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Show COldMISSIONEB. INDIAN AFTAIRS. 21 ployed at salaries ranging from $600 to $1,200 per annum, there being only a few st the latter salary. Their task is to instruct the Indians how to prepese the soil, the kind of seed to select, and how to plant, ciiltivate, and harvest, and the best disposition to make of their crops. The plan generally followed is to district the reservations, station a, farmer in each, who keeps in close touch with the Indians, fur-nishing individual instruction and advice. It was found in some cases that farmers were being used around the agencies as laborers or clerlrs and that superintendents devoted too much attention to office work, neglecting the more important field work. In order to remedy this undesirable condition of affairs on April 5, 1914, the following circular letter was issued: To all reseruatlon sup&ntendents: I greatly desire it to he understood throughout the service that the present administration of Indian affairs is determined that eveq Indian shall have opportunity and encouragement to accomplish industrial betterments. I want you to know thnt the magnitude of this undertaking is fully realized. and that, while I do not think it can he accomplished in one summer, nor that it can be done without hard work and some sacrifice on the part of all of as, I am flrmiy of the opinion that it can be, should be, and must be done. I am not at all satisfied with the agricultural, stock, and industrial condi-tions generally existing throughout the Indian country, and I am determined that unceasing eEorts shall he put forth to bring about a radical and speedy change. Primarily the opportunity for advancement among Indians is largely agricul-tural and stock raising-. The Indians own the land. and with D- ro-n er encourag-e - ment can so develop their possessioLts as to insure ultimate self-support. The farmin-g season is at hand. Evem farmer should at once become actively engaged in advising and teaching the Indians how to prepare the soil, the kind of seed to select,'when and how to plant, grow, and harvest, and the best use to he made of his crop when produced. The Indian should he made to realize that the grazing lands of the United States are now almost entirely his own, and that he hns readily within his reach the possibility of becoming the cattle, horse, and sheep king of America. A11 these things Involve earnestness of purpose and close cooperation between the Indian Service employes and the Indiana. To insure the best results every man charged with such a responsibility as farmer or stockman must devote his tim-very day of his t i m e i n heart-to-heart association and hand-to-hand working in his particular sphere. It must he "a long pull, a strong pull, and a -o n11 altoeether." as thev sav at sea. -- - - I can not refrain from calling attention to a situation that is very unsatisfac-tom. I have information from dependable sources, and from all sections of the country, that farmers in the Indian Service devote mast of their time to work associated with the business end of the agencies: that our farmers, with a few notable exceptions, are not in fact practical and helpful as farmers; that they do not go out among the Indians on their farms as they should and as hereafter I urneitly desire them to do. It is almost discouraging to contemplate that after years of employment of men who have been especially charged with the work of advancing the farming interests of the Indians not more has been accomplished. |
