1922 Industrial Survey of Elmer Takes Wrinkle

"Elmer secured a Patent Fee for his own allotment. He immediately sold it and went into partnership with another Fee Patent Indian to build and operate a garage at Crow Agency. It was not long before their money had completely disappeared. He is now living on his wife's and other relatives' land and really seems to be taking hold and trying to farm. He admits that he now knows what it is to be hard up, which is probably the first essential in the industrial education of an Indian or anyone else. I found a white man living in his nice house and Elmer and his family living in camp along the river. I admit that the camp looked much more comfortable, being shaded. The white man had arranged to farm some of his land, but it seems the arrangement was not proving very successful and Elmer expected to let him go soon. He was also farming and making some hay in partnership with Howard Shane, another Fee Patent Indian. I now have some hope of Elmer getting to work. In the past he has driven a big machine and did very little but spend money, but he has now reached the place where he will have to earn his money before spending it."