Transfer of trusteeship from governor of Iowa and Indian agent to Secretary of the Interior. (This transfer has not yet taken place, but has been provided for and is in process at this time.)

The future. When I assumed the duties of this office I determined upon four salient points which I believed should be accomplished: (1) The cession of jurisdiction; (2) the founding of a boarding school; (3) establishment of a highway, and (4) improvement in agriculture. These things have been accomplished with more or less success, and with them many other things of minor importance. With four years' experience and labor among these people I would not feel warranted in closing this report without pointing to some of the things that, in my opinion, should be accomplished at the earliest possible date in the future. These things are:

Improvement of sanitary condition by means of a physician and field matron and hospital quarters. This thing must be.

Sawing of lumber from timber on Indian lands for houses and barns. It was my intention to saw 100,000 feet of lumber this summer, but the Indians have been disappointed in receiving the money due them at this time from the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company for damages, and this work will have to be deferred. It should be taken up as soon as means are available.

Introduction of hogs and cattle. This will require persistent effort, but can be accomplished as soon as there is an intelligent apportionment of land as herein recommended.

Regulation of the marriage relation according to the civil law of Iowa. There has never been any recognition of the State laws on marriage and divorce.

The ditching and breaking of about 200 acres of bottom land which has never been reclaimed from the native sod. This important matter the farmer is now planning for.

The apportionment of their lands per capita in family groups for a period of ten years. By this I mean that all their lands should be apportioned (not allotted) per capita, throwing the lands of the different members of a family together, so as to give them an opportunity to live together, for a period of ten years, and at the end of that time a reapportionment could be made if the equity of the first apportionment should be disturbed by births and deaths during the period. In this manner individual effort in farming and stock raising, building houses and barns, and setting out orchards will be encouraged and the responsibility of individual ownership will be acquired. I would not recommend that these lands be allotted. I doubt if it will prove good policy to allot them in twenty-five years from this time, and I hope the mistakes that have been made in some other tribes along this line will be avoided here. We do not want allotment nor citizenship for these people. We want intelligent and progressive administration of their affairs until they have become competent to wear the responsibility of citizenship without injuring their personal and financial welfare. A system of apportionment as here indicated could be followed during any length of time and perfectly preserve equity to the individual members of the tribe. This apportionment could be made at any time that it is authorized by a committee consisting of threethe agent, a representative of the Indian Rights Association of lowa, and a practical farmer froin this locality who is acquainted with the nature and value of the different kinds of land, acting together with the Indian council.

The enlargement of their possessions. At present our Indians have less than 8 acres of land per capita. My predecessor, Mr. W. R. Lesser, pursued a wise policy when, during his administration, he increased their possessions by nearly 1,500 acres of land, or just about double their previous possessions. Their land possessions are yet too limited for their permanent establishment upon a self-relying and self-supporting basis. They now draw an annuity of interest on a principal of more than $360.000. I would recommend that negotiations be opened looking toward the appropriation of $100,000 of this principal to be invested in Iowa lands near their present location, and $60,000 for the erection of houses and barns. This would still leave them an annual annuity of over $20 per capita. I do not believe that the perpetuity of this annuity is a blessing. Within ten years after this $160.000 of the principal has been judiciously invested in Iowa lands and improvements, the balance of the principal on which they draw annuity should be likewise expended, and the annuity should then forever cease. By the investment of the first $100,000 in land, 2,500 acres of rich lowa soil could be added to their possessions. After this investment and the original investment of $60,000 in houses and barns no further demand would be necessary upon the principal to their credit for the purpose of houses and other improvements, for they would then be able to make such improvements as would be desirable by their own industry and frugality. With the last $200,000 of their principal invested in land

5.000 acres could be added to their possessions, giving them a total of about 10,500 acres. This would give them a per capita acreage of nearly 26 acres, or 130 acres to a family of five. This would give to our Indians about an equal chance in the struggle of life with the average progressive white farmers in the community. By the time these results could be accomplished I believe nearly all, if not quite all, of the members of the tribe will have acquired the ability to successfully handle that amount of land. In this plan I do not contemplate that even then allotment will be necessary or desirable. That is a question which time and conditions alone can rightly answer. What I recommend, and what the people of Iowa desire to see, is a policy pursued by the Federal Government which will put this little band of Indians within their borders on a respectable, self-sustaining basis that will make them prosperous and happy, and a credit to the State.

