Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-10-04

WS1 would MAKE II "hlte iai 'hh"s'
- When payments out of tribal funds
outh0rixe,i by congrpss at the last session have
asen completed, including an earlier distribution
the Indians will have received from the govern
rucst $40, 5S5 ,6SS. In addition, during the last
three years about 81, OO.M has been advanced TO
stock Los ranges on various reservations ana 10
1xurrhase farm equipment. From this capital in.
ccsaMent he IL now receiving returns III some In
asfanres Ut more than SO per cent.
The Indian Office has just completed The pay
nssuf vt $685. 300 to the members Of the Chickn-
xaw Nation, the distribution nf which was au-
tho<fzesi in IDA. Further payments authorized
shts year began on August II. These will amount
to $6.c0. no To the UhocthWs, S93S,lW to the
EeminO,cs. 81 PODS mere 70 the Chickasaws,
snzking In all, including the earlier distribution,
SJyO7l 800 which these Indians have received in
Fash.
To the Chippewa Indians in Minnesota pay
SHsT,ts will be made under the recent net amount
Ing to Sl.513,7SS. The adults competent to take
rare of their interests will receive their share OF
the mUs,ey. In the case IF minors and others the
snoney VIII be deposited in banks to be used tor
sfeiT benefit under the supervision Of the officers
sf the Indian service.
M grentcr interest, however. is the fact that
~ehc American Indian Is not nuly the holder, but
1ls0 the producer of wealth. He Is beginning to
ruf money into the bank himself ns we'll as having
the government put 1t in for him.
This ts largely the result of II plan 10 enable
him to make use Of the natural resources await
able on the various Indian reservations heretofore
utilized to a great extent by white men for their
'+swn benefit under the leasing SYSTEM, Only last
week there were put On sale at the Chicago mar
&ct 70 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
:,starket price.
Nprtru tHr tact ttrna ~ aI,iqt II MO tl has
x,ren expended in the purchase of cattle. sheep
snl horses 10 stock the Indian ranges. The han
Ming NJ these herds by the indians has more than
Justified the investment. For example, the tribal
t,rrsi placed on the Crow Indian reservation in
Montana in tho spring Of 1914. NJ a cost Of Slo5.-
I0S. showed Il net profit on December 81, 1915. of
SIy7 Col. The tribal herd of sheep on the Plea.
villa reservation showed gross returns In the first
Syar of Sl7, gro ON an investment oi S23477.
The live stock on the various Indian reservn-
vi,ns is worth more than SOS. oD0,0V0, as compared
with $22,777.0T5 in 1913. IN addition to this in
crease OF more than 81 100000 IN value the In
rSsfnns hnve sold $40, oG6 worth Of stock and
slaughtered s2,307,4 3l worth for their own needs.
As a h%erdsnan the Indian las been particularly
%arccessful. The highest price paid on the Chi
'<lso market for a grass-fed steer was recently re-
eFeivtsi by an Indian of The Grow tribe on n day
when 'hc general market value Of the cattle was
Tower than on other days Of the season.
Gradually The %original unhyphenated American
'&S taking possession of his own again. He Is man
aging his own farm and reaplng his own harvests.
Leases Of allotted land decreased In number from
28,SH In 1913 to 10,426 In 1915, Il change In acre
age OF from 3.109,2M to 1855. 770. In 1916 the
ARIA Of tribal lands leased was s.1220l8 acres.
I'm 1913 was 10.588,44S.
The indian Ia becoming a competitor ut the
agricultural fair with the white man. He Ia rails
5fng 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 r~everting to the nomadic habits Of his
%fcrctAthcrs.
Nor liz he any longer a vanishing race. The
anrsnhef Of Indians increased from 30O.830 In 1918
10 3o0.All IN 1915. Gradually the tendency to-
~wxrd tuberculosis, trachoma and kindred diseases.
which prevailed among them to an alarming OK.
asnt, II being checked. This Is due to q medical
campaign and the Improvement Of housing con-
sdR1aonA.
X appears. therefore, that the turning point IN
,1he history Of the Indians has been reached. His
Nunbers ARE Increasing. his wealth Is growing and
- has taken a plnce among the white men AZ the
1producee Of wealth In a system Of civilization with
Which his own manner Of living was In direct con,
stset. ~
An farmers, the Indian has shown the white
SnaW something worth while. particularly In the
4Tuwing OF corn. II ID Interesting to note that III
paanfcd pumpkins or squash among the corr
AIl0Cks, an does the white man now, and als,
asuWed beans where the vines could twlne them
aa1ves about tho cornstalks.