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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF-.INDIAN AFFATRS. XXXIII table shows the gradual progress which has taken place in Indian edu-ation during the last six years : ~~ . - Nnmber of , Aneraze pupib. attendance. I 6,019 1 3.598 6,289 / 4 142 7, 1Si 4: 488 7,240 4,651 8,109 4.976 8,412 5,126 -. ... i Boarding-schools.-Six new boarding-schools hwe been opened during the past gear at the 1Lound Valley, Lower BmlB, Fort Peck, Western Shoshone, Navajo, and Yankton Agencies, making the whole number now in operation 74, including the training-schools at Uarlislt., Hampton, and Forest Grove. In each of the reservatio~b~o arding-schools instruc-tion is given the girls in all branches of household indnstry as well as the making and repair of garments. The work of the kitchen, laundry, dining-room, dormitory, and se\ringroom is performed by them under the supervisiou of the emplog(?s of the sohool, and it is expected that they will receive as thorough 'nd constant instrnction in the art of home-making as in reading and writing the English language. It is in this department that the want of suitambleb uildings and appliances has been most severely felt, and thereby progress has bee11 most seriously retarded. 'Want of funds has compelled the refusal to many schools of wells, cis-terns, suitable furnitore, and clothing materials, and the many articles of conrenience \vhich are considered essential to the proper management of a private family, and which axe even more sorely needed for the smooth working of a large household. The Indiau is an apprentice to civiliza-tion, and he ca,unot be expected to make rapid advancement in his trade if the tools furnished him are poor in qiia1it.v and insufficient in number and variety. Too often the ingenuityof teachers has been taxed to see how they eonld manage to do without, instead of how the>- could teach pupils to use, the appliances of civilized life. Industrial training for boys is also carried on at reservation hoarding schools, and is receiriug more and more attention with each year. In, connection with 57 schools, 1,246 acres are under c~iltivationa, nd the crops the past year have amoi~utedt o 8,370 bushels corn, 3,698 bneheis oats, 11,683 bosl~elvs egetables, 1,248 bushels wheat, 154 tons hay, 1,250 melons, 1,575 i~ompkins,a nd 2,850 heads of cabbage. In addition to farming and gardening, the preparing of fuel and carrying of water gives many hours of labor to the boys, and the teaching of trades is rapidly being iutrodnced. Blacksmithing, tailoriug, and harness-mak-iug are taught at fonr schools ; seren teach shoemalring, ten carpenter-ing, and fifteen the raising and care of stock. Training in these branches has been greatly stimulated by the success of the experimei~tsa t Car-lisle, Hampton, and Forest Grove. Agents are taking these schools as IND-I11 |