Very respectfully,

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

HORACE M. REBOK, United States Indian Agent.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SAC AND FOX SCHOOL.

SAC AND FOX AGENCY,
Toledo, Iowa, July 15, 1898.

MADAM: I have the honor to submit the following report of the Sac and Fox (Iowa) Boarding School for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898:

Location. This school is located on a tract of land comprising 70 acres, lying immediately west of and adjoining the corporation of the city of Toledo, in Tama County, Iowa. The land was purchased at a cost of $75 per acre, and is in every way suitable. In point of good drainage, general character of land, railroad and postal facilities, as well as the good moral influences of the surrounding community, the location can not well be excelled.

Buildings. The only building so far completed is the main dormitory building. It is a T-shaped brick structure, having basement and two stories. Its greatest length is 159 feet 1 inch, and its greatest depth 80 feet 7 inches. The basement contains, besides boiler room, coal room, and celar. two play rooms, each 28 by 37 feet, with clothes rooms adjoining, each 28 by 37 feet. On the first floor are boys' and girls' sitting rooms, 2 schoolrooms, boys' and girls' bathrooms, 6 employees' rooms, kitchen, and dining room. On the second floor are 3 employees' rooms, boys' and girls lavatories, boys' and girls' dormitories, each about 28 by 55 feet. The back porches, upon which the dormitories open, are provided with fire escapes. There are water-closets in the basement and on the second floo.. The building is roofed with metal shingles and is well protected against fire. There are on each floor 106 feet of 2-inch hose upon which water can be turned at a moment's notice. We also have two hose carts with 40 feet of 24-inch hose, which can be attached to the two fire hydrants outside. These hydrants are so located that all parts of the grounds reserved for building purposes can be conveniently reached.

The sewerage system, which discharges into Deer Creek at a point 2,000 feet from the buildings, is perfect. We have an abundance of water, being connected with the city waterworks of Toledo. The water rent for all purposes amounts to $85 per year, the contract covering a period of ten years.

Authority has been granted for the erection of three additional buildings-the barn, the laundry, and the shop and warehouse building. The barn is a two-story frame building with 8-foot stone basement. It is 35 by 55 feet. Attached to one end of the barn is a stone machinery shed 16 by 51 feet. The laundry is a two story brick, the first floor to contain washing and ironing room and the second floor, sewing and dry rooms. The building is 20 feet 4 inches by 38 feet 8 inches. The shop and warehouse building is also a two-story brick building, the first floor to contain carpenter and shoe shops, the second to be used as a wareroom. This building will be built into the side hill so that the second floor can be entered in the rear from the ground. The contractors are getting their material on the ground and the contract calls for the completion of the buildings by the 15th of September.

Estimates have been prepared and authority requested for the erection of hog, poultry, and ice houses and root cellar, the labor to be performed by school employees.

Much work has been done on the grounds in the way of grading. When completed we will have a lawn 400 feet long by 200 feet deep. It is our intention to seed it during the coming autumn. About 3 acres have been planted in small fruits-grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc. We have also set out about 250 apple, plum, and cherry trees, together with quite a number of forest trees for ornamental purposes. About 17 acres of ground were cultivated by the school farmer. Ten acres of oats have just been harvested, the estimated yield of which is 30 bushels. The balance of the ground was put into millet, sweet corn, and small vegetables. Our hay crop will be about 10 tons.

It was the intention to have opened this school on April 1, but because of the lack of lighting facilities and the late arrival of necessary supplies, this could not be done. The date now set for opening is September 1. What the attendance will be it is impossible to estimate intelligently. A number of the younger people of the tribe are favorable to the school, but the older element opposes it bitterly. It is to be hoped that the Department will find some way to compel attendance at school among the people if it can not be secured otherwise. I am, however, not without hope that a considerable number of children can be secured. The agent undoubt edly has the confidence of the better element of the tribe, is heart and soul with the school, and is bending every energy toward making it a success.

