OCR Text |
Show to purchase supplies, to secure quotations both from their local deal-ers and through the nearest warehouse, and to submit these full data to the office. As a consequence the ofice has been able to give intelli-gent consideration to every proposed expenditure, arrive at the lowest cost at destination with freight at land-grant rates, and order the purchase accordingly. Furthermore, whereas certain articles requir-ing special manufacture have been bought yearly, they will be struck from the schedules except for the few purpo&s for which no other article will do as well. In the stead of these costly goods corre-sponding trade articles will be substituted. Economy in smaller ways is being enforced at every point. By way of example, steel barrels were bought in which to ship gasoline and kerosene. The former practice was to require the contractor to put these commodities into tin cans and case the cans in wood. Although the .first cost of the steel barrels offset the immediate sav-ing on the contractor's price for gasoline and kerosene, the fact that the barrels can be used repeatedly for years indicates a saving of a considerable sum. In order to bring the final cost of all goods to a minimum, informal bids for freight were asked of railways that compete on shipments. To the railroad which offers the best rates the whole of our freight shipments between competitive points will be given. Although this plan has not yet been completely worked out, it promises success. SUPPRESSION OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC. The use of intoxicating liquors is a direct and incalculable injury to Indians in undermining health and in making them undependable as workmen. Moreover, it furnishes to designing white men a con-venient means for carrying out questionable purposes. During the year every effort was used to enforce laws against the liquor tra5c. To prosecute widespread protective operations $70,000 have been available. One thousand four hundred and seventy-three cases were brought to trial, resulting in 1,168 convictions, 265 dismissals, 34 acquittals, and 6 hung juries. In other words, convictions were secured in a fraction under 80 per cent of the cases. Throughout the country the necessity of keeping Indians from securing intoxicants is being appreciated. In California, Lassen County considered an ordinance prohibiting the sale of liquor alike to full and mixed bloods, and the town of Upper Lake, at which we have an agency, voted for prohibition. In connection with the situe tion in Minnesota, discussed at length a little later on, the railways have given their cooperation; the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad issued instructions to its employees forbicTding ship- I ments of intoxicants into the territory concerned. The Legislatures |