OCR Text |
Show 38 OOMMISSIONEB OF INDIAN AFPAIRS, plow purchased during the preceding fiscal year for the purpose of breaking up the low land for future cultivation by the Indians. The sum of $30,000 appropriated by the act of March 3,1911 (36 Stat. L., 1058,1061), for the purpose of encouraging industry among Indians was apportioned in various amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to the Flathead, Fort Totten, Yakima, Pueblo (Albuquerque), Pueblo (Santa Fe), Fort Mojave, Fort Yuma, Malki, Martinez, Pala, Pechanga, San Xavier, Soboba, Walker River, and Shawnee Reserva-tions. The superintendents in charge of the Yakima, Malki, and Fort Totten Reservations have reported that they could not make beneficial use of the amounts apportioned to them, and the money is being apportioned to other jurisdictions. Expenditures have been made in the purchase of farming implements, equipment, wagons, and breeding stock, and while the actual number of Indians who par-ticipated in the use of the money at the various reservations is not known at the present time, the reports received indicate that the money is serving a very useful purpose. INDIAN ART. Plans are being formulated for the preservation of those native industries that can be properly classed as arts. The making of Navajo blankets, of the high grades of basketry and beadwork, and of pottery are arts which should be preserved and fostered by every means. It is estimated that the annual output of the blankets made by the Navajo Indians from native wool approximates $675,000, and from Germantown wool $36,000; and that 8433,750 pounds of native wool are annually worked into blankets by the Navajos. There are expert basket weavers at a number of reservations, par-ticularly among the Pimas and Apaches in Arizona and some of the tribes in California. The work of an Indian by the name of Dat-so- la-lee, a member of the Washoe Tribe, is famous, and several of her masterpieces hare sold for from $150 to $250. A merchant in Canon City, Nev., now has her best basket, valuing it at $1,500. SCHOOLS. The boarding schools hare been well filled, the enrollment in most cases being in excess of that of last year. This had been accom-plished by little or no solicitation on the part of superintendents, many reporting that they made no efforts.to procure pupils and were forced at times to refuse admission to eligible children. The plan inaugurated a year ago of having reservation superintendents report to this office a list of pupils eligible for transfer to nonreserva-lion schools is largely responsible for this improvement. |