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Show 8 RBWRT OF COMBfISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIR8 temporary or seasonal employment for the adult. As to 'the former class, unless he be placed in and become adjusted to an occupation adapted to his interest and abilities, then the whole scheme of educa-tion and civilization fails. If he may return home to farm on land where conditions offer promise of success, this may in those cases be a legitimate objective, but if he returns to a reservation where unfavor-able conditions prevail and the influences are such as to force him back to primjtive conditions and idleness, then the result is detrimental. An experience of more than 100 years forces the conclusion that the civilization of the Indian will not be effected until changes are brought about in the isolation and cvstoms of the remaining reser-vations and all Indians must live in close contact with the white coplmunities. Even then, not every individual will be a success, but ne~ther are all individuals of other races, and he must at least be compelled to depend upon himself. Meanwhile it has been the policy of the service with the scant resources at its command, to seek employement for them away from the reservations and, as mentioned m pnor reports, many have been successfully placed in occupational employment. An oversser at large, with headquarters in the Northwest, has laced many Indian vouth with railroads. mills. machine shoos. Tactories and other business concerns anci with 'orchardists or 'a&culturists. Existing instructions to the entire su~ervisorvf orce and to the field suaerin-tendents make it incumben<u on tbem to devote a part at l&st of ther time to the matter of %dim employment. Supervisors are directed to make careful investigation concerning the opportunities of their respective districts, to arrange with employers of labor to take Indims of suitable age, health, and hysical ability. A labor overseer has been assigned to duty among t Y, e Apaches in Arizona and has succeeded in obtaming work for a large number of the Apaches. Within the reservation at the Fort Apache unit, Arizona, there have r ~ e n t l ybe en constructed 12 cottages for Indian families, and while ths may seem unimportant the matter is mentioned for the reason that these Indians have been mong the most backward and the interest whirh they hsvc taken in these homes is thought to he indicative of the breaking away from the old tribal customs and modes of thought and to offer promise for their futuro development. INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES Generally throughout the country the Indians have aontinued to make encouraging progress along industrial lines, especially in farm-ing and livestock activities, although somewhat rgtarded by drouths in the southwestern part of the country, until late in the year when abundant rains fell at several ~laces. While comolete data is not available, preliminary reports hdicate that there has been s, sub-stantial increase in the number of Indians fannine and the cultivated acreage on nearly all tho reservations. Appreci<ti?n is expressed of the cooperation which has been given by the extension service of the United States De artment of Agriculture and by many State colleges which have place j their facilities at the disposal of the service for the . benefit of the Indians. There were ap ointed during the year six directors of agriculture and three home cfe monstration a ents, and i t is hoped this personnel will do much to bring about still f' urther imprd-ved conditions. Every |