I wish to thank Agent Rebok for his uniform kindness and courtesy toward myself and employees, and to express my appreciation of the generous treatment of estimates and requests by the Indian Office.

Very respectfully,

The SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN SCHOOLS.

(Through Horace M. Rebok, United States Indian agent.)

GEO. W. NELLIS,
Superintendent.

REPORT OF AGENCY IN KANSAS.

REPORT OF POTTAWATOMIE AND GREAT NEMAHA AGENCY.

POTTAWATOMIE AND GREAT NEMAHA AGENCY,

Nadeau, Kans., August 24, 1898.

SIR: As directed in your circular letter, dated June 1 last. I respectfully submit the following report of the five different tribes of Indians embraced in this agency and the affairs thereof for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898:

Population. The names of these tribes, their separate and total population, and other information required in reference thereto is submitted in the following tabulated statement, viz:

Reservations.-The location of reservations and the number of acres contained in them occupied by the above-named tribes are shown by the following table, vi::

Trust funds. To correct the very prevalent opinion that all funds received by Indians from the United States are gratuities, appropriated by Congress, I will state that the Indians of this agency have placed to their credit on the books of the Department of the Interior sums aggregating $1,177,035.36, of which the Prairie Band of Pottawatomies alone own $597,037.57. The annual interest accruing on the total sum named is disbursed to the different tribes, under treaty stipulations, for the pay ment of annuities, support of shops, and the payment of all agency employees, with the exception of agency clerk; also, in large proportion for the payment of school employees, purchase of school supplies, and erection and repair of school buildings, as well as the purchase of furniture therefor.

Schools and education. Of the three boarding schools conducted in the agency. that attended by the children of the Prair.e Band of Pottawatomies, known as the Pottawatomie Loarding School, is the most important as to buildings and attendance, and at least fully equals other schools in the advancement of its pupils, n discipline, deportment, schoolroom studies, and a knowledge of agricultural pur suits gained through actual labor on the school farm. Male pupils that last year were classed as incorrigibles and could not be kept at the school have, during the preset year, under different treatment, developed into excellent pupils in every respect. One of this class last April, being placed in charge of four other boys, lined and erected one-fourth of a inile of fence, without other assistance, and the work was excellently accomplished. All of the male pupils of suitable age aided very materially last spring in erecting fencing around the entire school farm, in inclosing new land, and in effecting other much-needed improvements, and were especially faithful and useful in cleaning the school farm of cockleburs. In this last work they hoed a I that part of the farm planted in corn nearly three times, and the crop is the second best in this section of country. The efforts of

the female pupils to excel in the work assigned to them in the various departments of the school were commendable and appreciated by those in charge of them.

I stated in my last report that "attendance at this school could not be maintained by withholding annuity payments, seizing the children by the police force, or by any resort to arbitrary measures, but that if the employees would visit the Indians in their homes and promote a friendly feeling toward them and the school, and that if milder methods generally were practiced, a better feeling would soon be established and the school better supported." In accordance with these views, informed the Indians that every one of them should receive their annuities, and that the police would not be used to obtain children, but that I should expect them to properly support the school. The experience of the year has proven that, in this matter at least, my judgment was correct, as the enrollment was increased 27 pupils, and the attendance proportionally more than the enrollment. When the school session closed 105 children were in attendance, which in itself was gratifying, and this feeling was intensified by the fact that there had been no "runaways" for months, and that a majority of the children had commenced to comprehend the real purposes of the school and desired to profit by them.

The school buildings are located at the agency, in the Prairie Band Reservation, upon a conspicuous elevation, and can be seen from every direction for a greater distance than any other public building that I know of in Kansas. Although they are commodious, the extent of their accommodation has been reached, and additional sleeping rooms, enlarged dining-room facilities, and a new kitchen and laundry are required, and have been estimated for.

