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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER lNDIAX AFFAIRS. . , 11 n printed placard to be posted conspicuously in various public places, reading thus: 800 OQLALA BIOUX INDIAN8 DBSIRE EMPLOYMENT. The attention of raiiroad contractors, construetors of irrigation ditches, and rancbmen ia called to the fact that we have 800 young able-hodied Oglala Sioux Indians on thia reservation who are desirous of adopting the habits of their white brethren and earn their own Living. They wish to go to work either at railroad grading, digging ditches, herding sheep, or ranching. The undersfgned will deem it a favor if parties needing help of this kind will correspond with him. The above number of 'Indians can be had at once. JOHNR. BBENNAN, U. 8. IndCm Agent, Phe Ridge Agency, 8. Dak. Advertisements to the same purport were published in a number of local newspapers, and a circular was inclosed in his private borre-spondence wherever he believed he could get a hearing for his plan. Of these efforts he says: The claims made in the circular were rather extravagant. We were taking a long chance in being able to make good in case there was a considerable num-ber of able-bodied Indians called for. It was not long, however, before we began to reeefve inqulrles as to whether the'sioux would or could work if work was offered them. Parties were assured that t h e were doing good work on the ref+ ervation in building roads, dams, ditches, etc., and would without doubt give gcmd satisfaction outside of me reservation if they were &en a trial. We then began to-receive requisitions for bunches of from 10 to 30 workem At first there was same trouble in inducing the Indians to leave home and accept the work offered; hut after a few small parties were sent out there was very little trouble afterwards in filling orders. Since allotment of lands began on Pine Ridge, and especially during the.summer month8 while the allotting crew are in the field, a majority of the Indians object to going away from the reservation for any length of time, as they are afraid the land they have selected will not be allotted to them, or that some one will jump their claima. This has interfered very much with filling orders for laborers received from railroad contractors and others. This condition will continue until the allot-ments are practically all made. Another thing that interferes with their going nway to work in the early spring is the payment of their interest money, pro-ceeds of sale of hides, and grazing tax, wiPhich amounts to about $4 per capita. This payment is made either in May or June each year, and the ayerage Indian will hang amund for months doing nothing, waiting for his $4. In mg opinion, this payment should be cut out altogether or paid at a different time of year. Of the two obstacles which, in Mr. Brennan's opinion, would most interfere with the immediate success of an employment bureau in the Pine Ridge country, that of the inconvenient money payment is one which I have already taken steps to reduce in other quarters, and I |