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Show I 32 COIVIMISSIONEB OF INDIAN, AFFAIRS. Smith- ever Act, and the county agents are cooperating with the farmersof this service inbehalf of theIndians along systematic and effective lines. The officials of the Federal and State agricnltural departments connected with this work have, without exception, ex-pressed a willingness to advance it among the Indians. Their sympa- .thetic and helpfu1,attitude will be a potent influence among the' Indians. Boys' and girls' clubs were organized on 23 reservations. The Grain Sorghum Club at the Phoenix school was awarded the first prize in the State of Arizona. Agrici~lturadl emonstration work was very successful at Cheyenne River, Flathead, Hayward, Kickapoo, La Pointe, Omaha, San Xav-ier, Sisseton, Tomah, and Turtle Mountain. NATIVE INDUSTRIES. Baskets, pottery, and bead work are made by Indians and encour-aged by the Indian Office, but the Navajo blanket industry is the ' most important and remunerative. This industry has not been as extensive as in previous years, owing to the Indians having received higher prices for their wool, which they have preferred to sell as clipped rather than weave into fabrics. Th e system of tagging blankets at the San J u a a~nd Moqui Indian reservations has been extended to all Navajo reservations with the ultimate aim of requiring all traders who purchase blankets to dis: tinguish them by permanently attached tags. This guarantees the genuineness of the article and gives it unique and exceptional value. ,These metal tags are fastened to the blanket by means of a wire and lead seal. They are.placed on all blankets for which the Indians receive a price of 75 cents or more per pound. If the system works satisfactorily, it will be extended to bCskets, pottery, and other Indian-made articles: New markets for the sale of the products of native Indian industry are being exploitkd, and it is believed that if the arrangements now under consideration can be perfected the _ Inlians will hereafter hive a more certain and better market with comparatively satisfactory prices. The directors of the Commercial Museum and the University Museum, both of Philadelphia, have indicated their willingness to cooperate with us by giving valuable floor space and assisting in set-ting up exhibits in conspicuous places properly marked to direct the public to the Indian source of supply. Prominent and reliable merchants from the populous centers, deal-ing in such wares extensively, have indicated their interest in a de- - pendable and standardized supply of native Indian industries, and if - . successfully developed will be a source of distribution greatly to thladvantage of the Indians. . , |