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Indians at this agency. As my work for the past year has been largely occupied in matters pertaining to the leasing of the allotted lands belonging to the Sisseton and Wahpeton Band of the Sioux tribe, my report will be, to some extent, upon this portion of the subject.

The reservation is in the northeastern part of South Dakota, occupying parts of Roberts, Day, Grant, Marshall, and Codington counties, and extending into Richland and Sargent counties of North Dakota. It is about 120 miles long and at the State line 42 miles wide, coming to a point near Watertown, S. Dak. The Coteau hills cut the Indian allotted land nearly in the middle. That east of the hills is fine farming land, while that to the west is better adapted to grazing, though there are some good farms.

The majority of the older Indians live on the land which was allotted them in 1888, consisting of 40 acres each, situated mostly in the coulees, on the eastern slope of the hills. This was once covered with timber and unfit for cultivation, excepting small garden spots. The rest of their land is in the valley, some miles

away.

The distance from the place of living is not the only reason why the Indian does not cultivate his allotment. The lack of means to buy large horses, machinery, and grain to sow, are three good reasons. Seventy-five per cent of horses owned by them are the common Western horse of about 700 pounds weight, which is not heavy enough to plow the sod and reap the grain. It takes considerable capital to open up a prairie farm, even after it is broken up, which is being done now by white men, who are leasing the allotted lands. Large horses and machinery are what is needed by the Indian. But he is so heavily involved in debt that to possess a good horse and be seen in town with it would make him a shining mark for every collector in the neighborhood.

The Sisseton Indian will be forced to rent most of his land for some years to come, or until he can pay cash for what he buys and not be forced to run in debt. He does not need a house, as they have comfortable homes, nor his land fenced, as he has no stock but a pony, or three or four, as the case may be; but he does need money to get out of debt and to live. As the statistics which I forward with this report show, 50 per cent of the Indians live on what they receive from the Government as interest and what comes to them as rental of their allotments. This necessarily means that these Indians do not have very much to live on and pay debts contracted by them years ago.

To-day a great many of the older Indians are subsisting on corn and potatoes, with what berries can be found in the coulees.

The money deposited to the credit of these Indians should be given them to live on, as they did not have the advantages that the Government is giving the younger generation, and consequently can not earn their living so well.

The leasing of the allotinents is very arduous, requiring many hours of work out of office in inspecting the lands rented and adjusting difficulties which are constantly arising. There are 1,970 pieces of land situated from one end of the reservation to the other, and the disputes which arise often necessitate the agent's presence on the ground."

The Sisseton Indian industrial boarding school had a very successful year. No sickness among the pupils. No trouble with them in running away, and the parents seemed very well satisfied with the condition of their children, and requests to take them home were not as frequent as in former years.

We

The buildings, though in good repair, are not up to date in convenience, hygiene, etc., and should be replaced by modern structures. The Indians are willing, and anxious to have a plant here second to none in the Indian school service. have a never-failing spring of water which, with proper machinery, would furnish water for all purposes and power to run a dynamo of sufficient size to light the buildings with electricity, thus doing away with the old-time lamp, which endangers life and property at present writing.

The sanitary condition of the school is as good as it is possible to be with the buildings and drainage which we have to contend with.

The condition of the Indian on the reservation is far from good, and should smallpox be brought in among them, as now threatens us, the death list would be appalling. Vaccination of all Indians should be done at once, but would require force in many cases. The children of both the Government and mission schools

were vaccinated last fall.

The police force has been most efficient and has rendered excellent service at all times. The salary is far too small for the amount of work done by the men, as they are often called on to go out on to the reservation to look after the illegal leasing of lands, thus neglecting their own farm operations.

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The liquor question is still being agitated, and requires a good deal of an agent's time. The prosecution and conviction of eleven bootleggers" has been accomplished in the past year, and the men paid sentence in jail for three months and $100 fine.

The missionaries are a great help to the Indian in his advance toward civilization. There are times when it seems like love's labor lost" through the hindrances which arise. Nevertheless there has been a marked advance morally and spiritually.

I inclose report of J. L. Baker, superintendent of the Government school, which will give an idea of the work done by his school. Superintendent Evans, of Good Will Mission, will report in season for publication, but is called away at present. In conclusion, I desire to thank the office for all kindness received and attention given to matters pertaining to the affairs of this agency.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

NATHAN P. JOHNSON, United States Indian Agent.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SISSETON SCHOOL.

SISSETON INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,
Sisseton Agency, S. Dak., July 16, 1900.

SIR: In compliance with instructions from your office, I have the honor of submitting the following report of this school for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900.

The year has been one of unusual success in the progress made by the children. No runaways have occurred. There has been a general spirit of contentment and good feeling among the pupils. Their duties, both in the literary and industrial departments have been faithfully and cheerfully performed, and they have been very amenable to the school discipline.

