The school management is indebted to Supervisor Charles D. Rakestraw for the many kind and helpful criticisms in the general conduct and advancement of the school. We hereby express our appreciation for the many courtesies received from your office. Very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. W. H. JOHNSON, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT VERMILION LAKE, MINN. VERMILION LAKE SCHOOL, Tower, Minn., August 27, 1900. SIR: I have the honor to submit this, the second annual report of the Vermilion Lake Indian School. When the last annual report was made school was not yet in operation, owing to delay in securing a water supply. During the fall a well was put in, and school opened October 16 with 13 pupils. At the end of the quarter (December 31) the enrollment was 34; March 31, 48; and June 30, 41. The average attendance for the time school was in session was 37. Although the Nett Lake Band of Indians is said to have about 200 children of school age it was difficult to get the few we did get. These Indians are opposed to schools, and positively refused to send their children. A number of visits were made to their camps during the year and their attitude explained to the Indian Office. Runaways were frequent. When sugar-making season arrived (April) the school was almost depopulated. The nature of the country is such-woods, lakes, and swamps-that it is useless to try to catch runaways. There is only one pupil in the school belonging to the Nett Lake Band who has not run away some time during the year. The majority of the runaways have, however, been returned. At the end of the year (June 30) it was evident that the school could not be filled with pupils from the Nett Lake Band, and we began to look elsewhere for children. A few have been obtained from White Earth, a number from Fond du Lac, and from scattered families living off reservations in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. The enrollment has reached 96, and we expect to pass the hundred mark by September 1. The school work during the year was difficult. The numerous and frequent runaways disarranged all classes and details. The employees did as well as could be expected under the circumstances. The year was an exceedingly trying one, and I have to thank the Indian Office for the patience shown and assistance rendered. Very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. OLIVER H, GATES, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT FORT SHAW, MONT. FORT SHAW. MONT., August 24, 1900. SIR: I have the honor to submit the eighth annual report of this school. In many respects the year has been successful, with very little sickness. On account of the very mild winter the children were enabled to have more than usual of outdoor exercise which was conducive to good health. The literary department of the school was organized in the beginning of the year in accordance with the course of study prescribed by the Department, also that of the public schools of the State, the high-school course of the city of Great Falls being our immediate guide, the plan of the work being to carry this department within one year of the completion of the high-school course of that city, from which we are in hopes to graduate our children after completing the course prescribed here. The industrial department for boys was somewhat disorganized on account of a change in the position of manual training teacher, occasioning a vacancy in the position from March 11 to May 20, preventing us from carrying out the prescribed course in this department. The State of Montana should be especially interested in the cause of Indian edu cation, as a large and valuable portion is set apart as Indian reservations. It has been the purpose of the school to bring the matter before the public. On account of the isolated situation of the school and the inconvenience attached to the public visiting us, it was deemed advisable to illustrate the purpose of the Government in Indian education by giving a series of entertainments in the neighboring towns and cities. The children taking part in these exercises did very creditable work, and I am sure through their efforts the cause in the State has been very much advanced, there being very few exceptions among those with whom the school has come in contact but what think that the cause is a just and deserving one, and should be promoted in every way possible, and that the time is fully ripe for the establishment of an Indian industrial school either here or elsewhere in the State with modern facilities. A voluntary acknowledgment of the children's entertainment in the city of Great Falls is herewith attached: Mr. F. C. CAMPBELL, Superintendent Indian Schools, Fort Shaw, Mont. GREAT FALLS, MONT., July 10, 1900. DEAR SIR: The organizations represented by us, together with the citizens of Great Falls, desire to express to you, and through you to the children of your school, our appreciation of the splendid entertainment given our people at the opera house, this city, recently. Also our sincere thanks for the generous appropriation of a liberal portion of the proceeds toward the erection of a monument in memory of the soldiers of the civil war (Union and Confederate), and of the more recent wars with Spain and in the Philippines, in Highland Cemetery. We can not refrain from briefly commenting upon the general appearance of the children who so magnificently demonstrated to our people the wonderful progress made by them along the paths of civilization, noting the marked contrast between them and the