61ST CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J DOCUMENT 2d Session.

PAY OF FARMERS, INDIAN SERVICE.

LETTER

FROM

THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,

TRANSMITTING

A COPY OF A COMMUNICATION FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR SUBMITTING AN ESTIMATE OF APPROPRIATION FOR PAY OF FARMERS, INDIAN SERVICE.

JANUARY 29, 1910.-Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be

printed.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
Washington, January 28, 1910.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress copy of a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, of the 27th instant, submitting an increase in the amount of the estimate of appropriation on page 258 of the Annual Book of Estimates for the fiscal year 1911, for pay of farmers, Indian Service, from $125,000 to $230,000.

Respectfully,

CHARLES D. NORTON,
Acting Secretary.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, January 27, 1910.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose letters addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the United States Senate, asking for an increase in the item for pay of farmers on Indian reservations, as submitted with the regular estimates, from $125,000 to $230,000.

I request that these letters be forwarded in the usual manner, so that the Congress may be advised of my reasons for asking for the increase. Very respectfully,

The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.

R. A. BALLINGER, Secretary.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, January 27, 1910. SIR: In submitting the estimates for the conduct of the Indian Service during the next fiscal year the department placed the amount for pay of farmers at $125,000. Since that estimate was transmitted I have become convinced that the amount is inadequate, and beg leave to present the reasons why I believe the amount to be insufficient.

The department has come to the conclusion that the practice of agriculture among the Indians should be encouraged and strengthened. The need of increasing the funds for the employment of farmers and stockmen is apparent, in view of existing conditions.

With a territory of 59,000,000 acres of land, most of it agricultural in character, estimated to be worth $265,000,000, with $60,000,000 in trust funds held for the Indians available for the improvement of their allotments, and with the possibility of the beneficial use of these millions of acres of allotted lands and these millions of trust funds hinging almost absolutely upon the ability of these Indians to farm and raise stock on their allotments, the Indian Office has at the present time only 153 farmers employed, at the expenditure of about $125,000, an infinitesimal percentage of the worth of the lands and the money available for their development. It is self-evident that with an intelligent and economical use of these lands and moneys, the final independence of the Indians from the tutelage of the Government can be made possible by educating the great majority of them to make proper use of their allotments, and in the absence of this character of education, the seriousness of the problem becomes apparent.

The department is now removing restrictions on sale from a part of the lands of its Indian allottees, selling that part and dividing the proceeds of the sale to improve the remainder of the allottees' lands by building houses, barns, fences, drilling wells, purchasing teams, cattle, and other live stock, plows, wagons, and farming implements, but with the present force of farmers and the present equipment for teaching these Indians practical agriculture these horses, cattle, implements, and improvements in many cases are resulting in little benefit. to the Indian. Often the live stock dies from neglect and implements go to the junk pile unused. His means for buying other stock and implements being gone, without a practical knowledge of farming, and in many cases surrounded by neighbors who are not good, prudent, or industrious farmers, the Indian is left in as helpless a condition as he was before a part of his landed estate was sold.

In many sections of the Indian country, where the Indians are surrounded by intelligent and progressive farmers, a feeling of hostility exists, and the Indian can not have the advantage of the advice or good example of his white neighbor. In some instances the full bloods are unable to speak English, and that constitutes a bar to obtaining assistance from white farmers. Notwithstanding their large land holdings, they only cultivate small patches, and this in the most primitive manner, which in only a small degree contributes to the support of their families. Surrounded by people who enjoy all the comforts of civilization, they have no share in them. Their neighbors are becoming prosperous amid the new conditions brought about by the settling of the country, but the condition of these allottees is in many respects worse than it was before.

The most effective way to make these Indians practical farmers is to employ enough experienced white farmers to reach the individual allottees on all Indian reservations, who shall give their whole time and energy in helping allottees to make proper use of their live stock, implements, and tools, and adopt profitable methods of soil culture. It will be necessary, in order to carry out this programme, to employ more farmers and pay them larger salaries than at present. Many of the men now in the service, carried on the rolls as farmers, know but little of practical farming, and none of the scientific methods; indeed many of them would make poor farm hands, but the reason they are in the service is that it is impossible to get a higher grade of men necessary for the real work of agricultural instruction at the salaries which are now permitted, the average being less than $60 per month. The department should be able to obtain the services of men who are advanced in agricultural methods, not only from a scientific standpoint, but also in a practical sense. They should be selected for the various reservations because of their special knowledge of the climatic and agricultural conditions in the respective sections. They should know the nature and character of the crops best suited to the lands owned by the various allottees, and especially should they be men of the highest character, who could counsel and advise the Indians concerning the many matters of business which necessarily arise in connection with successfully operating a small farm. Their task would be not only to induce the allottees to do hard work along practical lines, but it should be their business to aid in the selection of the best seeds, the best stock, proper agricultural implements, and in other ways to place the farms of the Indians on a business basis.

