OCR Text |
Show The agenoy school plant on the Blackfeet Reservation, Mont., is old, I dilapidated, aud not adapted to its purposes. The location was m unfortunate selection, aud it must be moved to one which is suitable. Plans have been perfected, therefore, for that purpose, so that at au early date a new school will be desirably located and erected. New schools for the Jicarilla Apaches in New Mexico and the Shebits, with allied tribes, in Utah, will be constructed as promptly as possible. Pending the final consideration of the agreement made by United States Indian Inspector James McLaughliri with the Northern Ohey-enne Indians of Tongue River Reservation, Mont., nothing cat] be done looking to the erection of a boarding school, as recommended in the inspector's report. The proposed dormitories, sewer and water systems for largely increasing the eEciency of the plants at Pima and Navajo reaerva-tions will be soon readdertised, whioh when finished will give increased facilities where they are demanded. The Moqui Training School at Eeams Canyon, Ariz., is a most effi-cient civilizer for these ancient peoples. A recent flood has so under-mined several buildings that a new location is required. Plans for this improvement are in courseof preparation, which will afford accom-modations for a large proportion of the children of this reservation. United States India11 Inspector Andrew J. Duncan made during the winter a thorough and exhaustive iuvestigation of the condition of the Seminole Indiaus in the State of Florida. He was with them for a considerable time, and finally came to the conclusion that the efforts of the office were proving entirely abortive. He therefore rewm-mended the abolishment of the positions of industrial &her and other employees: whioh mere weated for these Indians, and suggested that no further steps be taken for the peseut to establisha school for them. In accorda~lce with this report, these positions were discon-tinued. Efforts for the uivilization of the Seminoles will not, however, be entirely abandoned, but otlter means u~ust be employed. These people are fine types of the Indian, but their real and fancied wrongs have so embittered them against governmental assistance that the inspector thinks a different course must be taken in dealing with them. As stated in the Annual iteport for the Indian Department for 1898, the conditions surrounding the Perris School demand its abandonment. These conditions have become worse, as an almost total failure of water is reported. The beautiful valley in which it is located will, in conse-quence, become again a desert. An adequate appropriat.ion will be recommended to Congress for its removal and erection in a more suit. able locality. This sohool is a necessit.y for the Iudians of southern California, and the Mission Indians alone can fill a school of more than 200 capacity. |