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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the year 1905, Part I
([1905])
Reports concerning Indians in California, pp. 180-195
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Page 183
183 REPORTS CONCERNING INDIANS IN CALIFORNIA. Condition of plant. -During the past year we have made considerable substan- tial improvements in shape of repairs to the various buildings, and the school plant is now beginning to recover itself from its former neglected and dilapi- dated condition. Of course, with the great number of buildings here, much is necessary to be done in order to get the various buildings again in proper condition, as for years past they have been sadly neglected. The present enrollment is 79, with an average attendance of 57. There will doubtless be an increase in both enrollment and average attendance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1906. The scholastic population on which the school is supported is quite large, as it embraces southern Oregon, northern half of California, and northwestern Nevada, and in time there is no reason why a good, large school can not be built up at this place from this scholastic population. Sewerage.-The sewerage about the girls' dormitory will need to be completely overhauled and properly constructed, as its present condition is a menace to the health of the pupils. Water.-The water supply for school use and fire protection is not adequate, on account of the small reservoir. This reservoir will need to be enlarged and the dam considerably repaired. It will require an expenditure of about $1,000 to put this reservoir in proper shape. It will also require for the sewerage and water pipes which will have to be repaired at least $500. The heating and lighting is accomplished by numerous wood stoves and coal- oil lamps. It seems to me there should be some other system of both heating and lighting this plant, as these numerous stoves and lamps In these frame buildings are very dangerous and a menace to the lives of the children intrusted to our care. There'seems to be a possibility of an electric company running a wire to the town of Bidwell for the purpose of lighting the same. If this should be done it would be highly proper to make some arrangement by which this plant could be lighted by electricity. Estimate for improvements.-In order to maintain and increase the efficiency of the school during the fiscal year 1906 there will be needed the following: (1) Repairs to water system, in order to furnish the necessary water supply for school use and fire protection, $1,000. (2) In order to relieve the cramped con- dition now existing in the girls' building, which is being used for girls' dormi- tory, general dining room, and general kitchen, thus depriving the girls of all quarters in this building except mere sleeping quarters, I urgently recommend the building of a separate building for dining room and kitchen and for the pur- pose Qf proper instruction in domestic science, in order that these girls may be properly taught. This building will cost about $6,000, and plans for the same will shortly be submitted to your office. (3) There has been no provision for the proper care of the sick at this school, and the only place a sick or injured pupil can stay is in the general dormitory-either the boys' or the girls'. This is not a condition which should be permitted to exist, as it is not humane to compel a sick child to remain in a general dormitory during such sickness. I therefore recommend that a suitable hospital be built at this school. This can be done at a cost not to exceed $1,000, and I urgently recommend that the same be granted. Adult Indians.-The Paiute living in this vicinity are good workers when they have the opportunity, and are employed on the ranches, and during the haying season they receive from $2 to $3 per day and board. This money, however, seems to do them little good, as they use the greater part of it for the purpose of gambling and the purchase of, whisky. It seems to be a curious fact that the greater part of the adult Indians are better off when they do not earn money, as then they have nothing with which to gamble and no money with which to buy whisky, and my observation is that they gamble less and do not indulge in drunkenness so much when they have not the money. During the past winter these Indians earned over $1,000 in putting in wood for the school, but this money seems to go about in the-same way that their harvest money goes, namely, in gambling and the purchase of whisky. Some of the adult Indians, especially the younger ones who formerly attended school, have been making considerable improvements on their allotments, and if they could only have water on their land I am confident that many more would open up their allotments and build homes on the same. During the present year I hope to be able to secure some means by which water may be placed on many of these Indian lands. CHARLES D. RAKESTRAW, Superintendent and Specia Disbursing Agent.
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