L-AND TENURE AND THE ORGANIZATION Ol' AGRICUI^TURE 73 



and condition of such Indians practicable, and that the means of instruc- 

 ction can be introduced with their own consent, to employ capable per- 

 sons of good moral character to instruct them in the mode of agriculture 

 suited to their situation ; and for teaching their children in reading, writ- 

 ing and arithmetic, and performing such other duties as may be enjoined, 

 according to such instructions and rules as the President may give and 

 prescribe for the regulation of their conduct in the discharge of their 

 duties ". 



At the present time the Office of Indian Affairs is a bureau of the 

 Department of the Interior, and is presided over by an official known as 

 the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Each reservation is directly in 

 charge of a bonded superintendent, who is responsible to the Commis- 

 sioner for the proper and efficient conduct of the affairs of the Indians 

 on his particular reservation, including their agricultural operations. 

 Most of the reservations are divided into districts, each in charge of a 

 farmer who resides therein and is furnished with transportation equip- 

 ment in order that he may travel about and instruct the Indians in their 

 agricultural work. This farmer must be personally acquainted with every 

 Indian famih' in his district and thoroughly familiar with their industrial 

 condition, needs and resources, so as to assist them to get the best results 

 from their labours. The farmers are appointed from a register of eUgibles 

 who have passed the required Civil Service examination, in order to test 

 their fitness for the particular work devolving upon them. They make 

 frequent verbal and written reports to the Superintendent as to agricul- 

 tural conditions in their respective districts, and the Superintendents 

 submit regular annual reports to the Commissioner, besides such special 

 reports from time to time as conditions may warrant. 



That portion of the United States in which Indian reservations are 

 located is divided into ten supervisory districts, each of which is assigned 

 to an inspecting official, who makes periodical trips to the various reser- 

 vations in his territory, for the purpose of determining and reporting upon 

 the agricultural progress of the Indians and aU other matters relating to 

 the administration of their affairs. By means of such reports, the Com- 

 missioner is kept informed as to actual conditions, the degree of efficiency 

 of the various Superintendents, farmers, and other employees, as a basis 

 for such administrative action as he may deem necessars\ 



The present appropriation for agricultural work among the Indians 

 reads as follows : 



" For the employment of practical farmers and stockmen, in ad 

 dition to the agency and school farmers now employed ; for necessary 

 traveUing expenses of such farmers and stockmen, and for furnishing ne- 

 cessary equipment and supphes for them ; and for superintending and di- 

 recting farming and stock-raising among Indians. " 



Two hundred and fifty eight farmers are now employed and paid from 

 this appropriation or other available funds. 



The statement given below shows the number of Indians farnoing, 

 1 lie total cultivated acreage, the average acreage per Indian, and the value 



