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Show ' 16 REPORT I)F THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR ments on the Quapaw restricted lands, whicb have been of material aid to the Indian O5ce in determining the terms and conditions upon which the leases should be made and the requirements for proper mining development of the land. P INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES 1 Although there were crop failures on several reservations, the Indians generally have progressed in agriculture during the year; and, while definite figures are not available, preliminary reports indicate a substantial increase in the number of Indians farming and tho total acreage cultivated, largely through the stimulus of the industrial programs mentioned in the last report, which have now '# been introduced within 55 reservations. The five-year program involves definite objectives for each year and functions through organizations of the men known as "chapters," with women's f "auxiliaries" in each district. There were 306 chapters with 5,219 members and 90 auxiliaries with 1,217 members, besides a cousid-erable number of Indians affiliated with irrigation and improvement societies. Indust'rial surveys involving a canvass of the reservation to gather statistics as to the condition, resources, and needs of each family, were made within 85 reservat,ions. They. form the basis of the five-year program, which was originally adopted for the reservation as a whole but is gradually progressing toward a separate program for each family, adapted to and contributing toward the general program for the reservation. The construction of improved homes for Indians is a featuro of the five-year program. They have been provided as rapidly as the Indians have evinced a desire for them and whenever funds have been uvailable. Detailed plans and specifications of several types of suitable homes were sent to the reservations during the year with a circular letter designed to stimulate' interest in home building. Opportunity for development of the home building program was afforded within the Fort Ha11 Reservation, Idaho, through avail-ability of tho sum of $400,000 authorized for use by Congress from moneys accruing to the Fort Hall Indians for lands taken for the \ American Falls Reservoir. The reimbursable plan has continued to be .important in the industrial welfare and progress of the Indians. It involves the pur-chase from funds appropriated by Congress of seed, animals, tools, machinery, building material, etc., for sale to Indians, repayment to be made by them in small annual installments extending over a ; period of years. The appropriation last year was $175,000, all of which, except a small reserve, was authorized for expenditure. In North and South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, an effort was |
