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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISBIONER OY INDIAN AFFAIES. XXXlll The 5rst Forest Grove " graduate8"wexe returned to their homes this year. Superintendent Minthorn says: The firat two lots of children that were brought to tho school came with the nn-darstanding that they were to remain three years, and that time having expired, they were allowed to return home, bnt fifteen have rrtulned to the sehool with the intention of remaining two years longer. Thoae that hove remained at home are, with the exception of two, doing well. Three of the oarpenten are working at their trade in New Taoonls, Wash., taking enntroctn, furnishiog all the ma-terial, nod building houses. Thep are giving good eatisfaction and are making good wa~es. TWO Indian agents have applied to the nohool for teachers for agenoy schools, but Government salaries were uob s nnffioir.~>itn doeemont, as the b o p who have learned trades can get from two to four dollars per day aud plenty of work. The indications at present seem to bo that pupils leaving this school after having wwpleted the conrse of ~ t u d yan d learned a trilao will generally seek ernplo~mout among white people. But as most of the Indims upon this co;lst have good land, many will engage in farming, and fbr this reason it is doubly important that the aohool should have s farm. Them doea not seem to be so encouraging an outlook for girls leaving the sohoola ae for boys; there does not seem to be any good place for an Indiau girl in the present state of Indian society. Out of fifteen girls that were alloweil to retun to their homes. eleven have returned to the school, and one other in rerv desirous of returninc-:. aod t r o IIHW bee!, unarried 10 two y01111g L L C ~w ho had hrcn among tho firot to come to tbls echaol. Thry Itare madeeourrortahla,pirssnnr, and l,;.yl,y I~umrs. Ten others who have been here before have requested ;a to reserve plaies for them, as they intended to retnrn in the fall. want of money and want of room has compelled therefusalof many urgent applications for admission to the Forest Grove scliool. It is a great mistake that Congress should hare limited to 150 the number of pupils to be received in the only training school west of the Rocky Mountains, especially when the parents readily surrender their chil-dren for a five years' course. This school is not yet fairly equipped for work. Its buildings are nnrjubstantial in construction and inadequate in nize, but are as good and commodious as the mea,ger funds allowed therefor would build. It has no land except thelots on which Lhe boild-ings stand, oEered for that purpose by Pacific University. Its small leased farm is not adjacent to the buildings. Funds should befurnished immediately to put up new bnildi~lgso n a location not far f~~oFmor est Grove, where citizens have offered to donate to the Government fbr that purpose a large tract of good laud. I hope Congress at its next sessiou will appropriate not less than $25,000 for this purpose, and will provide for the support of at least %TO pupils in this school. The studeuts at EIampton have rejoiced this year in the completion of "Wiuona Lodge,* a $30,000 building erected solely by benevolent contributions. It is devoted exclusively to the use of Indian girls, who have hitherto lived in cramped quarters. They take great pride in their new possession, and put new energy and conscience into their industrial work, for which it gives ample facilities. ForIndian education at Hamp-ton since 1878, as per General Armstrong's report, the Government has given $52,000; charity has given $81,000. If the Indian has made 5510 IND-I11 |
