| OCR Text |
Show While this agent asserts that all is being done that four men can do . . on so lhge a reservation and that great improvement and progress , . has been made in the last few years, he gives it as his opinion that the Indians during the last year have not been very successful, although prospering as well as could be expected, considering recent very dry seasons; and he concludes that unless climatic conditions change ma-terially, the Iudians, when thrown on their own resources, must depend largely on stock raising, and in view of this he has instructed his farm-ers to look closely after t h i ~br a~~cofh practical education. Another agent in South Dakota reports that his farmers are qualified for the positions they hold; that they take an iodividuel interest in each Indian, and that they haveinduced a great many to commence farming, while nearly all now have shelter for their stock, wagons, tools, etc., and put up hay in good time. He advises that money should be expended on houses and wells for them, so that they can live on their allotments during the winter, and believes that if they are wisely aided they mill eventnally be able to farm snccessfully. The foregoing are fair samples of the reports of the agents from the Dakotas and Montana. They agree on two points : First, that the In-dians must be located in small farming commnnities on the lands best fitted for agriculture, without regard to distance from agency head-cparteis, and that a farmer must reside mith them, a man of practical ability, experienced in farming, possessed of good judgment, and one who takes a personal interest and pride in his mork; and second, that the raising of stock.cattle and good horses most be the leading industry. on many of these reservations. The reports from the agencies of Wyoming and Nebraska show the , conditions there to be somewhat similar. The IniIians are begiuning to comprehend their condition, to recogt~izo the fact that they must strive to make the most of their opportunities, and that bg iutelligence and industry alone can they succeed. They seem willing to learn, and , many of them are ambitions and industrious. The farming Indiaus are making as good progress as call be expected. As iu the Dakotasand Montana, however,stock.raising must in the end be theirchief reliancefor support,unless the climateohauges with the cultivation of the soi1,or irri- . . gation is extensively resorted to. In mTyoming the climate and soil are . . better suited for agriculture thap they are in Nevada, and the agent seems to be hopeful about the future of his Indians if they are only properly instructed and assisted for the present. The farmers at these agencies are reported ascompetent for their positions, but embarrassed by being called on to look after large numbers of Indians living long distances apart. The reports from Washington, Oregon, and California show that the conditions for farming in these States are much more favorable than in , . those farther east. Last winter, however, was very severe in all these States, aud the Indians, who are largely stock.ra~serss, uffered greatly. But they are not discouraged, and under the direction of the farmers |
