The following statement shows the number of population by tribes, the number of children under 18 years of age by tribes, and the number of children of school age by tribes

SIR: In obedience to official instructions, I have the honor to submit the following report of this agency for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898:

This is a decrease of 23 from last year, due, first, to some Indians who were mere sojourners and are now absent; and, secondly, to an epidemic of influenza last February, which resulted in the death rate being abnormal y large. The greatest per cent of death was found among the old Indians and those suffering from pulmonary troubles. In other respects the health of the Indians has been fairly good. For crops raised, etc., see statistics furnished.

Allotments. In obedience to instructions from your honorable office, I made 1 additional allotments during the year.

Religious. The religious and missionary interests for the last year were con ducted by the Rev. Colin Anderson and wife, reports from whom are herewit

inclosed.

Prosecutions. In October last Mr. R. J. W. Brewster, special agent of the Department of Justice, paid this agency a visit for the purpose of investigating violations of law relative to selling liquor to Indians. After a very determined effort five offenders were arrested and held to answer before the United States court. In April last four parties were arrested and bound over for stealing stock from Indians.

Progress. I feel that there has been marked progress during the last year in almost all things concerning the reservation, and especially in the abating of drunkenness and lawlessness, both among the Indians and surrounding whites. I feel it my duty to add that with prompt and vigorous prosecution still further progress in this line could be reported.

Suggestions and recommendations.--I have to state that there are a number of valuable and fertile allotments which are covered with dense growths of shrubbery, without fence with which to protect them, or any drainage whatever. These allotments are owned in many instances by Indians who are unable physically and financially to improve them. They can not be leased for cash rent in accordance with departmental rule, for the reason that there is no market here for the excess of farm products owing to the great distance from market and the consequent excessive cost of transportation. The best white farmers do not attempt to market the excess of their produce for the reason stated, but feed the same to stock and drive the stock to market. Were I authorized to lease these allotments for a term of years for the purpose of having them cleared, drained, and fenced, it could be done with ease, and instead of having the allotments practically worthless and yielding their owners no income nor benefit whatever they could soon be transformed into beautiful and fertile fields and yield their owners a living.

I feel constrained to add before closing this report, that the further extensive issue to these Indians should be discontinued, for the reason that they are intelligent and able to make their own living, and for the further reason that experience teaches me that issuing clothing, subsistence, etc., only keeps them in idleness.

The issuing of any complicated and costly machinery should also be discontinued, for the reason that they take no care whatever of the same. The binders, mowers, sulky rakes, etc., have been allowed to go to ruin, in many instances not harvesting a single crop and in a very few instances extending beyond one or two seasons. I find also that such things as they can not get by issuing they buy and take care of. One instance I will note. I issued an Indian a wagon, but had no plow for him. He immediately purchased a plow, cared for and housed it against the inclement weather, while he took no interest in sheltering the wagon except such interest as I was enabled to enforce upon him. The constant petty issues of plow bolts, harness buckles, horseshoes, etc., are irritating, a nuisance, and consume the entire time of a clerk, and no real good to the Indians results therefrom. I urgently recommend their discontinuance.

The younger Indians, for the most part, are becoming quite progressive. Some of them have comfortable homes, plenty of good stock, ride in buggies, and some of the ladies even ride bicycles and sport, while so doing, costumes quite up to date.

ROUND VALLEY SCHOOL.

This school is located 14 miles north of Covelo, at the foot hills on the northern side of Round Valley. A more beautiful valley can scarcely be found.

The school plant consists of one large building, in which the school is taught, and cooking, sewing, etc., are carried on. There are some outbuildings in which the laundry, commissary, etc., are kept.

The farm consists of 180 acres, most of which is very fertile. The school stock consists of 10 head of horses, 17 head of cattle, 30 head of hogs, fowl, etc. There are 10 acres of garden and about 100 acres of grain and hay on the school farm this year, which bids fair to furnish vegetables for the pupils and subsistence for the stock.

The schoolroom work has been under the direction of Mr. William J. Nolan, principal teacher, and Frances D. Nolan, teacher, and has been very successful and given perfect satisfaction. The year's work of the school has been a year of uninterrupted progress until the transfers of Miss Coats, seamstress, who was promoted to kindergarten teacher, and Mr. Trubody, industrial teacher. Both were valuable employees, and I regretted to lose them. Their places were filled by

Miss Ida Curtiss and Mr. Albert G. Hunter, respectively, who seem to be competent and efficient employees.

The health of the school was excellent until an epidemic of influenza spread among the pupils and resulted, in connection with other diseases, in several deaths. Tweive pupils were transferred during the year to the Phoenix school. Suggestions and recommendations.-I respectfully recommend that a school building, a barn, and a hospital be erected. Also that the cottage, storeroom, and granary be removed to the school, which affords abundant room and facilities for the school.

