A discussion of this matter will be found in the report of the commissioner for the fiscal year 1929. The per capita allowance for the boarding schools is still below that of most State institutions, notwithstanding the decided improvement that has been made in the past three years. For the fiscal year 1928 appropriations were made at a rate of $225 for these schools, with the exception of five schools, for which $250 was made available. For 1929 the per capita ranged from $240 to $285, depending upon the size of the school; for 1930 it was $260 to $300; and for the new fiscal year, $290 to $330. State institutions which are regarded as reasonably comparable report per capita figures of from $300 to $600, and authorities seem to agree upon $450 as a minimum for which creditable work can be done in feeding, housing, clothing, and educating children under institutional

care.

GUIDANCE AND PLACEMENT

The indispensable factors in our educational plans for practical meeting of the Indian's problems of life have already been set forth. The schools must be supplemented by getting the Indians into jobs. Hence an organization must be established to conduct this work of placement and employment. It should consist of capable, energetic, and patient workers who will inform themselves as to industrial conditions, will study the possibilities, interests, and tendencies of the Indian students of the schools or graduates therefrom, and who will bring about the best possible association between the employer and the employed, with the hope that permanency may be established upon a sound basis of satisfactory mutual relationship. If in work lies the salvation of the Indian race, the effort to awake his ambition, to enlist his interest, to form his habits must commence at an early age. The placement employees and the schools must join and coordinate their efforts to this end.

Several placement officers are now on the roll. One of the employment officers is Mr. George P. La Vatta, an Indian of the Shoshone people, who has for a number of years been successful in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad. As he tells his own story, he was well grown before he knew a word of English. Then came an ambition for schooling. After leaving school he told the Indian agent that he wanted to go out into the world and work and live like other people. "Don't try it," was the advice in return. "Go back to the farm and work with your own people." Nevertheless he persisted, and finally secured work with the railroad. Now his advice to his people, as expressed in his own words, is:

People try to sympathize with me because the white man killed the buffalo and took the Indian's lands. I tell them that belongs to the past. The Indian on a reservation can only deteriorate; but if he will go out and work and live like other people, he has a future as promising as that of any other American citizen.

For Indians who prefer or who, because of conditions, must make their living on their reservations, or in their own communities, guidance and assistance are being provided by the appointment of trained home, agricultural, and social service extension workers.

INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

It is not the present policy to try to make farmers or stockmen of all Indians nor to force them into these occupations where all the attendant circumstances do not offer assurance of successful results or of contentment on their part. However, so far as it be found that a large number of adults will depend upon their land for support, we must endeavor to offer them practical assistance and encouragement. Industrial surveys and 5-year programs have been mentioned in prior annual reports, and these measures were adopted within many reservations for the purpose of providing such assistance. Realizing the need for more effective supervision, our field force has been strengthened by appointment of a director of extension work, as hereinbefore mentioned, to be in general charge of industrial activities. He is assisted by eight agricultural extension agents, each of whom has a specified territory which includes several reservations. A supervisor of livestock has also been appointed to give attention and supervision to activities of this character. Seven home demonstration agents are working among the Indian women in order to assist them in all that pertains to the making and conduct of a modern, well-kept home. The importance of placement work has already been emphasized. This work will continue also with regard to employment of the adult Indian and the affording of all other assistance through the personnel of placement organization which will enable him to successfully engage in work adapted to his wishes. and abilities, but which will nevertheless eventually teach him the lesson of self-dependence.

REIMBURSABLE FUNDS

The reimbursable fund continues to be an important factor in the industrial welfare and progress of the Indians. Consolidated Ute Agency, Colo., reports indicate a 100 per cent lamb crop from sheep bought for the Indians from moneys advanced. The revenue from sheep at this place last year accruing to the Indians was nearly $10,000, due entirely to their own efforts, though assisted by the advice and help of Government employees. It is estimated that their income this year will be about $25,000. Southern Navajo reports an unusual case in which $150 was authorized from the reimbursable fund to buy tools and materials to establish a deaf Indian in the silversmith business. At Fort Berthold, despite the drouth, 100,000 pounds of Indian-raised wheat went through the flour mill, secured by use of the reimbursable fund. These Indians seeded from 50 per cent to 75 per cent more acreage in the spring of 1930. At Pine Ridge one of the women's auxiliary clubs sold 760 pounds of beans to the agency and used part of the money to buy a seeder. This year, also, 123 loans were made from the reimbursable fund to old Indians for support purposes, and 37 to owners of irrigable land for development purposes.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

15

For 1929 the appropriation was $200,000, and for 1930 and 1931, exclusive of subjugation work on the Pima Reservation in Arizona, $325,000 has been appropriated. These amounts have been supplemented by appropriations from tribal funds of $75,000 in 1929 and $869,479.60 in 1930.

The total amount expended from all sources for reimbursable assistance to Indians is approximately $6,408,143. Repayments to June 30, 1930, aggregate about $4,124,270, leaving outstanding accounts of $2,283,873.

ROADS AND BRIDGES

The progress of the Indians has been impeded by lack of improved roads. Two years ago Congress authorized appropriations for this purpose. Since that time appropriations have been made in the sum of $250,000 each for 1930 and for 1931. This money has been distributed to the best advantage throughout the service, with the result that a good beginning has been made in the construction of improved local roads connecting the various Indian communities within many of the reservations. The main thoroughfares are built under the Federal highway act without cost to this service. The most extensive single project being constructed is the road within the Turtle Mountain Reservation, N. Dak., in connection with the consolidated school under construction at that place. About $50,000 was used for this system of roads last year and a like sum will be supplied from our general road appropriation for 1931.

