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Show I 38 REPORT OF THE COMHISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. , future sphere of his life, so that after being housed comfortably with modern improvements for a number of years of his life it will be a hard-ship when he returns to his home. The same argument is applicable to the construction of public school buildings in our cities which are attended by the children of the slums. While it is true that it may in some cases, and in many cases does, prove such a hardship, it does not militate against the theory that to teach the Indian to become an educated citizen you must give him proper ideas of the standards by which to shape his future life and conduct. No man ever bettered his condition in life who was not first dissatisfied with his lot. To raise the plane of an Indian, he must see that which he likes better and then be taught to emulate the example. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Aside from the few points heretofore mentioned, the principal work of the year has been in enlarging the school plants already in existence. Great stress has been laid upon proper sewer and water facilities. Repork indicate that in the earlier selections of school sites little con-sideration was paid to these matters, and, in consequence, as the plants are increased, such matters are forcibly obtruded upon the attention of the Indian Office. Abundance of good water is essential, and to provide this and a sewerage system has been a difficult problem at many places. The locations of many schools in the arid regions of the West have directed attention to irriptinn systems for school gardens, orchards, and farms. These should be at every such school for instruction of pupils and healthfully varying their diet. Freshvegetables and fruits are impossible at a number of schools without expensive irrigation ditches, but it is confidently believed that every expenditure along these lines has proved of inestimable benefit to the health of all living at the schools. The amount of funds available, however, for this purpose is limited and must be taken from the appropriations for individual schools or from the general appropriation for school-building purposes. Thevalue of school plants, farms, etc., will reach $4,000,000. Many of these are old established ones or are abandoned military posts. They are unsuited in numberless respects for the purposes for which they are used. In early days the importance of good light, heat, ven-tilation, water, and sewerage was not appreciated, and therefore the mortality among Indian pupils in such structures was excessive. Rapidly, therefore, as funds are available, all such defects are being remedied by substitution of modern sanitary appliances. These appliances are expensive, but, when taken in consideration with the health and comfort of the children, no one should hesitate to approve their introduction. The general repair and improvement of $4,000,000 worth of school |