OCR Text |
Show 14 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS INDIAN FARMING AND STOCK RAISING E'ax~~~a. -Wi trhes pect to the adult Indians, the primary object of this service is to assist them in achieving self-support through the use of their land for farming purposes and for livestock. It is, of course, not the intention to make farmers or stockmen out of all the Indians; but where Indians not otherwise gainfully employed I have available land suited to these industries, every effort is made to encourage them in the effective use thereof. While detailed figures 1 are not yet available, preliminary reports indicate that there has been a substantial increase during the year in the number of Indians farm-ing and in the acreage cultivated; and also that the Indians are con- 1 stantly improving their methods and becoming more proficient in the use of modern agricultural equipment and machinery. The fol-lowinn extracts from the reuorts tvuifv the urozress that has been " A " - - madeYthroughout the service: "There will be a much larger amount of wheat threshed than for several years. The price wiil also be good, being higher than last season." "We have fully 100 per cent gain in farm activity this spring beyond that of prior years. Should there be a seasonable year, our yield will be large." "Never before in the history of these people have they done so much work. Their crops show it. * * * All crops are in fine condition and the harvest will be immense." STOCRKd ~s~~~. -Theisr ec omparatively little change in livestock conditions dnrin the year, due princially to the enerally unsatis-factory status o f the livestock market. Despite &is, however, the Indians within the several reservations are taking an active interest in improvement of the grade of their stock and in betterment of oonditlons generally. This is particularly true in the Southwest, where the Indians have been induced to engage extensively in the sheep-raising industry. On the Mescalero Reservation, where sheep were issued to a large part of the tribe, the Indians who ob-jected to engagin in that industry are now asking that shee be issued to them. 8n several of the reservations the incomes o! 'th e Indians from that source are contributing largely to their self-support. There appears to be a prospect of solving the problem of disposing of the worthless horses on the ranges through an arrangement which contemplates using the animals for the manufacture of fertilizer, packing-house products, and other commercial purposes. The control of contagious diseases among the livestock of the Indians has progressed to such an extent that their stock is com-paratively free from such diseases and it has been.possible to reduce the force of employees engaged in this activity. INDUSTsRn~IvA~L~. --Thes ystem of industrial surveys inaugu-rated several years ago, as mentioned in my last report, has been continued with splendid results. Complete reports are on file from about 60 reservations, and surveys are in progress on 30 additional reservations which will be completed as rapidly as possible. A separate survey is made of each home by the superintendent, accom-anied by the farmer, field matron, and physician, complete in- Formation being secured relative to the industrial and economic |