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Show IV REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRB. the nucleus of a cattle herd for each Indian school, and to encourage cattle-raising wherever practicable. As, however, but few Indians can find employment in oaring for large herds of cattle, husbandry must be their main reliance. More land has been cultivated this year than last, and preparations have been nmade for raising very mrich larger crops I next year. Many changes have been made in the traderships at the age~~cies. The new system of buying and selling for cash only, and of requiring traders to post price-lists of their goods in convenient places, and of hav-ing but one price, which innst be the same for Intlians and whites, works Two nem inspectors and two 8pecia.l agents have been appointed, and the inspections of Indian agencies bave been careful and complete. Good reunlts mast continue to follow the more active and thoronglk su-pervision which is being carried out. The issuing of sugar, coffee, and tobwco, except iu return ibr labor, has been forbidden in most cases. The adoption of a new form of beef-contract not only secures a better quality of beef cattle for the Indians, but it provides for an equivalent CONSOLIDATION. During the last session of Oongress, at the verbal request of the House Committee on Indian Afhirs, a bill was drawn in this office and sent to the committee, pro~idingfo r the renuwal and consolidation of certaiil Indians in the St&s of Oregon, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, ant1 Minnesota, and the Territories of Washington ant1 Da. The object8 song-ht to be attained by the bill were as follows: First. The reduction of the nulnber of agencies, and consequently a large annnal rednction of the expense attendig the civilization of the Indians and the nlanagemeut of their affairs. 4 Second. Tlie consolidation of the Indians i~ponre servations where they might be beat protected in their personal and property rights. Third. The sale of the lands vacated by the consolidation, ant1 the use of a portion of the frmnds arising therefrom in the removal anil settlement of the Indians, now residing on the reserrations to be vacated, on the resen-ations where the consolidation is to be effected, the balance of the money to be fi~nded for their use, the interest thereon to be ex-pended in lien of direct appropriations for the benefit of all the Indians on the resenration created by the bill. Without attempting to particularize, it may be said that the ~arions '4 |
