Page images
PDF
EPUB

tion schools. The school plants so abandoned are frequently desired by the public school or other county authorities and by religious denominations. To enable a sale of tribal property of this character legislation appropriate to such conditions was enacted in the past

session.

SEGREGATION OF TRIBAL FUNDS.

One of the most significant indications of the progress of the Indians, and their consequent release from Government control, has been the segregation of tribal funds of several of the reservations under the acts of May 25, 1918 (40 Stat. L., 591), and June 30, 1919 (41 Stat. L., 9), as quoted in my last annual report, providing, in effect, for crediting an equal share of community funds to each and every recognized member of a tribe upon completion of the final tribal roll. The Flathead segregation has been consummated and arrangements are being made for similar action at Fort Hall, Rosebud, Sisseton, Spokane, and Yankton.

INDIVIDUAL INDIAN MONEYS.

The past year has been a busy one in the handling of individual Indian money, unusually large sums having been disbursed. Originally the policy was to have all such funds deposited to the credit of the Indians and disbursed under the supervision of the superintendents, but as the Indians have become more competent to manage their own affairs, a broader policy has been adopted, and now in the case of competent adult Indians their money is frequently paid directly to them without being deposited at all, or large disbursements are made by the superintendents from funds deposited under their supervision.

The regulations have been modified so that superintendents have authority to turn over directly all funds to patent-in-fee Indians, to make payment of not to exceed $100 to reasonably competent adult Indians without obtaining specific authority from this office, and disburse directly from the lease roll not to exceed $200 per annum to incompetent adults when their needs require; also to make expenditures from the accounts of adult Indians in the construction and repair of houses, barns, wells, fences, etc., and the purchase of agricultural implements, live stock, and seed.

Minors' funds have been used freely in the purchase of live stock and other property when the investment was manifestly to their advantage, or disbursed to parents who had been appointed legal guardians or had received fee patents and were, therefore, considered competent to manage the business affairs of their minor children. Such funds have also been used to pay for medical attention, school tuition, and the purchase of clothing and other supplies for the support of the minors.

DEPOSITARIES FOR INDIAN MONEYS.

The number of banks now carrying Osage funds and individual Indian moneys elsewhere throughout the Service is 940. In addition, 218 banks still carry tribal deposits of the Five Tribes, making a total of 1,158.

The bonds in force covering both tribal and individual Indian moneys amount to approximately $34,000,000. The deposits, of course, are considerably less, as superintendents are not permitted to make deposits up to the full amount of the bonds and, besides, the tribal deposits of the Five Tribes are being withdrawn rapidly for the purpose of making per capita payments.

The increase shown by the foregoing figures is especially remarkable when it is remembered that vast sums of money belonging to the Indians were invested in Liberty loan bonds. Had it not been for this the increase of deposits in banks would have far exceeded the figures given.

The acts of Congress approved May 25, 1918 (Pub. No. 159, 65th Cong.), and February 24, 1919, authorized the substitution of Government bonds for surety bonds as security for Indian funds. Not many banks, however, have yet availed themselves of the opportunity to furnish Government bonds, the total of such bonds received thus far being approximately $280,000.

ANNUITY AND PER CAPITA PAYMENTS.

Direct cash annuity and per capita payments have largely been discontinued, except when required by law. In the majority of cases the money has been deposited in banks subject to expenditure under the individual Indian money regulations. This method gives the Indians experience in handling limited sums of money and at the same time obviates the danger of reckless and extravagant expenditures such as might be indulged in by the incompetent Indians if the money were paid to them in cash all at one time.

PURCHASE AND TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES.

Continued high prices and scarcity of merchandise definitely marked the 12 months just closed. Merchants generally displayed little enthusiasm in bidding, yet it is notable that some firms have continued to bid, giving at all times our inquiries for prices the best of attention. This is gratifying in view of the statutory requirement to advertise for bids, demand certified checks or bid bonds, enter into formal contracts which must be supported by bonds, all of which tends to discourage quotations on Government purchases when outside business generally is good. To the extent that merchants have bid whether successful or otherwise their cooperation is appreciated.

Field estimates on all classes of supplies were pared to actual needs, and yet, due to market conditions, it often required a second and sometimes a third advertisement before purchase could be made. The three Indian warehouses located at Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco were handicapped through their inability to secure and maintain adequate help. Only by duplicating the wages paid and meeting the standards set by private concerns could a force be kept at work loading the consignments in and out of the warehouses. The usual thorough inspection of supplies prior to their acceptance has been maintained.

Effort has been made, under proper conditions and to the fullest extent practicable, to utilize Army and Navy supplies and surplus from other branches of the Government.

The increased cost of material and labor particularly affected the construction of buildings in the Service. In many instances the best bid secured, after advertisement, was so far in excess of the estimated cost and the funds available that the work was necessarily postponed until some future time.

