The following English branches are taught: geometry, algebra, arithmetic, rhetoric, English composition, grammar, orthography, geography, and writing. Native teachers, 44; white teachers, 22. REMARKS. There is an orphan-school, with 20 pupils; one female high school, teacher from Mount Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, Massachusetts; and one missionary-school, (Moravian.) School-fund, annual, $50,000; orphan-fund, $19,000. Mr. Stephens appeals earnestly for all possible aid in this work. He claims that the Cherokees have been at work for thirty-five years; that they show great energy and activity, and that an especial need of the Territory is a normal school for the civilized natives. The reports of the missionaries laboring among these people are encouraging, and especially so in the direction of education. All experience points to the advantage of object-lessons in attracting the attention of Indian children, whose further education is to be advanced by means of labor-schools and general industrial training. Colonel Boudinot, a prom nent Cherokee citizen, (who represents the growing sentiment favorable to abnegating the tribal systems, sectionalizing the territory, taking lands in severalty, and disposing of the remainder through the Government to ordinary settlers.) urges very strongly the necessity of separating the children at an early age from Indian habits, the teaching of the English language, the use of more of their large fund för school-purposes, and the bringing of the Indians everywhere into closer and more compact settlements, where they can be reached by, not removed from, the influences of civilization. The following schools belonging to the tribes in the Territory are held in trust by the United States for educational purposes: Cherokee school-fund. Cherokee orphan fund. Creek orphan-fund Delaware school-fund Kansas school-fund....... Kaskaskias, Peorias, &c., school-fund. Total $520,134 64 248.600 51 50,355 20 77,015 5 11, 600 00 27.267 31 44,700 00 40,236 63 1,019,300 54 The total amount of all funds held in trust for the tribes aggregates about $8,000,000. That there has been some advance is evident from the fact that by the carefully-prepared table of the Indian peace-commissioners for last year the total number of schools for the five nations-Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole-was stated at 148, with an attendance of 4,439 pupils, while in the statistics quoted here from Ross and Stephens the total for the four principal tribes-Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw is stated at 148 schools, with an aggregate attendance in the two first alone of 3,160 scholars. Adding, from last year's report, for the Choctaws, 900; Chickasaws, 439; Seminoles, 207, the total will be, for the Territory alone, 4,706, an increase of 267. The careful summary of the reports received at the Indian Bureau results in the following aggregates: The total increase of schools for the year 1873 over that of 1872 is 15; of teachers, 29. As to scholars, there appears to have been a decrease of 218. In all probability there is more apparent than real decrease, as the returns are by no means complete, and such details as are at hand in regard to the principal nations certainly show a steady growth of attendance on the schools. The cost of the schools for both classes is given at $127,408.92. This is below the real sum, which cannot be less than $150,000. In other matters there are some gratifying proofs of progress, but the Territory has evidently been retarded in a moral point of view, by the character of the population and other influences brought in or produced by the existence of the railroads passing through the territory. Republican citizenship, with severalty in land ownership, an unalienable title for a period of years, and a large use of funds for the establishment of common schools, under forms of government similar to their neighbors, seems the only adequate remedy. WYOMING AND COLORADO. Only one agency is located in Wyoming, and the Shoshones and Bannacks attached thereto do not number more than 1.000. The Ogallala Sioux and detached bands of Northern Arapahoes, Cheyennes, and Blackfeet rind refuge in the northwest portion of Wyoming. An effort has been made during the summer of the past year to secure the removal of the latter bands to their affiliated tribes in the Indian Territory. It has been in part successful. Nothing is said of any school at the agency. There are three agencies in Colorado. The Indian population is chiefly Pi-Utes, and numbers 4,349, of whom 1,766 are males. Their individual wealth is stated at $150,000. The only reservation particularized is that of the Los Piños agency. This contains 14,480,000, with 35 houses and but 45 acres under cultivation. At Denver agency there is a school-building, with a school of 40 pupils. The teacher is a lady. There is no agricultural effort, and nothing but the most meager proofs given of the want of interest in such matters as education. UTAH AND NEVADA. There is little to be said of the Indians in this area. With the exception of a few bands of Pi-Utes in Nevada, they are all among the least advanced and most degraded of their race. There are no schools reported in Utah. There are four agencies with the following population under the care of the officers in charge: The area of reservations, cultivated lands, &c., so far as given, is as follows: In Nevada there are 640,000 acres embraced in the Lake Pyramid and Waker reservations, and in Utah at Uintah Valley agency 2,039,040 acres, with 180 under cultivation. There is a successful school at the Pi-Ute agency, Nevada, and the Indians have 300 acres under cultivation. The Pi-Utes at Pyramid Lake and Walker River, about 600 in all, are reported to be in an advanced state of civilization. All are