Indians who frequent our streets and alleys, with whose degraded habits our citizens are so familar, and as we listened to recitations, vocal and instrumental music, rendered in a manner which would have done credit to the students in our city schools, we were greatly impressed with the character and great value of the work being accomplished by the Government at Fort Shaw, and satisfied that the Indian problem is rapidly being solved. Again thanking you and your school for the pleasure and proceeds of the entertainment, and trusting that it will be repeated at no distant date, We remain, respectfully yours, JOHN A. COLLINS, Mayor of Great Falls. J. O. GREGG, Chairman Monument Committee. A. KISHPAUGH, Ex-Confederate Committee. Spanish War Veterans, and ex-Members First Montana Volunteers. The school has been favored with several distinguished visitors. the most prominent of them being the governor of the State, who addressed the school and a large number of visitors Memorial Day. Among the many visitors from Great Falls has been the mayor, the superintendent of city schools, and the high-school teachers. There have been few improvements in the school plant. A steam laundry building has been completed, but not yet furnished with machinery. On account of the condition of the original buildings, which are quite old, it requires the almost continuous labor of the school carpenter and his detail to keep the plant in order. The farm has not been as fruitful as we were in hopes to have had it. This is largely due to the very dry season, and the inadequacy of our irrigating system. The cattle have done very well, the number of spring calves branded being 100, and the fall branding will probably increase this number to 130. One of the discouraging features of the work is to fill the school to its capacity with the limited means for that purpose. There are many full-blooded children of school age within the limits of the district from which this school is scheduled to draw not attending any school; still it is a very difficult matter to secure the requisite number of children, not more than 20 per cent of these being full bloods. Very respectfully, F. C. CAMPBELL, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT GENOA, NEBR. INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, SIR: I have the honor to submit my annual report of the Genoa Indian School for the fiscal year 1900. The attendance, as during the previous year, has not been up to the capacity of the school owing to the lack of necessary transportation funds, although a num ber of pupils paid their own traveling expenses to the school to remain during the school year. I also note again this year, as in the preceding, many delinquents who were granted leaves of absence, although in many cases they were obliged to deposit in the hands of the agent sufficient funds to cover their return to the school at its opening September 1, yet there occurs the same delay as heretofore. The general health of the pupils has been very good with the exception of an epidemic of measies which visited the school during the months of April and May, and while there were about 100 afflicted, yet there were but two deaths, and only one was the result from measles, as the other case was already affected with hemorrhages preceding the attack of the epidemic. The schoolroom and departmental work has in most cases been ably carried on and has given good satisfaction. The schoolroom work closed with appropriate commencement exercises, in which a class of eleven pupils received diplomas for completing the work as laid down in the course of study for the school. The exercises were well attended and all the members of the class were complimented for their able efforts. The harness shop of the school furnished a large number of sets of harness for shipment to Pine Ridge Agency, S. Dak., for issue to the Indians, in which the workmanship was highly complimented by the receiver. The crops on the school farm and the garden were exceptionally good, supplying the school stock with corn, oats, and plenty of rough feed for winter use, and a fine supply of vegetables for use of the pupils. The work of the heating plant as installed last year has given very good satisfaction, although it is found that on account of utilizing much of the steam power in lighting, cooking, and laundering that it will be necessary that additional boilers be put in place in the near future, especialy so should the plant be extended and other buildings be required to be heated therefrom, a matter upon which I advised your office in another communication. The electric lighting plant as completed last year, I do not hesitate to state, is considered second to none in the service, and has been so commented upon by visiting officials; the expense in the line of repairs has been nominally nothing outside of the purchase of the necessary lamps, and with the system of switches and cut-outs with which the plant is provided, the plant is economical in every respect. The much needed steam laundry plant which I have made so many appeals to secure in the years past was completed during the month of January, 1900, and fitted as it is with modern machinery is giving the best of satisfaction and supplies the needs of a long felt want for laundry service, and with the old laundry building having been torn down it lends a marked improvement to the school plant. A new brick warehouse was constructed during the year, and while it is a substantial structure in every way, yet I regret to say that it is altogether too small for the