A water supply is badly needed, with proper drainage, which has been estimated for. This, if allowed, will make the school more healthful and protect it against destruction by fire, as well as furnish water for domestic purposes.

The employees of the school have been faithful, loyal, efficient, and whatever progress has been made is largely due to their united, patient, and earnest efforts, for which I desire to return my sincere thanks.

Supervisor Conser and Mr. V. K. Chestnut, of Washington, paid us a visit during the year. Both were very kind and courteous, and we hope to have another visit from them again.

In conclusion, I desire to thank the honorable Commissioner for kindness courtesy, and support given me during the year, and the promptness with which my numerous requests have been granted.

Very respectfully,

GEO. W. PATRICK, Superintendent and Special Disbursing Agent.

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

REPORT OF MISSIONARY, ROUND VALLEY RESERVATION.

ROUND VALLEY AGENCY, June 20, 1898.

DEAR SIR: I have the honor to present to you herewith a report of my work as missionary on the Round Valley Reservation during the past year.

There is a marked improvement in many respects resulting from the enforcement of the law in reference to the prohibition of introducing liquor on the reservation and the furnishing the same to Indians, and also an enforcement of other matters in reference to the marriage state. The attendance at the public services is much improved, and the children are instructed regiously at the boarding school on the Sabbath afternoons by the teachers. The distance from the place of worship at headquarters to the schoolhouse prevents their regular attendance at the morning service.

We have baptized some 25 children during the year, married 4 couples, attended some 25 funerals, and having been laid up with la grippe for over six weeks were not able to visit or hold services: but the regular services were held by the agency clerk, C. F. Hathaway, who is a member of our church (Methodist Episcopal). He served with much acceptability.

We have had a bitter opposition in our work, and efforts to intimidate us have been put forth in consequence of the fact that it seemed for the good of the Indian people that we should accept the position of United States commissioner. Yet we have done our duty fearlessly, and punishment has been meted out to a few offenders, which has its result in convincing the lawless band of bad men who fear not God nor regard man that the United States laws can and will be enforced even in Round Valley.

Praying that the earnest efforts of George W. Patrick, superintendent, to do his duty and protect the Indians may be sustained. and the rights of this people maintained against the ungodly and vicious wretches who have held sway over them in bygone years and are so loath to give it up, I shall go on, and so long as I am continued in this not pleasant field, yet pleasant, for labor is rest and pain is sweet if only God is there," I shall uphold the law and preach the blessed gospel of the Son of God and watch for the harvest. I respectfully submit this report.

Sincerely,

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

COLIN ANDERSON,

Missionary, Methodist Episcopal Church.

REPORT OF AGENCY IN COLORADO.

REPORT OF SOUTHERN UTE AGENCY.

SOUTHERN UTE AGENCY,

Ignacio, Colo., August 20, 1898.

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report for the fiscal year 1898.

As a complete census was forwarded to your office at the beginning of the fiscal year, I omit any reference in this report.

Progress.-Considerab e change is noticeable in the direction of advancement of the allotted Utes at the Ignacio subagency. Blankets and breech clouts have been

discarded, and the great majority of Indians now appear in citizens' dress, and it may truthfully be said that among those who never showed a disposition to work a desire has sprung up to improve their lands and allotments and to have a home of their own.

Crops. Considerable more land was put in cultivation last spring than in former years, and as wheat and oats are now ready for harvest and beyond danger of hailstorms and grasshoppers, the Indians are assured a good yield of grain to help them out through the coming winter. I have impressed upon them the absolute necessity of saving enough grain for seed for the coming spring, but I am afraid that a compliance with such order can not as yet be strictly enforced.

Irrigation. The work of constructing the canals and ditches for irrigating the lands on Pine River and Spring Creek has been continued during the last fiscal year under the superintendency of a competent engineer. The east-side canal or Spring Creek ditch, the largest of all the projected canals on the reserve, is now completed and needs only the addition of a small lateral, about a mile in length, to cover some allotments at the head of Spring Creek, which could not be brought under irrigation by an extension of the main canal except by an unwarranted expenditure of money without obtaining any adequate results. The canal of the west side of Pine River has been completed as far as the top of the first plateau or mesa, there connecting with and supplying the old agency ditch. A further appropriation will be necessary to complete this canal.

Improvements.-Authority for improving the dilapidated condition of the buildings at this agency was granted during the year, and with the aid of new material, carpenters, and paint, the main buildings at least, together with the old residence for agent, have assumed a respectable appearance, and as we are now repairing the old issue house, implement house, blacksmith shop, wagon shed, and barn, these also will appear in a better light in their finished condition.