A special appropriation of $15,000 from tribal funds was available for road work within the Red Lake Reservation, Minn., with which to continue the road-construction program inaugurated several years ago, which it is hoped will eventually provide the entire reservation with improved facilities of this nature. Where possible small amounts are taken from tribal funds appropriated for general uses and expended in the hiring of Indian labor engaged on minor reservation road construction and repair work.

ALLOTMENTS

During the fiscal year 504 allotments were made to individual Indians embracing lands within various reservations aggregating 103,314.99 acres, as shown in the following table:

In addition to reservation allotments shown above, 226 allotments were made to Indians residing on the public domain in various States, embracing 37,154 acres.

EXTENSION OF TRUST PERIODS

The period of trust was extended by order of the President on allotments made to Indians of the following-named tribes and bands: Nez Perce, Idaho; Crow, Montana; Omaha, Nebraska; Seneca, Oklahoma; Devils Lake, North Dakota; Rosebud and Yankton, South Dakota; Uintah, Uncompahgre and White River Bands of Utes, Utah.

CHOCTAW INDIANS OF MISSISSIPPI

Two separate tracts of land were purchased during the year embracing a total of 59 acres at a cost of $2,155. This land has been resold to two full-blood Choctaws under the reimbursable plan and will provide home sites for two families consisting of a total of about 10 persons. In addition to these two tracts actually purchased, $4,345 has been obligated in the proposed purchase of 242 acres for resale to six individuals whose combined families total approximately 30 persons. To date, 1,812 acres have been purchased at a cost of $47,547 and resold to 60 Indians. It is estimated that about 263 individuals have been provided homes in this manner.

NAVAJO LAND PURCHASES

Under authority contained in the act of May 29, 1928 (45 Stat. L. 883, 899), and the act of March 4, 1929 (45 Stat. L. 1569), we have purchased a total of 138,779.11 acres for the Navajo Indians at a total cost of $218,230.17. These purchases were made from tribal funds. It is estimated that the total tribal receipts for the fiscal year 1931 will amount to approximately $140,000, a portion of which it is proposed to use in acquiring certain tracts for these Indians during the next fiscal year.

ADDITIONAL LANDS FOR INDIAN USE

Under authority of the act of May 23, 1930 (Public, No. 250, 71st Cong.), certain lands approximating 54,000 acres were eliminated from the Tusayan National Forest as an addition to the Western Navajo Reservation. This particular land lies north of the Little Colorado and east of the Colorado River and is contiguous to the present Western Navajo Reservation on the west. This act also contemplates the ultimate acquisition for the Western Navajo Reservation of about 62,000 acres of additional land lying south of the Little Colorado River, representing a total area of approximately 116,000 acres of good grazing land, all of which will in the future probably become part of the reservation.

SALE AND PATENTING OF INDIAN LANDS

There have been cash and deferred payment sales of 290 tracts of original allotments, aggregating 35,773 acres, for a consideration of $505,799; and of 596 tracts of inherited lands, aggregating 72,742 acres, for $1,101,996, or a total of 108,515 acres sold for a total consideration of $1,607,795. These totals represent, however, a decrease in sales and payments derived therefrom as compared with the prior year.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

17

There were issued upon application therefor 230 patents in fee to allottees and to heirs of allottees, releasing 28,530 acres, and there were granted 38 certificates of competency and orders removing restrictions, releasing 3,026 acres; 285 applications for patents in fee were not accorded favorable action.

Within many of the reservations a large part of the best agricultural land has been sold or fee patented, and we do not encourage sales except where old and indigent Indians, or those afflicted, need money for support and assistance, or where sales of a part of an allotment will result in the improvement of home conditions, and in cases of inherited lands where the heirs are numerous and the lands can not be advantageously partitioned. In cases where the heirs are less numerous (four or less) and where the inherited tracts are susceptible of a fair and equitable division, the policy is to encourage partition so that the younger and more able-bodied Indians, many of whom did not receive allotments, will have farming lands and home sites and thus be encouraged to remain on and improve their lands. In most partition cases, trust patents are issued to the individual heirs to whom lands are set apart. Many purchases are made for Indians who have industrial occupations in and around towns and whose children need to be near schools.

FORESTRY

An office memorandum approved by the Secretary of the Interior on April 15, 1930, directed that grazing activities on Indian lands be thereafter administered through the forestry branch of the Indian Service. Immediate steps were taken toward a reorganization of grazing work in accordance with these instructions. It has been recognized from the first that the task is a difficult one, but with the cooperation of other units in the service, the forestry force should be able during the fiscal year 1931 to gather the information upon which a systematic grazing plan may be developed and gradually placed in effect.

The representatives of the forestry branch will make the necessary reconnaissance of the range on each reservation to determine the most practicable grazing units, the carrying capacity of each unit, the class of stock best suited for the range, and other questions of this character. The supervision of all grazing by permittees or lessees on tribal land or on unfenced allotments will be exercised by representatives of the forestry branch under the general supervision of the superintendent whether the permittees or lessees be Indians or non-Indians. While the needs of individual Indians for range facilities will be given primary consideration, conservation of future grazing values must receive a greatly increased amount of attention in the administration of Indian lands. Through carefully planned and through studies of actual conditions on the range, it will be possible to relieve range depletion, gradually restore the native grasses, and check the erosion that has become, in recent years, increasingly destructive on Indian reservations in the Southwest. This erosion of soil on Indian lands must inevitably result in irreparable damage to lower lands and to reservoirs upon which the Federal Government, the States, and private interests have expended millions of dollars. The conservation, for future benefi