accommodation of the large stock of goods which is necessarily carried by the school, and the building should have an addition built for the storage of subsistence which would afford the necessary relief, and for which I have made a request for an appropriation therefor. The sewer system has been extended in accordance with the appropriation, much to the comfort of some of the neighboring farmers, and is now complete in every respect and is so situated and with a sufficient size of pipe that connections may be made as the plant increases without the necessity of taking up and laying larger pipe for fear of stoppage. Appropriations for the fiscal year of 1901, for the construction of a new school building, hospital, and barn, have been secured and the construction of these buildings should have early attention that work may be begun before the commencement of the inclement weather of this latitude. In conclusion, I desire to tender my sincere thanks to your office for the kind and courteous treatment I have received during the past year. I am, as ever, very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. J. E. Ross, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT CARSON, NEV. CARSON INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my second annual report of the Carson Industrial School, Walker River Reservation, and the three California day schools under my charge. In view of the fact that my report for last year was so filled with what seemed to me to be details of importance as to render it quite lengthy, it does not appear advisable to repeat them here, except perhaps in one or two matters-one, for instance, relating to our supply of water for purposes of irrigation, from which I quote as follows: One drawback to be contended with in the successful operation of the farm is the lack of water for irrigation. The school farm is entitled to 19 inches of water from Clear Creek, which flows down from the mountains on the west, but this is not a sufficient quantity to irrigate all the farm, even when the school gets all the water to which it is entitled. Some provision should be made to increase the supply, either by sinking artesian wells, which seems practicable, or by purchasing additional land with water rights attached. Unless this is done the farm can not be conducted profitably. The experience of last year has served to emphasize these statements, and to make me more than ever anxious for a larger supply of water for irrigation, to be obtained either through the medium of the plans suggested above or through some other method to be determined on hereafter. The attendance for the past year was 147 for the entire twelve months, but 150 for the ten school months. I hope that with an ample teaching force during the coming year a better showing than ever before may result in this department. As between the two I deem industrial training of far more importance to Indian children than literary work. Tailoring, harness and shoe making, blacksmithing, and wagon making are contemplated during the coming year. A class in domestic science will also be maintained, where the larger girls will be taught "home cooking," that they may learn to prepare a meal in all its details as the competent housewife does. This will involve the fitting up a kitchen with the usual furniture and the placing in charge a capable employee. In this connection 1 venture to make one more citation from last year's report: In view of the situation I would earnestly recommend that the Carson school be made a firstclass training school. It can be done with comparatively little expense to the Government. The increased appropriation, the erection of the new dormitory building, the additions and enlargements to the buildings already in use, together with still other intended new buildings and the increased facilities for industrial work, all demonstrate the fact that my recommendations have been favorably considered, and that in as short a time as practicable the school will be converted into a “firstclass training school." Indeed, the unfailing response to all the requests I have lately made for its betterment in every way encourages me to believe that the plans for the future improvement of the institution will be realized. Walker River Reservation.-In view of the fact that the condition of the Painte Indians of the Walker River Reservation is practically the same as at this time last year, and as my report for 1899 contained what I then believed, and still believe, to be a well considered statement of their needs. I can not do better now than to repeat it, omitting such items as have ceased to be relevant. They are poor, and many of them, especially the old, suffer much for want of food and clothing. They are sadly in need of agricultural implements and of more water for irrigating their lands. A reservoir should be built on the upper part of the reservation, where water could be stored during the winter and early summer months. I recommend that all Indians who have a right on this reservation be allotted, and the remainder of the land be sold and the proceeds be used in constructing reservoirs and ditches. Whisky and opium.