Deportment. Since the killing of "Quinche" by Manuel or "Annee," on the 8th day of December last, a special report of which was forwarded to your Office at that time, no crime of any serious character, except an occasional drunk, has been committed on this end of the reserve. Theft or the crime of larceny is almost unknown among the Indians here, and in this respect they will compare favorably with their white brethren.

Educational. No progress in the way of education has been made at this subagency. It is a difficult question to handle; but after ownership to land has been issued, and the reserve opened to new settlers, we will endeavor to enforce the State law as to attendance, and thus secure at least the bulk of the children for the Fort Lewis Indian school, which is conveniently located on the north line of the reservation about half way between the allotted and unallotted Utes.

Missionary work.-The Presbyterian Board of Missions has a missionary stationed at this agency by the name of A. J. Rodreguez, and commendable progress has been made during the year by this noble Christian, as evidenced by the now almost finished schoolhouse, the erection of which is entirely due to his untiring efforts in that direction, animated by a noble desire to better the condition of the red man. Navajo Springs and Unallotted Utes.-Regarding the condition on the west end of the reservation and of the unallotted Utes, I can but repeat what I stated in my last annual report: That part of the reserve contains the most valuable lands in the State of Colorado, favored alike by climate and altitude, yet upon this vast tract of land no water has been provided to even cultivate an acre of land, and during the summer the Indians are compelled to take to the mountains with their stock, so as to find a sufficient supply of water to quench their thirst. I sincerely hope that the existing conditions will soon be changed, as the honorable Secretary of the Interior has been authorized by Congress to provide water for that now arid region. The condition and surroundings at the west end or unallotted part of the reserve have been alike discouraging to Indians and those intrusted with the task to better their condition.

Health. The health of the tribe of Weeminuche or unallotted Indians has not been good during the last year. Pneumonia and consumption have claimed many victims, and this condition is liable to continue until homes and better comforts are provided for them. Smallpox has entirely disappeared among them, and I sincerely hope that the dreaded disease will not appear again. Very respectfully submitted.

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

WILLIAM H. MEYER,
United States Indian Agent.

REPORTS OF AGENCIES IN IDAHO.

REPORT OF FORT HALL AGENCY.

FORT HALL INDIAN AGENCY,

Ross Fork, Idaho, August 30, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of affairs at the Fort Hall Indian Agency during fiscal year ended June 30, 1898. Having assumed charge of this agency on June 7 last, my report may not cover all points essential, though I have lived at Pocatello, within the limits of this reservation, for years, and since my appointment have driven over the entire reservation, visiting the Indians individually, learning their wants and their requirements.

Reservation.

I learn from last year's report that my predecessor gave a description of this reservation, together with its resources, which I find correct, and there ore unnecessary to repeat or comment upon.

Census.—A careful census shows the following population:

The above represents the true and correct number of Indians belonging to this agency; and the difference between this and last year's census is due to the fact that during the past year about 30 Indians have been dropped from the rolls, they having confessed to being enrolled at other agencies. Also the band of Camas Jim, numbering about 35, and remaining permanently off the reservation near Bliss, Idaho, have been dropped from the rolls in compliance with orders from the Department.

Habits and disposition.—The two tribes are distinct. The Bannocks as a rule dislike to work, prefer to remember their warrior fathers, and think it disgraceful to work. However, a considerable number of them are farming and raising cattle. The Shoshones are quiet, and nearly all work at ranching, cutting hay, and raising stock. The Indians of both tribes are temperate and moral people. Very little trouble is given us by full bloods, but there are a number of half-breeds who drink and carouse, purchase whisky openly in Pocatello, and cause most of the trouble on the reservation. I have notified the United States district attorney and marshal and asked for a deputy, but they fail or refuse to send one.

Agriculture and stock raising.-There is much good farming and grazing land on the reservation and the Indians are fast improving their opportunities to use it and make money. This year we have been bothered by a shortness of water. All lands require irrigation, and if water runs short they come and want the agent to furnish it. The agency is not supplied with sufficient machinery to properly care for the Indians' grain, and much grain is now ruining after it is ripe, for want of cutting and thrashing. One binder, which was allowed early last spring, is not yet here; we should have at least two more binders and a half dozen thrashers. I find only one on the reservation, and that is at the school and not for the use of the Indians.

The Indians seem to take a great interest in their cattle-raising, herding, providing hay and caring for them as well as the average white man. During the ensuing year the Indians will furnish the Government with 150,000 pounds of beef. The purchase of Indian cattle by whites without permission. I have almost entirely stopped. The Indians still own vast herds of ponies which are almost worthless, and which utilize a great portion of the grazing portion of the reservation, They think more of one pony than ten steers, and I do not know any way