Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-10-05

authorized by congress at the last session nave
been completed, including earlier distribution,
the Indians will have received from the govern
sleDt S1O585,6S8 In addition during the last
three years about 81 100000 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 1888 300 ito the members of the Chicka-
saw Nation the distribution of which was au-
thOrfZed in 1914. Further payments authorized
this year began on August 10. These Will amount
to $6239,7OO to the Choctaws $93S,lOO to the
Seminoles, ST 260,800 more to the ChickasaWs,
making in ALL including the earlier distribution,
$9O71, 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 $1,513,78S The adults competent to take
care of their interests will 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
tbe 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 plan to enable
him to make of the natural resources avail
able on the various Indian reservations heretofore
utilized to a great extent by white men Tor their
own benefit under the leasing system Only last
week there put on sale at the Chicago mar
ket SO carloads of cattle from Indian herds In
many places the Indian has shown that ne can
not only raise cattle, but also obtain the top
market price
During the last three years about $4,OOO,OOO has
been expended in the purchase of cattle sheep
and horses to stock the Indian ranges. The ham
ding of these herds by the Indians has more than
justified the investment For example, the trpal
herd placed the Grow Indian reservation ID
Montana in the spring of 1914, at cost OF $4oo'-
1O8 showed net profit on December 81, 1910, OF
1927 6O1. The tribal herd of sheep on the Plea
rflla reservation showed gross returns in the hrst
wear of S1725O on an investment of S23417
The live stock on the various Indian reserva-
lions is worth more than $28OOO,OOO, as compared
with 500 ,075 in 1913. In addition TO TINS III
crease of more than $5,0OO,OOO In value the In
dians have sold S5498,266 worth of stock ana
Cyavob+ared 50 3O7 431 worth for their needs.
AS herdsman the Indian has been particularly
successful The highest price paid On the Chl-
ago market for CRASHED steer was recently re-
ceived by an Indian of the Grow tribe on 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
28847 in 1918 to O426 in 1915, change In acre
age of from SlU9,ZU9 TO L,Ooo,t1S. Ii 1910 eAAS
area of tribal lands leased was S122,9l8 acres
In 1913 was 10,568948.
The Indian is becoming a competitor at the
agricultural fair with the white man. He is rals-
ing his own supplies, relieving the government TO
considerable extent of the necessity OF making
gratutous issues of food under treaties to induce
him to remain where he is on the reservation IN
stead of reverting to the nomadc habits or MS
fOrefathers.
Nor is he any longer vanishing race. me
number of Indians increased from 3OO93O In 1918
TO 3O9911 in 1915. Gradually the tendency to-
ward tuberculosis trachoma and kindred diseases,
which prevailed among them to an alarming eA-
tent is being checked. This is due to medlcal
campaign and the Improvement OF housing con-
ditiOnS
If appears therefore, that the turning point In
tbe history of the Indians has been reached HIS
numbers are increasing, his wealth is growing ana
he has taken place among the white men as the
producer of wealth in 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
xsanted pumpkins or squash among the corn
nSiiOcks as does the white man now, and also
sOwed beans where the vines could Irvine them
selves about the cornstaks