-The sale of whisky and opium to the Indians of this reservation by the Chinese located at Hawthorne, at the southern end of it, is the greatest hindrance to their civilization. The Indian can not support himself on the reservation and is attracted to the towns and villages near by for the purpose of obtaining work, and falls an easy prey to the fiends at these places. Little effort is made by the local authorities to suppress the evil. All efforts at civilization are neutralized by this traffic. None escape the blight, and young boys and girls, soon after leaving school, are found in these dens under the influence of the drug. The boys are ruined and the girls prostituted, and yet it goes unchecked. I earnestly recommend that since the local authorities do nothing the Department of Justice may be asked to undertake the suppression of the evil. Concerning the general character of the reservation, the quantity of allottable land, the lack of water and how it can be remedied, and at about what expense, the number of resident Indians, their frequent absence and the reasons therefor, the evil influences surrounding them when away, the practicability in the future of inducing them to remain at home, and, in his conclusion, a carefully prepared statement of what, in his judgment, ought to be done "to place these Indians on a safe road to self-support," I respectfully refer to the report of Supervisor Frank M. Conser thereon, dated June 19, 1900. California day schools.-These three day schools, located at Bishop, Big Pine, and Independence, Inyo County, Cal., have been satisfactorily conducted during the past year. Quite a number of pupils have been secured for this school from Bishop and Big Pine, the larger number having come from Bishop. So far none have been secured from Independence. I believe all four of the teachers. Mrs. Minnie C. Barrows and Miss Mellie H. Craig, at Bishop; Mrs. Margaret A. Peter, at Big Pine, and Miss Bertha S. Wilkins, at Independence, are capable and zealous in the performance of their duties and deserve commendation. Very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. JAMES K. ALLEN, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT ALBUQUERQUE, N. MEX. I have the honor to transmit herewith my first annual report of the Albuquerque Industrial School. I took charge of this school May 27, 1900, and found the pupils enrolled all in good healthy condition. It seems to be the policy of the present attending physician to adhere to that very old maxim that prevention is worth more than cure, and I heartily indorse this plan. The Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache, rep:esent the greater proportion of the students, and they are nearly all very bright children and anxious to learn, as well the industrial as the schoolroom work, for they realize more and more that a good knowledge of housework, farm work, and shopwork enables them to earn money, and this is what a great many of them appreciate and are striving for. At the close of the school this year many of our boys and girls obtained industrial positions during their entire vacation. This desire on the part of the pupils to obtain positions is the result, in a large degree, of the constant effort that has been and is being made in both mental and manual labor, to have only the practical and useful taught. In the schoolroom only enough attention is given to music and so-called accomplishments to serve as a diversion, and most of the pupils' time is devoted to practical work. In our shops much good work is done, and we consume all the manufactured articles, except harness, and that finds ready sale. Great attention is also given to instruction in agriculture, as it is by tilling the soil that a large proportion of the Indians make their living, and this knowledge is appreciated by them. It has been reported that a great many Mexicans are in attendance at this school, but I find very few who do not prove their Indian blood, and I am making an effort this fall, as the old pupils return and new applicants arrive, to accept only such as can show, upon affidavit, a fair amount of Indian blood. This, I think, will render the securing of new pupils a less difficult task than it has been here. tofore, as many of the Indians object to the persons they term "Mexicans" being admitted to their school. The majority of the Indians appear to be totally indifferent as to whether or not their children attend school, and seem to think, in some instances, they are conferring a favor upon us when they bring them. The Isleta children are the most difficult to obtain, and a great deal of persuasion is required to convince them that it is for their benefit to attend school. This is one of our nearest pueblos, and it seems that we should have a greater enrollment from that section. This brings up the suggestion regarding a compulsory school law, made in previous reports. The greatest enrollment made for the year during any one month was 335 and the average attendance 317.61, and as our school can properly and healthfully accommodate only 300 pupils, it is evident the enrollment has been kept up to the capacity of the building. About 30 acres of the school farm have been cultivated, and considering the general poor condition of the soil, which is strongly impregnated with alkali, the exceptionally dry season, and the scarcity of water, a fair garden has been maintained and considerable alfalfa raised. In looking over past reports I judge the condition of the farm is gradually improving each year, though at a great expense of labor and money. The buildings, taken as a whole, are entirely inadequate for the needs of the school, and recommendations made the subject of a special communication have been forwarded to the Department asking for several new buildings and additions. A few of the buildings are in a very fair condition, and others are in much need of repair. The system of sewerage is now complete and satisfactory. Water supply is suffi |