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Show loss of the stock has impoverished some of the indnstrious and worthy members of the tribe. Mr. Dagenett was directed to investi-gate conditions on the reservation and to try to alleviate the reported distress by procuring work for the Indians. He reported that the mixed bloods-about three-eighths of the tribe-were able generally to take care of themselves, but that the full bloods as a rule had little knowledge of ranch or farm work, were unwilling to stay a reason-able length of time in one place or to work where they could not be in parties, were very apt to quit on little or no provocation and regard-less of the interests of the empl'oyer, and were addicted to the use of intoxicants. ~ a t u r a ltlh~e r anchers hesitated to employ them. On the reservation oa'ts and wheat might be raised if the Indians would take up the matter persistently, but they are disinclined to such new work from' which the returns are not immediate. Stock raising has been generally successful, although the severe winters are a serious drawback. There is considerable lumber hauling not far from the reservation, but the amount which the Indians can earn with their small teams is discouraging. The only employment for which they seem to be fit is such work as ditch and railway construction, where they do the same thing every day and no particular skill is required. The agent, Captain Dare, at one time forbade the employ-ment of outsiders on the reservation and insisted that all the work be given to Indians; but he had to rescind the order, as the necessary work could not be accomplished by the labor of,Indians only, owing to their ignorance, indifference, and childishness. The present distress among these people is not a mere temporary misfortune, but the outcome of conditions which must be reckoned with. Sooner or later the Indians must work, and the sooner they get at it the better. Some one was needed to devote his entire time to obtaining employment for the Blackfeet Indians, and Mr. Dage-nett was authorized to employ an assistant on their reservation to work under his direction. Little has yet been accomplished, but Mr. Dagenett has had some correspondence with lumber companies in the neighborhood and 5 d s that they are willing to employ these.Indians, if the Indians will work and know how to do anything. ROSEBUD AND PINE RIDGE RESERVATIONS. The Rosebud and Pine Ridge agencies in South Dakota were also visited last July by Mr. Dagenett. At Rosebud he found that very little had been done in the way of outside employment, while nearly all the Indians were drawing rations, even the able-bodied. Stock raising is an important industry, but the full-blood Indians have few cattle and depend on rations and the work provided artificially for them on the reservation. Such perfunctory employment has not given wholly satisfactory results. Those who could become self-snp- |
