Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1878 — Report of the Board of Indian Commissioners. [ARTICLE]

Report of the Board of Indian Commissioners.

The Board of Indian Commissioners have made their ninth annual report, covering their operations for the year 1877, and present some very interesting statistical matter, showing considerable agricultural, industrial and educational development among the Nation’s wards. Of the 278,(XX) Indians now in the United States, not including those in Alaska, the peace policy has induced 112,903 to doff their furs and blankets and don citizen’s dress.' They now occupy 22,199 houses, and have 330 schools with 437 teachers, attended bv 11,515 scholars, against 111 schools, 134 teachers, and’4,7lß scholars in 1868. In many other respects they show a great advance during the past ten years. There are 40,39 V of them who can read, whereas none of them oould in 1869; and 28,000 of them attend church. Industrially, also, ! they make a very good showing. They j are cultivating 292,550 acres of land, j and, not including the five civilized j tribes,. 34,682 of them are engaged in ; tilling the ground. They have raised j during the past year 688,278 bushels of j wheat, 4,656,692 bushels of corn, 349,- j 247 bushels of oats and barley, 556,975"! bushels of vegetables. 148,473 tons of I hay, and they own 210,286 hordes and mules, 217,888 cattle, 121,338 swine antT 587,444 sheep. The Commissioners urge, as a strong argument whv the management of Indian affairs sliould not be intrusted to the War Department, that supplies contracted for and furnished to military posts have cost from 38 to 78 per cent, more than at the neighboring Indian Agencies.. The i Commissioners make a very strong ap- ! peal, upon the strength of the practi- 1 cal results of the peace policy, to have - it continued permanently