At the close of school many of the parents came to the superintendent and to other employees and expressed satisfaction at the treatment of their children, and at the progress made by them. They were especially pleased at their fluency in using the English language.

The average attendance during the ten school months was 103.

The general health of the children has been good. No deaths have occurred. The usual cases of scrofula and sore eyes were held well in check.

Steady advancement has been the order in the literary department. The class-room work has been especially good in drill in correct English. Legal holidays have been observed with appro priate exercises. Frequent lessons, or talks, are given upon patriotism, current events, especially those of national import; stories told tending to develop love of country and flag and to inspire ideas of good citizenship.

Sunday school is held at the school and opportunity is given the children to attend church serv ices at the Presbyterian and Episcopal mission churches. Religious services were held at the school on Sunday evenings, frequently conducted by one of the ministers of mission churches. In the industrial department the girls are especially proficient; we have good housekeepers, cooks, seamstresses, and laundresses among them. The boys' progress has been hampered by lack of material to work with in carpenter's shop, and by lack of instruction for the greater part of the year in the shoe and harness shop, owing to vacancy in position of that department. The condition of the buildings has been somewhat improved during the year. New roofs have been made on several buildings; new floors laid in many rooms of boys' building and same in girls' building; plastering has been repaired, etc.. so that all of the buildings are habitable, but, still, none are in good condition. The position of carpenter has been abolished. The insufficient amount of material furnished rendered his services of little value.

The number of acres of ground under cultivation is 115. On account of the long-continued drought we shall realize only about one-third of a crop this year, but we will raise sufficient hay and grain for use of school stock during the coming year. The estimated yield of the farm for this year is as follows:

Wheat
Oats
Corn

bushels.. 350 Potatoes
do.... 1,000 Ruta-bagas
..do.... 200 Hay.

bushels.. 250 .do. 100 .tons.. 60

Also, a good supply of cabbages, turnips, onions, pumpkins, etc., will be raised. An important need of the school is a new and complete water-supply system, and a sewerage system. The water is at present pumped to second story by hydraulic ram, which pumps 30 barrels per day, while the flow of the supply spring is about 400 barrels per day. The spring is located about 300 feet from main building, and the water is pumped to about 50 feet elevation to second story of main building. If this water could be pumped by steam power a sewerage system could be obtained. Instead of using open vaults for water-closets, as at present, an adequate supply of water could be used for carrying all refuse through a drainage system. The necessary steam apparatus for this water-supply system could also be used for power in sawing wood for use of school and for furnishing steam heat to main building. At present two boilers are used for steam heating, and both together are insufficient for heating purposes. About 90 tons of coal are consumed each year by our present steam-heating system. Another need of the school is a new boys' building. The present is altogether too small for the number of boys crowded into it, and it needs much repairing for even a less number of boys. If a new building were erected a part of the old one could be used for hospital, employee's quarters, etc. In conclusion, I desire to express my obligations to Supervisor Rakestraw and Special Agent Jenkins for valuable advice and kindly suggestions, and to extend my thanks to the Indian Office and to Agent Johnson for the courteous treatment I have always received.

I am, your obedient servant,

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

J. L. BAKER, Superintendent.

(Through NATHAN P. JOHNSON, United States Indian Agent.)

REPORT OF AGENT FOR YANKTON AGENCY.

GREENWOOD, S. DAK., August 31, 1900. SIR: I have the honor to present herein my third annual report, being for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900.

Population. The census of the tribe recently taken shows the whole number of the Yankton Sioux Indians to be 1,700, as follows: Males, 809; females, 891; total, 1,700. Number of children of school age, 446, as follows: Males, 198; females, 248; total, 446.

Health. No epidemic has appeared among these people during the past year, a though 5 cases of smallpox developed among whites living upon the reservation. These were thoroughly and effectually quarantined by the county authorities. The situation seemed to call for a thorough vaccination of all school children and of as many of the adult Indians as could be induced to submit to it, and this was done under instructions from your office. It may be proper to remark here that the vaccine virus first received was almost entirely inert, and did very little good. The last consignment was very good, and gave satisfactory results. Farming-Operations have been carried on by the Indians upon their allotments about as heretofore reported, except that in this season the crop consists for the most part of corn, owing to the lack of seed wheat this spring. I think that I shall not again ask your office for any seed wheat for issue to these Indians, for the reason that the raising of wheat on small fields, such as the Indians have, is not profitable. The cost of seed, cutting, and thrashing is nearly equal to the value of the crop, unless the grain is handled on a large scale and with very good management. The Indians have raised a very large crop of corn this year, and I think they will realize much more from the proceeds than if they had had more wheat. I shall continue to urge them to raise as much corn as possible. Wheat is a very good crop wherever sown. The usual crop of summer and winter vegetables has been grown from seed furnished by your office.

