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Show REPORT OF THE COM~SSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS 25 The condition of the restricted Indians is being improved by the construction of better buildings, and the purchase of livestock and farming equipment. For this purpose $3,152,040.34 in individ-ual Indian money was ex Pe nded last year. There were 119 houses and 52 barns built, 82 we1 s constructed, and 244 horses, 410 mules, 288 head of cattle, and 617 hogs purchase& Restrictions were un-conditionally removed from the allotments of 474 Indians, and con-ditionally removed from 441 tracts of land. There was a decided gain in agricultural products and improved livestock which, aside from reported data, was evidenced by premiums awarded Indians at county, district, and State fairs in competition with all entrants. School attendance was well maintained during the year. Eight tribal boarding schools enrolled 1,210 pnpils, the poblic schools 14,963, and 1,813 were enrolled at nonreservation, contract, and de-nominational schools. An enrollment of 1,600 was estimated for children inside the corporate limits of towns, making in all 19,586, which is 77 per cent of the total enumeration eligible for attendance. Health conditions do not show the improvement desired. Tra-choma prevails to an extent that needs further facilities for treat-ment, and the tuberculosis sanatorium at Talihina is insufficient to meet demands. The great difficulty lies in the fact that Indians, as a rule, do not seek medical advice soon enough, which furnishes a field for effective visiting of homes by nurses and field matrons and an in-crease of this service is needed. During the year 11,582 acres were leased for oil and gas mining; the gross oil production was 10,665,492.73 barrels and the total in-come from oil and gas was as follows: Bonuses received for leases $242,989.06 Royalty on oil and gas production ........................... 2,430,805.09 Advance r " " o v a l t 26~4,. 980 .00 ~ ~~ Annual rental.-----.---.-------------.--------------------.--- 641.233.61 Total 3,580,007.76 The probate work of the Five Civilized Tribes, including the Qua-paw Agency, covers 40 counties of Oklahoma (old Indian Territory), and is handled by eight probate attorneys, one of whom acts in a supervisory capacity. During the past fiscal year these attorneys ap-peared in 1,528 cases, brought 44 civil actions, involving $40,146.60, removed 184 delinquent guardians, conserved funds amounting to $207,437.99, and saved to minors $115,435.47, held 15,731 conferences with Indians, and wrote 25,631 official letters. Many of these Indians have been overreached by the practice of having guardians appointed for adult restricted Ind~ansd eclared incompetent in the local courts. Section 6 of the act of May 27,1908 (35 State. 312), conferring juris-diction on the probate courts of Oklahoma over the persons and prop-erty of restricted minor allottees should be re ealed and the ~uris-diction of the Secretary of the Interior restore$. Based on numerous statements as to the manner in which the estates of Indians were being handled by guardians and administrators under State jurisdiction, officials of the Indian Service and those connected with outside organizations made an investigation taking up a large number of cases, and on the strength of these re orts legis-lation was sought with a view of restoring to the Federal cfb vernment |