Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-10-05
BY JAMES P. HoRNApAY


Washington.-Year by year more In
dams are engaging in profitable farm
ing. Last year 1862 Indians cult
waited 800, 100 acres of land, producing
crops worth $11, 927.366, as compared
with 36,459 Indians who cultivated
762,l26 acres, yielding a crop value of
SHOOT $3.50 the previous year, the fall
of prices causing the disproportionate
increase in the value of crops.
The live stock industry Of the In
dians has passed through several years
of severe drought. but held its own as
compared with the white mans similar
activities. In the Crow reservation,
Montana, many progressive Indians
will soon receive their share of the
tribal herd in stock On the Jicarilla
reservation, New Mexico, a distribu-
tion was made during the year of the
tribal sheep, which encouraged the In
dams and benefited them in various
ways. Indians in many reservations
are forming associations for the pur-
pose of improving the grade of their
live stock. They are also taking great
er interest in fairs conducted by them
selves, as well as in county and state
fairs
In many reservations there is more
allotted agricultural land than can be
properly cultivated by the able-bodied
Indians. The leasing Of such land is
now simplifed by allowing the alot-
tee or his heirs to lease some of this
restricted land for farming or grazing,
subject only to the approval of the SUI
perintendent The consideration usu-
ally includes permanent improvements
which are valuable to the allottee when
the lease expires. Many industrious
Indians have borrowed money of the
government under what is known as
tie "reimbursable plan" and with such
capital have made a successful start
toward self-support
Becoming Good Wage Farmers.
Encouraging activity Of the Indians
in gainful employment, in road and
bridge building, mining, fishing, wild
rice and maple sugar industries, and
in many kinds of native arts and
crafts is noted by the government. In
dian students earned many thousands
of dollars as farmhands and as house
keepers and nurses during the last
year. The Arkansas valley, as usual.
furnished work in the best fields to
of young men. and a number
of Indian skilled mechanics were sent
out by automobile factories.
Some of the Indian tribes have come
into possession of great wealth through
oil developments. Recently two sales
of oil and gas leases. covering nearly
1000 acres. were made for bonus
Of over $S,500OO0. The
last years oil production amounted TO
20,625, 12T.40 barrels. and the income
on royalties and bonuses for that pc |
riod was S15,166, 29701.
The money spent for irrigation in /
the Indian country has been a wise |
Investment. showing instances where
lands thus reclaimed have been en-
HANGED in value from $500 to $500 per
acre. The gross value of crops raised
within the year on irrigated lands of
he Yakima reservation, Washington. /
S11,000.00O. Successful work
was done on the construction of d.
version dam to obtain water from the
5ila river preparatory to irrIgating 35,-
100 acres in the ella reservation, Ari-
iona. Work on a like dam across the
Big Horn river Crow reservation,
Montana, was also pushed vigorously
o the saving OF crops worth approx.
nately $4,000.
Drink and Education.