Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-10-12

i
II w would make a white man dizzy.
when payments out OF tribal funds
authorized by congress at the last session have
been completed. including an earlier distribution
the Indians VIII have received from the govern
ment SI0.5S56Ss. In addition during the last
three years about S4,0o00oO has been advanced TO
stock Los ranges 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 1898 300 TO the members OF the Chcka-
saw Nation. the distribution Of which was an-
thorized in 1914. Further payments authorized
this year began August 10. These viii amount
to 5000 roo 10 the Choctaws, S93S, 100 to the
Seminolcs, si.26O.SO0 more TO the Chlckasaws
making In an. including the earlier distribution,
S0Q7i 900 which these Indians have received In
cash
To the Chippewa Indians In Minnesota pay
ments viii be made under the recent act amount
Ing to Sl51S.7ss. The adults competent TO take
care Of their interests viii receive their share OF
the money. In the case of minors and others the
money win be deposited In banks 20 he 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 well as having
the government put Il In for him.
him to make use Of the natural resources avail
able on the various Indian reservations heretofore
utilized 20 u great extent by white men for their
own benefit under the leasing system Only last
week there were put sale NJ the Chicago mar
ket so carloads Of cattle from Indian herds. In
many places the Indian has shown that he can
pot only raise cattle but also obtain the top
market price.
During the last three years about SfOOOOOO has
been expended In the purchase OF cattle, sheep
aud horses 70 stock the Indian ranges. The han
Hing OF these herds by the indians has more than
Justified the Investment For example. the tribal
herd placed on che Grow Indian reservation In
Montana In the spring OF 1914 ut cost OF sso5.-
los showed net profit December 81. 1913. Of
s29T col The tribal herd OF sheep on the Plea
lila reservation showed gross returns In the first
rear OF SlT.250 on an investment OF S2s,477
The live stock on the various Indian reserva
ions Is worth more than S2sooo0oo, as compared
With 500. 1915 in 1913. In addition TO this In
'reasc OF more than S5O000O0 In value the In
lians have sold s549S266 worth OF stock and
laughtered So 307. 4sl worth for their own needs.
As Il herdsman the Indian has been particularly
uccessful. The highest price paid ON the Chit
ago market for grass-fed steer recently re-
cived by an Indian OF the Crow tribe on day
when the general market value OF the cattle was
over than on other days OF the season.
Gradually the original unhyphenated American
! taking possession OF his own again. He Is man
cling his farm and renping his own harNests.
eases OF allotted land decreased In number from
: S4T liz 1918 10 1926 IN 1918. change In acre
&c of from 20a 70 isdsTT9. In 1915 the
rea OF tribal lands leased Si22,etS acres.
1918 was f0.06SosS.
The Indian Is becoming a competitor mt the
gricultural fair with the white man He Is rails
X his own supplies. relieving the government to
considerable extent OF the necessity OF making
ratuitous issues OF food under treaties 10 induce
In 10 remain where he Is on the reservation In
lead OF reverting 60 the nomadIe habits of his
irefntherS.
Nor Is he any longer vanishing race The
lnl,er OF Indians increased from 3c0a30 In 1913
, a00ail IN 1915 Gradually the tendency to-
ard tuberculosis trachoma and kindred diseases.
hich prevailed among them 10 an alarming ex-
mt is being checked. This Is due 20 medical
,mpaIgn and the Improvement OF housing con-
Hons
IL appears. therefore. that the turning point In
le history OF the Indians has been reached His
lnibers are increasing. his wealth Is growing and
has taken place among the white men as the
.odncer OF wealth In a system OF civilization with
sich bis own manner OF living was in direct con
sf
As formers the Indian has shown the white
an something worth while particularly IN the
owing OF corn. II Is interesting 10 ncte that he
anted pumpkins or squnsh among the corn
wed beans where The vines could Irvine them
Ives about the cornstalks.