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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAq A'FAIRS. XXXIII wuld read and write. For the support of these schools N ~ TYo rk does not depend on the uncertainties of a local tax, but gives to her Inclians the i rp~ora ta share of the State school-tax and of the income of the permanent inrested fund of the State. The State la^ on the subject is as follows, being an extract from the "general school law of the State of New York": ~ECTION 5. The money raised by the State tax, or borrowed, as aforesaid, to sopply s deficiency thereof, and such portion of the income of the United States deposit food as shall be appropriated, and the income of the cammon-sohool fond when the same are appropriated to the sapport of common schools, constitute the State school mon-eys, and shall he divided and apportioned by the superintendent of pnhlio instroction. * % * * SECTION6. . * ' He [the superintendent of pnhlio instrnction] shall then set apart and apportion for and on sowunt of the Indian schools under his auper~isioo a sum which will be equitehly equivalent to their proportion of the State school money upon the basis of distribntion established by this act, such sum to be wholly payable out of the proceeds of thn State tax for the snpport of bommon schools. The amount expended last yea.r in thc support of these schools was $8,000, and the superintendent asks that on accouut of the establish-ment of three new schools another $1,000 be added. New York is also expending about $8,000 a year in the support of an Indian orphan asylum. Were this example followed by other States-Michigall, IvIilmesota, .Wisconsin, Nebraska, North Carolina, and California, for instnnee States which have withiu their borders considerable numbers of Indians who are semi-civilized and practicallyself-supporting, the statos attained by the next gener+tion woold attest both the wisdom of the couqepur- I sued and its economy. That it is cheaper for a State to educate her I lower classes thau to allow them to grow up in ignorance and supersti-tion ma7 be considered a truism, but, so far as it relates to Indialis, the truth of it needs practical aclmowledgmeut in mauy localities. Sixty-eight boardilig schools have been in operation during the year; , an increase of eight. oyer last year. They have been attended by 3,888 , pupils. Of the new schools six have been opened at Colorado River, San Carlos, Pima, Pueblo, Siletz, and Uintah Age~~cies. They will accomlnodate 351 pupils, and are the e r s t boarding schools e ~ eprr o-vided for the 27,000 Indians of those agencies who represent a school popula,tion of not less than 5,000. A second boarding-school has beeri given the Omaha;, who are aaking up to the importance of edncation, and a boarding-school for boys has been established at Cheyenne River, where a mission school for girls has beer1 in successful operation for several years. IMay in the erection of buildings has prevented the opeuiug of the other five schools referred to in last report. Three new school buildings have been completed, furnished, nild oc-cupied duwing the year, eight more are now ready for use, aud five are in process of erection. These buildings will give accolnuuodatio~fio r ten new sehoolx and additional. room, which has beeusorely needed, for three old ones. Buildings are needed at lii~ic other a,genoies for IND-111 |