OCR Text |
Show I 26 COMMISSIONER INDIAN AFFAIRS. animals which have heretotore been so destructive to the Indian's success as a stock raiser must be disposed of. Every advantage must be taken of the opportunity to teach the Indian the importance of careful preparation of the soil, the necessity for the best quality of seed, and the advantage of proper cultivation. The I n d h should be made to clearly understand the waste which comes from the use of bad seed and poor cultivation. Arouse enthusiasm and rivalry between the men, women; and children by showing at the fair their native products, such as blankets, baskets, pottery, beadwork, silversmith work, and lace; their vegetables and fruits of every kind and description; and between the women by showing the products of the home and the farmyard, including chickens, butter, eggs, and canned fruits. Conduct your fair so fs to arouse interest in every form of agriculture and stock raising. Hold daily demonstrations of modern farming activities. Open a series of industrial meetings whicb will extend throughout the winter. See that the enthusiasm aroused grows, and do not permit it to wane before the farming season next spring. Take the opportunity of the fair to ascertain what the Indians require in the way of farm equipment and stock-raising needs, and make your recommendations to the office during the .winter in ocder that stepa may be taken for their delivery to them in ample time for the next season; and in this connection, after you have started your campaign, advlse me fully of what you have done and what you propose to do. Indian fairs should be as nearly as practicable a counterpartof the white man's fair. Eliminate the wild west features and the horse racing as much as possible. Remember that the campaign for the Indian's industrial development anticipates the passing of the Indian fairs in favor of the county and State fairs where the Indian farmera on equal terms will compete with the white man. In conclusion, I fully understand that the task presented is mt an easy one. It is worthy of the steel of all capable nnd energetic employees in the service who are ambitious to accomplish real things for the Indian, and I feel that I have and will have their active cooperation. It is decessnry that I require the highest efficiency and the greatest interest in these mntters. I can not and will not tolerate the failure of employees, through negligence or lack of interest, to furnish Indians, by example or precept, with proper incentive to industry and progress, If employees responsible for industrial betterments are not emdent and can not produce results, they must be replaced by men who can and will. Inspectors, supervisors, and special agents are directed and required to make the most careful study of industrial conditions on every reservation visited by them and fully report to me what is being accomplished by each employee. I have received a number of invitations to attend Indian fairs this year, and I am arranging to accept as many of these Lnvitations as my other engagements will permit. I will be glad by this coming together and the privilege of contnct with the individual Indians and their families and the employees of the service to give encouragement and aid in aggressively starting an effective and colltinn-ons campaign for the industrial train?ng of the Indian and the development of his property. FARMING AND GRAZINQ LEASES. The act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. L., 855), authorizes Indian nl-lottees who hold their lands under trust patents to lease their allot-ments for not exceeding five years under regulations prescribed by the department. |