Leases. A considerable source of income to these Indians, and one which will soon increase to large proportions, is from the leasing of their surplus lands to white people. Up to the present time these leases have mostly been for grazing purposes and the rent necessarily small, but a line of railroad is now being built through these lands, and 3 railroad towns are now being built up in the immediate vicinity of the best lands. This will undoubtedly cause a demand for these lands for agricultural purposes, and will cause the annual rentals to go much higher.

I am glad to note that it will be the policy of the Department to encourage the placing of permanent improvements on these lands by whites in lieu of cash rent. This will greatly increase the rental value of these lands. The annual income from leases, as made at present for grazing purposes, is about $5,000.

Houses. The usual number, 25, of small frame houses have been built and issued to the most deserving of the Indians during the past year. We are building much better houses this year than heretofore, using plaster for the walls instead of ceiling. This makes a much warmer house and one that is more easily kept clear of vermin. It is believed that the Indians may be induced to live in such a house alt winter. They seem very pleased to have this change made.

Intoxicating liquor.-I am glad to be able to report that there has been very little drinking among these people while on the reservation. However, it seems very easy for the Indians to get liquor when in the town of Armour, and it is represented to me that at several times during he year they have greatly disturbed the peace of the town; however, the lo al authorities do not show any disposition to aid me in the enforcement of the laws on this subject, and no prosecutions have been made. It is believed that a good deal of the temptation of this kind will be removed from Indians when the new towns on the reservation are developed. No liquor selling of any description is to be allowed in these towns under the treaty of 1894.

Cattle. A year and a half ago 720 head of stock cattle were issued to the Indians, under rules which provide, among other things, that none of the original stock nor their increase may be sold for the period of four years. Very little loss has been had among the stock originally issued, and the increase. while not entirely satisfactory, has been very fair. This will be in part remedied by a better distribution of the bulls. The cattle are now in fine condition and most of the Indians have sufficient hay now put up to care for them properly during the coming winter. These people manifest great interest in their stock.

It is to be hoped that the next Congress will see its way clear to ratify the treaty for the cession of the Pipestone Reservation, as this will provide for the issue of $25,000 worth more of stock cattle to this tribe, thus not only adding to the pro

ductive wealth of the people, but increasing the interest of each individual Indian in his little herd. There seems no reason why these Indians may not become successful stock raisers if held under proper restraint as to selling or butchering them.

Census. During this year the Indians of this tribe have been enumerated by the regular enumerators of the Census Bureau, and showed great willingness and interest in having the work done properly, seeming to regard this as their first official enrollment among the citizens of the United States, although they have been voting for several years. They take more and more interest in the working of the machinery of local and national government. They do their part with their white neighbors in road building, pay their share of taxes quite as promptly as the whites, and are rapidly growing worthy of the ballot, which was given to them perhaps a little too soon.

Last survivor.-It seems proper to mention here that the last survivor of the signers of the treaty of 1858, the first treaty made by this tribe with the Government, aside from treaties of peace, died on July 22, 1900, at the advanced age of 76 years. He had been a man of great influence with the Indians. His name was Tatankainyanke, or Running Bull.

Office building.-Under favor of your office and to meet the urgent necessity of the case we have just completed a large new office building containing 6 rooms, modern in all its appointments and heated by furnace. It is more like what is expected that a United States Government office should be, and adds dignity to the administration of affairs here. Two rooms are occupied by the agent, 2 by the doctor, and the clerk and issue clerk have each a room.

Schools.-There are two schools at this agency-the Government boarding school and the St. Paul Mission Boarding School for Boys.

The attendance at the Government school was not satisfactory last year, owing to various causes, one of the greatest being the large number of children of school age who were unfit for school on account of having various scrofulous ailments, greatly aggravated by the measles and whooping cough which were epidemic during the latter part of the year before. Also many changes were made in the employee list during the year, and there were many times during the year when one or more of the positions was not filled. The best was done that could be done under the circumstances, but it is not claimed that the year was one of very great satisfaction to one who has the best interests of the school at heart.

The St. Paul Mission School has a capacity of about 50 boys and was well filled during the year. This school suffered an epidemic of the measles from which they had escaped the year before, resulting in one death. There is no question in my mind that this school has outlived the period of its usefulness. Without in the least trying to disparage the work which has been done by this school under more trying circumstances, when the Government had not yet provided the means by which every Indian child could be educated in the Government schools, I do feel sure that at the present time, with the ample facilities which the Government possesses for the education of Indians, Government aid should be withdrawn from the mission schools, thereby causing their discontinuance.

