REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XIII 
licultural uses than those of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, the great 
difficulty or drawback in both reservations being the long annual 
droughts, which make irrigation necessary in order to insure good crops.

If any part of the Indian Territory is to be ol)ened to homestead entry 
and settlement, it should be the western part, running a line north and 
soutli through the Territory, and removing all indians west of that line

to lands lying east of said line. Thus the Indians would be upon lands 
better adapted to their support, and. they would also be adjacent to 
each other and in a more compact form. 
What political developnient lies before the Indians of the Indian Ter- 
ritory it is impossible to foresee; but one thing is evident, the idea of

maintaining permanently an imperium in imperio, such as now exists, 
must, in some respects, be abandoned. The idea of Indian nationality 
is fast melting away, and the more intelligent Indians are themselves 
awaking to that fact. In a word, the Indians in the Indian Territory 
must sooner or later break up their tribal relations, take their lands in

severalty, and to all intents and purposes become citizens of the United

States, and be amenable to its laws, as well as enjoy all of its high and

distinguished privileges. When that is done they will be prepared to 
dispose of the surplus lands they may own to the best advantage- to 
themselves, and in a spirit pro bon publico. 
EDUCATION. 
Although I have already emphasized the importance of education as 
the co-ordinate factor with agriculture in the "solution of the Indian

problem," I desire to offer some additional suggestions touching this

great and interesting feature of the "1 civilizing policy" of the
Govern- 
ment towards the red men. When we remember that only a few years 
back there was only now and then an Indian who could speak, much 
less read and write the English language, the progress of the race in 
this respect may be said to be truly wonderful. 
The appropriations made by Congress, which has seconded every effort 
for Indian advancement with commendable liberality, have steadily in- 
creased from year to year. The money appropriated has been expended 
in establishing and supporting schools on the reservations and at other 
localities within the limits of the States, notably at Carlisle Pa.; Haskell

Institute, Lawrence, Rans.; Genoa, iNebr.; Forest Grove, Oreg.; also at 
Chilocco, in the Indian Territory. At all of these institutions, as well

as at others conducted by private management, as, for instance, the 
Normal and Agricultural Institute at Hampton, and the Lincoln Insti- 
tution in Philadelpiia, and others, a higher grade of instruction and 
more thorough and complete industrial training is given than. is usually

afforded at reservation schools. At the head of the list it may be proper

to mention Carlisle and Hampton. These institutions, it is claimed by 
their friends and promoters, are especially fitted for the education of 
the future teachers and missionaries of the race. But without detract-