Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1877.djvu/13

Rh The Indian Territory has room for most of the southwestern tribes, which should be gradually located there as they come under the control of the government. One or two reservations in the northwest, this side of the mountains, and a similar consolidation of reservations on the Pacific slope, to be determined upon after more minute inquiry into local circumstances, will accommodate the northern Indians. The interspersion of Indians and whites, which is so apt to lead to troublesome collisions, can in this way be considerably limited, and greater facilities will be afforded for the promotion of civilization.

4. While Indians cannot be expected to become successful farmers at once, several tribes have already made appreciable progress in that respect, and others are likely to do so under favorable circumstances and judicious management. It will probably be found that many tribes are more adapted to pastoral pursuits, and in such cases agriculture, although not to be neglected, should be made subordinate to the raising of cattle. All beginnings in such things will necessarily be small and slow, but they should be patiently guided and eucouraged by attentive supervision and liberal aid.

5. The enjoyment and pride of the individual ownership of property being one of the most effective civilizing agencies, allotments of small tracts of land should be made to the heads of families on all reservations, to be held in severalty under proper restrictions, so that they may have fixed homes. Indians who can furnish sufficient evidence that they have supported their families for a certain number of years should be admitted to the benefits of the homestead act, and, if they are willing to detach themselves from their tribal relations, to the privileges of citizenship.

6. To protect the security of life and property among the Indians, the laws of the United States, to be enforced by proper tribunals, should be extended over the reservations, and a body of police, composed of Indians, and subject to the orders of the government officers, should be organized on each of them. It is a matter of experience that Indians thus trusted with official duty can almost uniformly be depended upon in point of fidelity and efficiency.

7. The establishment of schools for the instruction of the young is gradually being extended among the Indian tribes under our control. The advantage to be derived from them will greatly depend upon their discipline and the course of instruction. As far as practicable, the attendance of Indian children should be made compulsory. Provision should be made for boarding children at the schools, to bring them more exclusively under the control of educational influences. One of the most important points is that they should be taught to speak and read the English language. Efforts have been made to establish and teach the grammar of Indian dialects and to use books printed in those dialects as a means of instruction. This is certainly very interesting and