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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAANFF AIRS, Washington, September 21,1557. SIR: Bfy third annual report, which is hereby submitted, gives sub-stantial evidence of continued progress on the part of the Indians towa,rd ci\-ilization. This is gratifying to every Ammican patriot and to the humanitarian of ang clime or country. The progress shows itself all along the line, in increased knowledge and experience as to the arts of agriculture, in enlarged facilities for stock-growing, in better build-ings and better home appointments, and in the adoption of the dress and customs of the white man. Even higher evidenca of progress is given in the largely increased attendance of pupils at ~choolw, hich has been greater during the past year than during any preceding year, and in the still more gratifying fact, admitted by all intelligent and close observers of Indians, that the parents desire that their children shall avail themselves of the generous opportunities for education afforded by the Government, and by kind-hearted Christian missionaries who unselfishly derote time, labor, and money to the education of Indian youth. These evidences of improvement will be treated in their proper order in the progress of this report. ESTIMATES. The following table shows that the estimates of appropriations re-quired for the Indian service have been made on a descending scale for the last three years : 1 dtFgtie1, Decrease *om preoed-ing year. Estimate for the sear enaing June 90,1888.. ............................ Jnne 30.1887 .............................. June 30. 18 (Ui... ........................... June 30,1880 .............................. |