FORESTRY.

There has been a steady increase in the price of timber products for the past few years, due doubtless to the increased cost of labor and conditions generally arising from the after-war situation.

Large sales of timber have been made on the Klamath Reservation in Oregon; Flathead Reservation, Mont.; Colville and Quinaielt Reservations, Wash. The prices for stumpage have been the highest heretofore received, ranging up to $6.10 for yellow pine, $5.70 for Douglas fir and larch, $5.56 for sugar pine, $4 for incense cedar, and $2 for other less valuable species.

The operations conducted by the Service at Neopit, on the Menominee Reservation, showed the highest annual profit yet attained, and the white and Norway pine lumber, manufactured almost entirely by Indian labor at the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, was sold for $38.50 per 1,000 feet, mill run, No. 5, and better, f. o. b. cars at Redby, Minn. This is apparently the highest mill-run price ever obtained at a small mill in northern Minnesota. Both the Menominee and Red Lake enterprises are providing an excellent opportunity for the industrial development of the Indians.

The Northwestern States experienced a very unusual drought in the summer of 1919. The occurrence of many forest fires on Indian reservations taxed to the utmost the facilities of the Service for the protection of the forests. The labor shortage made fire-control measures very difficult, and substantial damage was suffered on the

Blackfeet, Colville, and Flathead Reservations. However, the losses on reservations were not proportionately greater than those on adjacent public and private lands. Early in the year 1920 decisive steps were taken toward the improvement of the system of telephonic communication on various reservations, with a view to increasing the efficiency of the fire-control plans.

Forest valuation and land-classification work was resumed in April, 1920, on the Klamath Indian Reservation. During the year complete topographic maps of the Menominee and the Quinaielt Reservations have been issued.

RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

During the past year very little activity has been apparent among the railroad companies in the construction of lines across Indian reservations. About the only important railroad right of way granted was that for the Flathead Valley extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Montana.

With respect to highways, the local authorities in the Indian country have been active in projecting new roads and in straightening and reducing the grades of roads already established across Indian lands, and approximately 50 permits for the opening of public highways have been issued by this Service.

Not only are good roads essential to the industrial welfare and progress of the Indians, but they also enhance the value of their land for rental or sale purposes. The Indians themselves are gradually awakening to the appreciation of these facts, and, in general, readily concur in the granting of rights of way across their individual allotments for railroad or highway purposes upon payment of adequate damages.

In addition to granting the rights of way for highways across Indian land mentioned above, every effort has been made by this Service to provide other necessary improved road facilities at its own expense so far as available funds would permit. As there is no general appropriation for this purpose, only so much of this work could be undertaken as other funds were available therefor. Congress, however, has made specific appropriation for roads and bridges on a few reservations, which have been of great value in their development.

THE FEDERAL WATER-POWER ACT.

On June 10, 1920, the Federal water-power act was approved. This act creates a commission to be composed of the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of War, and confers jurisdiction upon such commission to grant permits for the

use of public lands and reservations, including Indian lands, for the development of water power. The act modifies that part of the act of February 15, 1901, relating to power plants, and it is believed will give great stimulus to water-power development.

METALLIFEROUS MINERALS.

On September 16, 1919, regulations were prescribed to carry into effect the provisions of section 26 of the Indian appropriation act of June 30, 1919, relative to prospecting for and mining metalliferous minerals on Indian reservations. On November 1 a number of reservations were thrown open to prospecting and lease under the terms of the regulations, and openings since then have made subject to prospecting practically all the land which is considered likely to be valuable for this purpose. There has been considerable activity on several of the reservations, but as locators have a year within which to apply for leases of the land they may locate, no mineral leases have as yet been approved.

MISSION LANDS.

Authority has been granted for the setting apart of Indian reservation lands for temporary use and occupancy for mission or religious purposes during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1920, aggregating approximately 200 acres. These sites vary in area from 1 to 80 acres. The requests for such lands and the areas available to be granted are necessarily diminishing. Most of the organizations engaged in mission work among the Indians have already been provided. for. In some cases the lands have long been occupied, but without formal authority. The issuance of other patents ordered awaits the survey of the tracts. In some localities lands are now available for purchase from allottees, and mission authorities are purchasing adjoining or near-by tracts.

THE PUEBLO PROBLEM.

One of the troublesome matters of long standing has been the disputes between the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and the encroaching whites and Mexican squatters who have located on Indian lands and claim title or the right to remain thereon.

There are 20 pueblos, with about 6,000 Indians, and they occupy lands under grants made in most cases by the King of Spain in 1691, or later, and these titles were confirmed to them by the United States courts or by the Court of Private Land Claims and patented to the Pueblos since the American occupation after the Mexican war.

These Indians have lost considerable through the encroachments of the white settlers and adverse decisions of the courts. Notwith

« PreviousContinue »