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Show I ' REPORT OF THE COMJIISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. STOCK CATTLE. The experiment inaugurated a few years since of fur~lishiugI ndians with stock cattle has been so fully developed that the cluestion of their ability and willingness to properly care for and protect the same, when .- issued to them, is no longer an unsolved problem. The reports from a1 agencies where issues of stock cattle have been made attest the faith-fulness with which the Indians have guarded their trust, and demonstrate the wisdom of the project of instructing Indiana in pastoral pursnits, for which a large majority of them are eminently fitted. Since t,he 1st of July, 1879, stock cattle have been issued as follows, viz: To the Indians of the Blackfeet Agency, 50; Cheyenne and Ara-paho, 500; Crow, 82; Crow Creek, 300; Flathead, 706; Port Hall, 200; Kiowa, Comanche, and Wichita, 1,080; Lower Brule, 500; Osage, 900; Pawnee,400; Pine Ridge, 907; Ponaa, 300; Rcsebud,1,000; Sac and Fox, 212; San Carlos,l,l25; Shoshone and Bannack, 766; Standing Rock, 500; White Earth, 52; Western Shoshone, 200; and Yankton, 495,-a total of 10,283 hea,d. These, together with stock purchased by the 111dianst hemL selves, and with the "agency herds,n which had been accumulated from time to time, (in some instances by the voluntary act of the Indians in accepting a smaller beef ration than they were entitled to, and in other cases by natural increase,) and which herds, with one or two exceptions, have been issued to the Indians during the past year, aggregate a tota.1 of 78,812 head of stock cattle now owned by the various Indian tribes. - With these cattle ss a nucleus, with judicious management and care on . . iiieir part., but a few years can elapse before the Indiaus at many of the : agencies will be the possessors of large herds of cattle, thns placing within their command the ready means of self-support, and rendering them, to a large degree, independent of the care of the government. Applications for stock cattle have been made by Indians at agencies not already supplied, and in a few cases by Indians at agencies where only a limited number have yet been provided. They will be furnished - as soo~la s the necessary funds for the purpose can be procured. In previous reports, the necessity for legislation upon the following subjects connected with the welfare of the Indians bas been strongly urge First. The enactment of a law to prevent polygam~,a nd to provide forlegalmarria,ges among Indians. Upon this subject notbig can be said more than has been said in former reports. The urgency of legislation to proride proper marriage laws for Indian tribes is apparent, and it is respectfully recommended that the necessity and proprietr of such legis-lation he laid before Dongre.ss at its next session. Second. The amendment of thelaw in relation to trespassers on Indian 1 reservations. Under existing laws, a trespasser must firit he removed |
