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(2)

under great difficulties. A condensed statistical statement of the amount and character of improvements made by each of the signers of the petition and the difficulties met with and overcome by them, was made out and accompanies the petition. These men have taken the lead and others will follow. The Indians are thoroughly convinced that it is civilizatiion or extermination, and they don't fancy extermination any more than we do. Nine out of ten of the Indians are anxious to have titles to their lands and get to living as the whites. A few are held bakc by their old traditions, and a few hold back with selfish designs. Of this latter class are the mixed bloods who are scheming to live at the expense of the weaker ones. They get all they can from the Government and use the unoccupied lands for herding grounds for their cattle, where they have no tax to pay. Those men have all the benefits of perfect titles and many added privileges as they now are, so they oppose all advancement and influence others all they can. But the real sentiment and desire of the Indian is for lands they know to be their own, and then sell off the remainder of their lands for