under treaties to induce
him to remain where he is on the reservation In
stead of reverting to the nomadic habits of his
forefathers.
Nor is he any longer a vanishing race. The
of Indians increased from 300,930 in 1913
to 309,911 in 1915. Gradually the tendency to-
ward tuberculosis, trachoma and kindred diseases,
which prevailed among them to an alarming ex-
tent, is being checked. This is due to a medical
campaign and the Improvement of housing con-
ditions.
1t appears, therefore, that the turning point in
the history of the Indians has been reached. His
are Increasing, his wealth is growing and
he has taken a place among the white men as the
of wealth in a system of civilization with
which his own manner of living was in direct con-
hict.
AS farmers, the Indian has shown the white
man something worth while, particularly In the
growing Of corn. 1t is interesting to note that he
planted pumpkins or squash among the corn
hillocks, as does the white man now, and also
sowed beans where the vines could Irvine them
selves about the cornstalks.