The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-01-11
YEARS WORK In
THE INDIAN DEPT.

49,
been the most fruitful in the
whole span of a century that these
original Americans have beer
wards of the government. Such is
the claim set forth in a state
ment prepared for the House
appropriations committees by the
office of Indian affairs, department
of the interior. Some of the facts
cited to substantiate this claim are
as follows:
The entire wealth of the Indians
of this country in the fiscal year
1921 was estimated to be $716,-
ZOE, 800. For the fiscal year 1928
the estimated Indian wealth is
81, 648, 075, 274.
Increase $1,000
The Indian population in 1921
was 340,838. The Indian popula-
ton compiled from data during
the fiscal year 1928 is 1885, O1, an
increase of approximately $4,000.
Appropriations for the Indian
service for the fiscal year 1921
totaled $1O,O28, 1922. For the fs-
cal year ending June 80, 1928, the
appropriations for the Indian SER
vice totaled s12,654,685.
62,764 In School
In 1921 the total number of In
dian children in all schools was
62,764 of whom 33,250 were at
tending public schools. During
the fiscal year 1928, there yer
6S,S81 pupils enrolled in all
schools and Of that number 34,163
were enrolled in the public |
schools.
Appropriations for health work
for the fiscal year 1921 totaled
s350,000, and for the fiscal year
1928, $948,000 was specifically
for this purpose. In
addition to this amount other
funds have been allotted for con-
s%ervation of health. The total
number Of hospitals In the Indian
service in 1921 was 81, with a total
bed capacity of 2,411. This num-
Der has been increased over the
period of seven years to go with a
bed capacity of $3.50.
The death rate of Indians in
1921 was approximately 24.S per
thousand, and the death rate dur
ng the fiscal year 1928 has been
'educed to 21.8 per thousand.
Trachoma
Special efforts have been made
o cure and prevent the spread of
rachoma among the Indians. To
his end the Navajo boarding
chool at Fort Defiance, Arizona,
With a capacity Of $50 pupils and 7
he Tohatchi boarding school at |!
'ohatchi, New Mexico, with a /
apacity of $50 pupils, and the San !
uan boarding school with a cap 1
city of 200, have been designated
s "trachoma" schools. The Chin /
oarding school in Arizona, with h
go capacity, the Charles H. Burke t.
chool in New Mexico, with 600
apacity, and the Theodore Roose-
cit school at Arizona, with $50
apacity, have been designated as
'achoma-free schools. BY this
of segregation it is be-
eyed that much progress a be
lade in the elimination of this
isease among the Indians.
Efforts are being made also to
heck the widespread prevalence
tuberculosis among the Indian 4
opulation and to this end increas-
| sanatorium facilities have been
and special emphasis has
placed on preventive mea-
Tres both in schools and in the
reservation activities.
anatorium schools for the benefit
children suffering from tuber-
llosis have a bed capacity of
a. There is not adequate pro
sion for the care and treatment
this disease among the adult
dian poulation.
Health Fund Large
The appropriation for health
ork for the fiscal year 1929 is
,44O,0 0O, or four times the
Mount that was appropriated for
is same work seven years ago.
lie number of doctors, nurses
d hospitals have been materially
creased during the past seven
ars. there being now seventeen
lre hospitals than we had in the
dian service seven years ago. :
lie medical service has been re-
ganiZed, the salaries of en-
)yees have been materially
,reased, the Indians are now /
ing more farming than ever be-
e. there being 5000 more Z
lians engaged in industrial 1
now than at the begin !
lg of the administration of
mmissioner Burke.