| OCR Text |
Show reasonableness of the charges, and then to call in the debtors and areditors and endeavor to liquidate the indebtedness in so far as the funds of the Indian debtor might permit without depriving the Indians and their families of a means of support. Sixty-two reserva-tions and about 2,500 traders are involved in the outstanding in-debtedness. During the year authorities for the settlement of 206 claims were granted, and the Indian traders themselves adjusted 57 of their accounts. INDIAN ART. The blanket industry among the Navajo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico is perhaps the most profitable of the native industries. The actual nnmber of Indians engaged in this industry is unknown, but it is estimated that between $600,000 and $700,000 worth of blankets were produced during the year. The women usually do the weaving. Plans have been formdated to award prizes r a ~ i n g from $50 to $100 at Indian fairs and exhibitions this coming fall, for the best blankets made in sizes of not less than 41 by 61 feet from wool clipped from native sheep. The whole pnrpose of these plans is to discourage inferior work and the making of the smaller sizes. Many of the tribes are still more or less extensively engaged in the making of baskets, beadwork, and pottery. At Pima about 1,200 Indim made baskets during the year. About 9,000 baskets were made, valued at $14,500. The Indians at this reservation also made about 16J500 pieces of pottery, valued at $4,300. At Moqui about 100 baskets, valued st $1,000, md 100 pieces of pottery at approx-imately the same value were made. At Camp Verde the Indian women wove some excellent willow baskets ranging in value from $1 to $30 apiece. At Red Moon, Okla., about $220 worth of bead work was done for the Mohonk Lodge, and about $200 worth was sold to the Indian traders. At La Jolla, Cal., the Sybil Carter Lace Association hs9 a lace teacher who brings supplies to the Indian women and buys from them the lace manufactured. At Rincon, Cal., 11 Indian women are receiving instructions in lace making from a teacher under the aus-pices of the Redlands Indian Association. INCREASE IN OFFICE WORK. The policy of individualization in Indian &airs and of individual allotment of reservation lands has greatly increased the work of the bureau during the last few years, and will continue to increase it for several years to come. |