well-dressed, without blankets, paint, or trinkets. The men work steadily. Their settlements "present the appearance of a respectable and orderly community." The agent provides for the sick, aids the industrious, but extends no aid to idle Indians. Other small bands of Utes are scattered through Nevada, the men earning their own living, as a rule, and thus showing themselves orderly and industrious. NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. The growing importance of New Mexico and the probable construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad through that Territory and Arizona make the relations of the resident Indian tribes and bands of considerable significance. In New Mexico the Indians have to overcome the ris inertia of surroundings wholly unprogressive in character. Their progress is, on the whole, quite significant. There are few or no hostile bands in this Territory and there is considerable industry among the several tribes. The following statistics are of value : Of the population there are enumerated 9,932 males and 10,726 females, the balance not being stated. The statistics of land and industry are quite imperfect, and the foregoing table is not a fair representation of their condition in this respect. Of schools there are 5 reported, with 110 pupils; boys, 73; girls, 37; teachers, 6. The amount contributed by religious societies to this purpose was $1,208. During the year 73 have been taught to read and 5,095 have been brought directly under control of the agencies. In Arizona there has been considerable progress made towards a cessation of the Apache warfare, the first step towards any advance of the Territory. There are seven different tribes and agencies, as follows: * Of these 8,937 are enumerated as males and 8,201 as females. In this population of 26,000, there are only 4 schools reported, and 6 teachers, with 188 pupils-108 males and 80 females. The missionaries are Roman-Catholic and the Reformed Church, the latter denomination contributing $600 for educational purposes. There is one church-building, with 1,500 members. The amount of personal property reported is $75,500. From reports of the several agents it is stated that the Navajoes are peaceable, industrious, expert in the manufacture of blankets and the raising of sheep and other stock; that they are very susceptible of advancement, but are without schools. The Moquis are reported as peaceable and industrious. There is only one school established among them. It is well attended. The bands around Fort Wingate, New Mexico, are averse to labor, given to horse-stealing, and without any means of instruction. At Camp Apache, Arizona, the chiefs express a desire for schools. At Prescott there are none, and, until the Indians are better cared for, the inspector thinks it useless to establish any. One school is found at the Papago agency, the Indians of which tribe are well spoken of. The Pima and Maricopa Indians are reported most favorably as industrious, orderly, and loyal in the best sense. They have a flourishing and exceedingly interesting school, with about 50 pupils." Among other attractive features is the teaching of music, for which the children show aptitude. There is danger, from the constant encroachment of the whites, of an interruption to the unbroken friendship of the people; indeed, reports of hostile action have already been received. The condition of this population, nearly 50,000 in the two Territories, conclusively shows the needs of some more definite policy in regard to the maintenance of schools and of other elevating efforts. MONTANA AND IDAHO. In these mountain-Territories there is a large Indian population, in which are found nearly all conditions, from settled and industrious communities to the savage Arabs of the West, wandering and predatory, whose "hands are against every man." The large proportion of this population is found in Montana, the statistics being embodied in the following statement: Of the foregoing there is a separate enumeration of 5,821 males and 7,640 females. The area of the several reservations in Montana is about 27,000,000 acres; cultivated by the Indians about 2,000 and by the Government 632 acres. There are 145 houses reported on the several reservations. The Blackfeet and Crows have the largest reservations, that of the former being over seventeen million acres, or nearly seventy thousand acres per capita. The day-school at the Crow agency makes a favorable report. The Catholic mission boarding-school at the Flathead agency is reported by the inspector as showing creditable results. There are 29 pupils. The day-school is not regarded as satisfactory. The reports from Fort Peck are not satisfactory. Little or no improvement is shown for the past nine years. In all, but four schools are reported in Montana; 164 pupils and 6 teachers. During the past year 43 were taught to read. The missionaries are Catholic and Methodist; there are nine of the former. The property owned by the Indians is stated at $290,000. In Idaho there are but three agencies, controlling the following population. Nez Percés.. Bannacks and Shoshones.. Coeur d'Alènes Total.... Their reservations, &c., are as follows: 2,807 1,500 2,000 6,307 The two first tribes or agencies named are enumerated, separately, as 1,811 males and 2,020 females, owning property to the amount of $302,000. There are three schools reported, with 69 scholars and 4 teachers; also, one Presbyterian missionary and two churches, with a membership of 709. The report of Inspector Kemble does not speak encouragingly of the results made with the Nez Percés, who have often been quoted as among the most advanced of Indian tribes. Mr. Kemble says that he finds "the civilization lacking in the most essential features of Christian education. The women have not been emancipated from their servile