OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XI portation to Indians, and to make themuseful in every capacity in which . Indian labor can be employed. STOCK CATTLE. For several years past the experiment of furnishing Indians with cat-tle for stock-raising has been made from time to time, and it has been found that the Indians have almost invariably herded their crlttle well, and have raised young stock in considerable numbers. During the cur-rent year, as the following figures will show, very much more has been done in the distribution of stock among the Indians than at any time heretofore. The government has contracted for 11,311 bead of stock cattle, which have been delivered in part; the remainder of the deliv-eries will be made as soon as spring is fairly opened. These cattle are distributed as follows: 1,100 to the San Carlos Agency, 100 to Sileta, 1,522 to Pine Ridge, 1,622 to Rosebud, 900 to Cheyenne and Arapaho, 600 to Eiowa, Comanche, and Wichita; 817 to Osage, 400 to Pawnee, 850 to the Shoshone and Bannack; 100 each to the Sac and Fox, and Eaw Agencies ; 200 each to the Western Shoshone, Flathead, and Fort Hall Agencies ; 300 emh to Crow Creek, and Ponca; and 500 each to Ya~ktonS, tanding Rock, Lower Brul6, and Blackfeet Agencies. These cattle have been and will be distributed only to such Indians as, in the opinion of the respective agents, will take the best care of'them. Prop-erly cared for, the increase of this stock, in four years, will, with the original herd, amount to nearly 50,000 head, from which it will be seen that the s u m s of the Indians in stock-raising and their ability to profit by it can be demonstrated in e very brief time. These advantages, taken in connection with the issueof agriculblimplements and wagons in number to correspond with the issue of cattle, will require but one more w,t on the part of the government to complete the conditions neces-sary for Indian self-support. The only thing needful is to provide them with an absolute title to lands in severalty, covered by a patent *om the government, with protection against taxation and alienation. GRANARIES AND ROOT HOUSEB. Indians in their natnral state are exceedingly improvident, and while . for one year, if left to themselves, they might procure seed and raise a large crop, the probability is that before the next planting season their supply of seed would be entirely exhausted. It is necessary, therefore, to exercise some forethought in their behalf, and duiring thecurrent year the office has directed agents to construct granaries and root houses, and to call upon each Indian who has been engaged in farming to deliver at the agency a sufficient amount of seed for the next crop. In return, the agent gives a receipt for its safe-keeping. This of course renders it necessary for the agent to have a place of storage where the seeds or roots will be safe from destruction or frost. It is not unusual for Indian traders to give Indians credit to an amount |