I base my opinion upon the following reasons: The school is not under Government control as to its time of beginning or ending in the school year, and for the purpose of attracting Indian children they commence later and close school earlier than the Government school, thus causing dissatisfaction with the Government school management: they make many promises and inducements to get the best and brightest of the Indian boys, thus lowering the average of scholarship in the Government school; their employees are apt to be critical of Government school methods and of Government employees, engendering the most bitter jealousies among employees and between the schools; last, but not least, it maintains at the agency a set of employees not in sympathy with Government methods or policies, and who, from long residence among these Indians, are able to wield some influence, and do at times exert their utmost efforts to embarrass and delay the carrying out of Department instructions.

As one having in view the best interests of this people, I am of the opinion that this school should not receive any further aid from the Government. but I do think that it would be a stroke of good business and for the best interest of the service for the Government to purchase the property of the school and conduct it as a part of the Government school and under the same management, which could very easily be done. It could be conducted as a higher grade or department of the Government school, and furnish a higher course of instruction to those who have completed the regular course in the old school.

Police. The police have for the most part rendered faithful service, and are still recognized by the Indians as representing the authority of the Government,

Indian courts.-Very little litigation among Indians finds its way into the local courts, but the Indians are disposed to settle most of their small disputes and to submit to small punishments for their misdeeds through the medium of their own court. This court administers a great deal of rough justice, and its decisions are nearly always such as to commend them to the sense of fairness of almost anyone.

With sincere expression of my profound personal respect, I am, sír,

Your obedient servant,

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF YANKTON SCHOOL.

GREENWOOD, S. DAK., August 31, 1900.

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the usual annual report for the fiscal year 1900: Enrollment, attendance, and health. The enrollment for the year was 140. The average attendance for the year was 110. Such a poor showing of attendance is accounted for by the difficulty of getting children to attend early in the year, the average for the first two quarters having been only about 82.

This difficulty was occasioned by an epidemic of measles and whooping cough which prevailed in the school and on the reservation during the previous school year.

As a direct result of the epidemic, 21 of the school children died before the close of school and quite a large percentage were unfitted for enrollment when the term opened in September, 1899. Prejudice and fear kept many others out, so it was not till late in the second quarter that the school was comfortably filled. I am glad to state that the health of the school has been remarkably good for the past year. No deaths occurred at the school, and only three on the reservation among children enrolled during the year. These were directly resultant from the epidemic sickness of the previous year. We had a short run of measles during the third quarter of the current year, but no serious trouble resulted.

Building and improvements. The ten buildings constituting the school plant are all frame. The girls' dormitory building and the dining hall are comparatively new buildings, and are in very good condition. The others are mostly old, but needed repairs have been allowed and will be made at once. The largest building, used for boys' dormitories and play rooms, schoolrooms, office, employees' bed rooms, etc., has been repaired, and its interior repainted throughout dur ing the past two months by the regular employees of the school.

The necessary materials and labor have been allowed for repainting all the buildings outside and inside, so that the whole plant will shortly be put in good condition. A new coal house, new cattle shed, new corncrib, and wagon shed, and an addition to the cow barn have been authorized. These were all recommended by Inspector McLaughlin after a recent visit, as were also a new building to be used for school and industrial purposes, and two closets to be fitted with automatic flushing fixtures. The last named are expected to be allowed very shortly, and the school building is also very much hoped for and very much needed.

Industrial department.-Industrial training is provided for all children of proper age. The work in the sewing room, laundry, and kitchen has been fairly successful, and in housekeeping, passable.

On the farm something over 1,600 bushels of corn were harvested during the fall and about 300 bushels of potatoes. Unfavorable weather during the planting season and other circumstances will make the yield this year considerably less. Our live-stock herd has been sold off and in their stead cows have been purchased. We now have 33 cows and heifers besides the increase of the former for the current year. We have sold off $150 worth of hogs and have another bunch of equal value to turn off shortly.

Class-room work. The work done in the various school rooms during the year was fairly satis factory. I beg to acknowledge and render thanks for your loyal support during the year. Respectfully,

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

BION S. HUTCHINS, Superintendent.

(Through John W. Harding, United States Indian Agent.)

REPORT OF AGENT FOR UINTA AND OURAY AGENCY.

UINTA AND OURAY AGENCY, Whiterocks, Utah, August 28, 1900. SIR: I have the honor to herewith submit my second annual report of the affairs of this agency.

Location. The Uinta Agency is located 110 miles from Price, Utah, the nearest railroad station, and it is 110 miles of about the worst road I ever saw. The Ouray subagency is 35 miles southeast of the Uinta Agency. That subagency is in charge of a civil-service clerk, and my bondsmen are responsible for all of his official acts, although I had never seen him until you sent him here to take charge of this subagency, and this I think is one of the injustices of the civil-service law.

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