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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. . 9 stock bought for the Indians, and in the eradication of dourine, , glanders, mange, ticks, and other diseases of live stock. The dairy being an important adjunct of practically all the Indian schools, the Bureau of Animal Industry has continued its work of sending experts to the schools for the purpose of making tuberculin tests of the dairy herds and inspecting methods of dairying. The fwmers among the Five Civilized Tribes continued their . cooperative work wit,h the various organizations in the State, both national and local. The business men, railway companies, and com-mercial clubs of eastern Oklahoma are all aiding Indian Service farmers in the eampaign for general improvement among the Indians of this section. REIXBURSABLE FUNDS FOR PRONOTING AGRICULTURE. The office has during the year continued to utilize tribal funds and funds appropriated hy Congress as revolving, reimbursable funds to purchase needed live stock and farming equipment for those Indians who have neither the cash nor the credit to purchase the equipment necessary to make their lands productive. These funds are repaid by the Indians in accordance with the terms of definite written agreements. Appropriations for the purchase of agricultural implements, wag-ons, and other supplies and live stock to be sold to \he Indians under the reimbursable plan are being used'at the following reservations: Fort Belhap, Tongue River, Flathead, Pue'blo (Albuquerque, Santa Fe), Fort Mojave, Martinez, Pala, Pechanga, Soboba, San Xavier, Walker River, Shawnee, Malki, Fort McDermitt, and Salt Kiver. The practice heretofore in vogue of issuing implements, wagons, harness, stock, etc., to Indians in return for labor is being gradually discontinued on several reservations, the Indians being given the privilege either of paying cash for what they get, or in the case of seed, returning to the supehtendent an equal value in kind. This seed is then stored at the agency and the next year it is reissued upon the same conditions to other Indians who need assistance of this character. While the precise number of Indians benefited through these reimbursable appropriations and funds can not be stated in exact numbers, the number runs well up into the hundreds, and superin- . tendents are unanimous in their testimony as to the good which has been accomplished. The money has been expended for the benefit of able-bodied Indians in amounts not exceeding $600, under regu-lations approved by the department on November 4, 1911, which provide for the proper use and repayment of the money. The Indians for the most part we meeting their payments when due and with surprising promptness. |