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Show CXL REPORT OF TEE COMMfSRIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. assist others in better living. I shall give to t h i ~m atter my earnest thoneht.. ~ l a ~ t i mI eear nestlg recommend that Congress make an appropri-ation of $10.000 to be exuended bv the Indian Office under the author. ity of the ~ e ~ a r t m e inii t renderihg such aid to returned etudents as may be most desirable. This help will take the form of giving to those who have learned trades a kit of tools with which to work ; to those who shall farm a span of horses and e wagon ; to many a little judi-cious help in the erection of a small house and the opening of a farm; to young women sewing machines, stoves and fornitore, and other nec-essary articles for housekeeping; and by thus helping Indian yonch to start in civilized pursuits in their own homes the Government will sup-olement and comalete the work of the schools. A As I have come into relationship with these returned students I have been impressed with the idea that a much broader culture and more thoroueh trainine than that which most of them have been heretofore ~~~ ~ I~ern~itietod reczve would result in g&ing t h c i morehatorits of view, greator fixednn~osf purpose, :L more robust chanlcter, a~lrwl u111tl i r~sl~re to them a better futnre. It should ~ ~ c v o r bfie~r rrottent hat i~evilsta kcau from the t1~116.cw~i th all its snrronuding infltrfhcen of ba;l,&ialu and paganism, ! s l~ol lig~n orant of' tho Engllsl~l augl~ageu ud of the n:ijs of civilized lik, earl not be cxpected iu Eve yc:~rsto master tho English laug~lagt?,a cquire the rndimruts of a11 English edncation, form habits of industry a11d thril't,,and to derclol~s uch moral characters RS will tit them to rosist tenlltt:itlou, aasort their o m ~d1111ooadn d womanlloo~l, withstand tllu fearfully demoralizing iufluencea of the camp, aud, in spiteof public se~rtil~~ea1l1ltd 3 cruel rnvironu~entt,o maintain their io. te-ar itg- all11 live a cisilized lifu in the rui(l.;t of tlleir I~arbarooas urro~rn~l- ~ I I ~ Y T. O do 80 would be ~nnrvelousin deed, and we s l~ouln~ult expect of the 111dians~ vhntw e nevor wool~lt hink of ~lemao~liuogf Amerie;1113. So far ns e~lncntioui ~ caoncerned 111dir1nc ivilization is to bo wroueltt ont by g i ~ i ~to ~tlgic entire mas8 ot' t l ~ eri sing ge~rcratiora~ c orn~no~~ sebool El~gl isli~~ ~dumtri~ald ~ ~ ( . : ~atuido nto, t11c few who are coml#etellt to receive i t that 11-ic her educatiol~n ecessary- to -vrel-tare them for lencl-ersl~ ip. Eigl~tl~S.e cond ill importance only to that of the ed~l c a t ioo~f ~th o child~wris the matter of promoting tllc material welfarcof the 1nali:ins. Thev CRII DO Ionerr live I ) the ellaso and arc of neceasitv forced to bv-come for the m&t part &her shepherds, farmers, or liborers. The Navajoes own vast flocks and herds, and excel as shepherds, and much can be done in assistine them to imorove the aualitv of their herds and in en(:ouraging them t<buil~lh ettur'homos audeu~t i rate~ I I Hso il. The large majority of Ill~liansw l~om1 hnve seen must depend upon the procl-nets of the soil, arld whatever is dono tor them ahould be in ihe direction of asaistiug tlle~ni n opening and ~luvelopi~fa~rgm s. nlost of ~ I I H l a1111 whicl~t l~cyo ccupy in Idaho, Novacla, California, Arizona, a u~Nl ew hlex-ieo is l>ractienllv worthlaas withoat iruiaution. Manv of them have already mastered this art and use it on a&nall scale v6ry success full^. In many cases, however, the natural streams upon which they have depended have been taken from them by the irrigating canals built by the white man, and they have neither the capital nor the knowledge necessary to develop for tl~emselvess uch systems of irrigation as are absolutely necessary for the redemption of the arid wastes in which they dwell. It is entirely feasible to bring under cultivatiun large bodies of most fertile land which will provide an ample support for all. This, |