When it is remembered that the Indian Service requires 142 superintendents to look after 300,000 Indians scattered over 59,000,000 acres of land in 26 different States, it becomes apparent that the amount asked for in this bill to employ farmers is exceedingly small, too small in fact to get the best results. In asking for this increased appropriation I wish to urge that, even leaving out the economic welfare of the Indians, the best possible policy in the long run for the Government to spend enough money at the present time to inculcate industrial habits among the Indians, which will make them self-supporting, because it is only by making the Indian self-sustaining that he can be converted from a ward of the Government into a useful member of society. While the amount of increase asked for is small, yet it is believed that this expenditure, made judiciously, will demonstrate the wisdom and sound business judgment involved in the proposed industrial programme.

It is intended also that this appropriation shall in a measure aid in establishing and maintaining demonstration farms, where there may be conducted, on practically the same scale as the Indian farm should be, such an agricultural plant as shall illustrate to the Indians how best to cultivate their allotments, what character of stock can be most advantageously maintained, the kinds of crops that will bring the best results, and the character of auxiliary industries, such as dairying, the raising of poultry, and the like, which should be carried on on a wellregulated farm. It is intended that these demonstration farms shall not only prove to be a source of education, but inspiration as well, and lead to a spirit of emulation among the Indians which experience has shown will have a large influence in creating among them a desire for independence as a result of their own efforts.

I have the honor to request that the amount of the estimate for the pay of farmers be amended in amount and in phraseology as follows (estimates of appropriations, H. Doc. No. 177, p. 258):

To enable the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to employ practical farmers and practical stockmen, subject only to such examination as to qualifications as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, in addition to the agency and school farmers now employed, to superintend and direct farming and stock raising among such Indians as are making efforts for self-support, and to establish, maintain, and conduct demonstration farms for the benefit of the Indians, including not to exceed thirty thousand dollars for farmers among the Five Civilized Tribes, two hundred and thirty thousand dollars: Provided, That the Commissioner of Indian Affairs may use not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars of the said amount in the employment of additional clerical assistance at such agencies and schools as may be necessary in connection with the leasing and appraisal of Indian lands and for sundry purposes: Provided further, That the amounts paid such farmers and stockmen shall not come within the limit for employees fixed by the act of June seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven.

With the increased appropriation asked for the department will be enabled to obtain, by paying adequate salaries, the services of men who have had special training in advanced agricultural methods and who are qualified to teach the Indians practical farming. The number of farmers can be largely increased to meet this most important need of the Indian Service.

I earnestly recommend that the item above mentioned be enacted into law.

2d Session.

No. 616.

REPORT OF WASHINGTON, SPA SPRING AND GRETTA RAILROAD COMPANY, YEAR 1909.

LETTER TRANSMITTING THE REPORT OF THE WASHINGTON, SPA SPRING AND GRETTA RAILROAD COMPANY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1909.

JANUARY 29, 1910.-Referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia and ordered to be printed.

WASHINGTON, January 28, 1910. SIR: We beg to inclose herewith report of the Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad Company for the year ending December 31, 1909, in accordance with the act of Congress approved February 18, 1907.

Very respectfully,

DOUGLAS & BAKER.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:

The Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad Company, a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, in pursuance of the twenty-third section of the act of Congress approved February 18, 1907, entitled "An act to authorize the Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad Company of Prince George County to extend its street railway into the District of Columbia," respectfully submits the following report:

The stock of said company, consisting of 400 shares, is held as follows:

There were no receipts and no expenditures for the year ending December 31, 1909.

The railroad is being constructed under contract, the contractor to be paid when 4 miles of the road have been completed and ready to be turned over to the company for operation.

WASHINGTON, SPA SPRING AND GRETTA R. R. Co., By S. S. YODER, President.