condition, but still perform all the severe labor of the fields, cutting saw-logs and toiling under enormous loads, like beasts of burden. The husbands of these women are members of the church and some of them very earnest and fervent leaders in prayer. The consequences of this half christianization are that there are no Christian homes, the children are brought up in the old heathen way, the families dwell in wretched lodges, and filth and degradation abound. Perhaps, however, the greatest evil is the effect upon the training of the young. The day-schools have been very poorly attended. There is said to be no adult Indian on the reservation out of school that can read and write English, and the indifference of parents to the advantages of education has been very hard to overcome. Labor being regarded as degrading or womanly, there have been few Indian youths to offer as apprentices in the machine-shops and mills. There is not one being taught a trade. "The treaties provide liberally for the education of the tribe; but, until the present agent was appointed, the $8,000 annually appropriated for schools and teachers seems to have accomplished literally nothing that it was intended to accomplish. Under the new management of the Indians, a better prospect has dawned. Competent teachers have been sent to the work by the missionary board, and capable matrons are to have charge of the boarders at the two schools." From the Fort Hall agency no school-report is given and none at all from the Cœur d'Alènes. CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON TERRITORY. The Modoc war, with its sadly dramatic details, called, during the early part of the past year, a great deal of attention to the Indians of the Pacific coast. But that, after all, is an episode rather than an example of their condition. Statistics show some progress, and are, on the whole, satisfactory, apart from that history. In California there are three agencies, embracing the following population, area in reservations, &c.: total population, 21,161; * reservation, acres, 65,863:† cultivated by Indians, 142, and by Government, 1,549; houses, 122. There are four schools reported at the reservations, with 266 scholars, an increase over the preceding year of two schools and 139 scholars. During the year 63 have been taught to read. Inspector Kemble does not appear to be favorably impressed by the condition of these Indians, but believes they are well disposed. In Oregon the Indians have, as a rule, improved slowly but steadily. There, seven agencies have control of the following population: Wascoes and other bands.. Molels Rogue River, (fourteen bands) Walla-Walla, (four bands) Umpquas and others. Roving bands.......... Total 626 ... 924 1,058 837 1,120 343 4,200 9,108 As far as enumerated separately, there are 1,751 males and 2,099 females. Individual property is stated at $311,200. Five reservations cover an area of 4,073,920 acres, of which there are cultivated by individuals 4,159 and by the Government 622 acres. The Indians are the owners also of 708 houses. There are two missionaries laboring among them. In Washington Territory there is a large Indian population, uniformly peaceable and generally industrious, though not systematically so. There are in all seven agencies, with a population of 13,782 persons under their charge. As far as reported, the sexes stand 5,762 males and 6,220 females. There are six reservations reported, having an aggregate area of 887,524 acres-under Indian farmers, 4,133; cultivated by Government, 492 acres-with 475 Louses. The number of schools reported is 18, with 13 teachers and 187 pupils. There are seven missionaries at work, representing different denominations. The property of these people is stated at $286,000. Inspector Kemble draws an admirable picture of a wise agent, in his report of affairs at Yakama agency, Fort Simcoe. He says that among the domesticated and Christian portion of the Yakama Indians he found many evidences of thrift and progress; farms finely fenced; good crops raised and harvested. One secret of this condition is the admirable example set by the agent, who also acts as missionary, the only one among these Indians. He illustrates the excellency and dignity of labor by working with his own hands, cheerily and heartily, while he instructs the Indians in their labors, "working them in," as he describes it, in every species of farm-labor and common industry. The employés, catching his genial spirit, labor with him among and for the Indians, with patience and alacrity. It would be well, it is thought, if the method by which this agent manages Indians could be copied on other reservations. This inspector thinks Father Wilbur, as he is called, is bearing too heavy a burden; that he should be relieved by the appointment of a missionary. There is a want of increased school-facilities and hospital-accommodations, which the Government, in accordance with its treaties, should furnish. There is no lack of children for the boarding-school, and yet the agent is only able to take between forty and fifty, or about one-tenth of the children in the tribe of school-age. The inspector suggests the employment of native teachers for primary day-schools at three or four different points on the reservation; also that some of the girls in the boarding-school be taken into the families of the employés to assist in and learn housekeeping. At a meeting of the employés and their wives, he asked that the agents' hands might be upheld by the voluntary labor of ministering women going from lodge to lodge, a suggestion which he has reason to believe will be acted upon. *Of the foregoing population, the larger portion are not yet settled on reservations. During the past year 1,017 have been so placed. †The total area embraces three, of which Round and Hoopa Valleys are the largest. |
