| OCR Text |
Show 6 REPOR? 'OF TEE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR pendence. Instead of starting in a direct line to promote self-support by assisting them to build homes, purchasing farm equip-ment, and providing instruction along agricultural lines, the practice of issuing rations and making per capita payments was continued by the Government. Consequently, the Indian oould see no neces-sity for individual effort and became a pensioner looking to the Government for a living. Within recent years the Government bas been appropriating for the purpose of assisting Indians to obtain farm implements, live-stock and seeds, to equip them to make use of their allotments. If an Indian has su5icient land and no capital to improve it, the Indian Office, under this plan, may make a small loan to purchase a few of the things necessary for the cultivation of his land. The Indians are required to sign agreements providing for the repayment of the amount loaned within a specified time, and experience shows that they are making a remarkable record of repayment. This "reim-bursable fund" is used only in cases where the Indians have no other resources available. This method of assisting the Indians tends to give them a definite measure of self respect and a recognition of the obligations to meet their debts. While thousands of Indian families have been placed on a self-supporting basis through the use of these .funds, the annual appropriation during the last, few years has not exceeded $200,000, and each year this amount proves inadequate to meet the demands made upon it. Last year only 6,000 Indians could be assisted with the $185,000 available, and to reach even this number only the necessities for cultivation, such as seeds, oould be provided. The law permits loans for as much as $600 on unirrigated land, but the average assistance last pear was around $30, a sum so inconsiderable as to avail nothing toward agricultural development. If a larger fund were available for this purpose not only a greater number of Indians could be aided toward self-support, but more complete assistance could be given individuals than bas been possible with tbe inadequate sum available. White communities in territory adjacent to reservations where our Indian families live, employ trained workers called county agents, who visit and advise white farmers in agriculture, stock raising, and home economics. These agents are trained in agriculturtl colleges and universit.ies for their special line of work. The salaries paid them run from $2,250 to $3,000, with provision for an adequate expense account. Our Indian Service farmers receive a salary of from $1,200 to $1,500 annually, and they have a more difficult problem in instructing the Indians than the county agent, wbo deals with white people having a more advanced bsnis of agricultural |
