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Show 346 REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS REPORT OF SCHOOL AT FORT LEWIS. COLO. FORTL EWISS CHOOLC,O LO., Axgust 15,1897. SIR: Herein below I have the honor to submit my annual report for the fiscal year 1897: Att8ndanoe.-On June 30 there werepresent 186 boys and 111 girls, making a total of 297. Of these 40 were under 6 years of age, and belonged to the kindergarten classes. Health.-Despite the outcry of certain agents, there can be no doubt of the health-fulness of this locality. As a student of medicine, I know of no plaoe free from chronic and acute lung diseases. Even in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona there are deaths from such diseases, but to clnim, because of such deaths, that the State and Territories above mentioned are productive of such disease is wholly uuround and illogical. Outside of inherited consumption andpneumonia, the result of carelessness upon t.he part of the individuals affected, nodeaths from any cause took place here. We never had a case of measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, or kindred diseases, so unhappily prevalent in institutions into which a l q e num-ber of children are gatheredin permanent residence. More than this, in over three years less than half a dozen cases of suppurative iuhn~matiouo f the arotid and cervical glands have occurred. To those who know how oommou this%nnd of dis-gusting suppuration, with its consequent ugly soars and deformity, is in the majority of Indian schools having food of as good quality, if not better, and with presumably as good hygienic and sanitary conditions as this, the suspicion is aroused that climatic conditions must get thecredit for it. Of the 5 deaths oocnr-ring here 3 were from pulmonary tuberculosis and 2 from aoonte pneumonia. the latter the result of the wanton absence of common prudence upon the part of the individuals concerned. Employees.-It is again with no unusual pleasure that 1 commend the zeal and faithfulness of my associates. Always ready to respond cheerfully to any call or duty, they have made, through their kindness and consideration, my duties pleas-ant and most desirable. " With malice toward none and charity toward all:' as apart of their mottol to them is the credit due for the present satisfactory state of this school. Improvements.-These have been so many that too much space wouid he occupied in detailing them. Among them, however, it is well to mention an irrigating ditch over a mile long, carried on the east side of the La Plata River and along the side of a precipitous blutf several hundred feet above the river bed. So steep was the bluff in some places that after the ditch was constrncted about 300 feet of it slid down toward the river bed, carrying before it scrub oak and underbrush. Flum-ing was put in to replace that portion of theditch. Each year since I took charge I have had in the early spring an irrigating ditch constructed, and for such pnr-poses have closed school for a month and have put every boy old enough to handle a pick and shovel to work, believing that a practical knowledge in constructin such ditches should be an essential part of the instruction given in these socalle8 industrial schools. Yet,notwithstandingthehardlaborinvolvedinworkotfh i s n d , I challengecom-pafison with anyschool in the service in the matter of runaways,especially when it 1s borne in mind that in one night, md on foot, rs pupil can reach the Navajo Reservation, where he is safe *om capturp; that no restriction is placedupon male pnpilsasre,~rdsroamingoverschool landscomprising between 5,00Oaud6,000aores, and embracing open hillsand wooded dales, purling streams andsparkling springs; that no guards challenge pupils in their outgoing or incoming, and that "passes,' those certificates of civil slavery and military despotism, are not in use here, the pplicy being to gradually merge the pupil into our system and not suddenly and noleutly sever him from his old habits and inclinations, but to inculcate in him individuality and self-reliance. As an old military man, with eiphteen years' experience in the "regulars," I am confident that the worst disciphnarian is the greatest martinet, and vice versa, and while "drill" in the class room and on the campus may have its valne as a show piece it is no criterion of the discipline that rules without so much military fuss and feathers. Besides the irrigating ditch, a wire fence over 13 miles long and inclosing the schoollands was hnilt. Also 15 acres of new land were broken and set to oats. Needs.-A girls' dormitory to accommodate at least 150. A school building con-taining no fewer than fifteen class rooms, besides a general assembly hall to hold conveniently 500 children4nring chapel services and general schoo.. exercises, and an electric plant for lightingpurposes. |