Thirteen persons were employed for the fiscal year at a total cost of $5.880.

A herd of 22 head of cattle is maintained, and sufficient horses are kept to operate the school farm. Sixty acres of corn, 5 acres of potatoes, and 2 acres of garden were cultivated, and will produce a good yield. Fifteen acres of new land was inclosed; 500 rods of new fencing was built, and 400 rods more was reset and repaired.

The Great Nemaha boarding school is beautifully located on the Iowa Reservation. in northeastern Kansas, about 75 miles from the agency. The schoolhouse is a comparatively new building. The dormitory needs repairing badly, which has been estimated for, as well as a laundry and barn, all of which are absolutely indispensable to the proper conduct of the school in the future.

Seventy acres of land are embraced in the school farm, which is conducted under the direct supervision of the superintendent, and by the labor of one male employee, with such assistance as can be rendered him by the male pupils. Good crops of corn, oats, potatoes, and garden vegetables are growing or have been realized. During the year I sold, under authority, considerable hay and a number of hogs, more than was required for the stock or for subsistence of school, and the farm is really established on a satisfactory and paying basis, and conducted, in my opinion, very commendably.

The children attending the school are drawn from the Iowa and Sac and Fox of Missouri tribes of Indians, who live on adjoining reservations. They are bright and handsome children generally, and are affectionate and obedient in disposition when freed from home associations and influence, which, unfortunately in small reservation schools, is difficult of accomplishment. The children, however, made good progress during the year, both in their school studies and industrial education in different departments, appropriate to their sex.

A slight increase in attendance was accomplished and all that could be expected, considering the number of children of school age that are attending Haskell and other schools. For various reasons, some of which will be stated elsewhere in this report, I consider it of vital importance to the welfare of the children of the Iowa and Sac and Fox of Missouri Indians that this school should be fostered and supported in every way necessary to its complete success. Seven persons were employed at the school during the year at the very reasonable total cost of $3,120. The Kickapoo boarding school is located at an excellent site on the Kickapoo Reservation, 35 miles north of the agency. The site, however, and the naturally fine advantages for sewerage, water, and timber are all that can be urged in behalf of the school in this respect, as the buildings, and especially the dormitory, are wretched, both in appearance and accommodations, for the pupils and employees. This difficulty will be remedied in a reasonable length of time, I suppose, by the erection of a new building, containing all modern improvements, and calculated to accommodate 65 pupils and necessary employees, for which an appropriation was made during the last session of Congress. The language of the appropriation. however, involves the removal of the school to another site in a different part of the reservation.

On assuming charge of the agency, July 1, 1897, I observed that the attendance at this school was less than it should be, and took measures to have it increased, with the result that the average for the year is 50, as against 42 last year, and it may not be inappropriate to state in this connection that the total cost of maintaining the school with the increased attendance is $1,169.21 less than it was last year.

Both employees and pupils seem to be affected by demoralizing conditions, existing at the school heretofore, which are not accounted for solely on the ground of bad buildings. They are, however, a grave cause for both discouragement and criticism, and I dread the experience of keeping up the school until the new bullding is erected.

An excellent farm is attached to the school, from which there is likely to be sufficient corn and more than sufficient hay realized to feed the stock belonging thereto, which is of good quality and sufficiently numerous to admit of some sales being made from it to aid in supporting the school.

Seven persons were employed at this school during the year at a total cost of $3,320. While the attendance was larger at each of the schools than last year, reference to the statistical information accompanying this report will show that the total cost of maintaining them was less.

Having been associated with the Prairie Band of Pottawatomies in various capacities since the establishment of their first school in 1873, no one is better qualified than myself, perhaps, to acknowledge and assert the advantages that have been conferred upon the Indians by its beneficent influence. In this statement the education of the schoolroom alone is not referred to; indeed this has been but one of the many factors brought into active agency through school conditions, by which the moral, material, domestic, and social conditions of the tribe have been changed, improved, and elevated. At the date referred to, but a very few children could be obtained after entreaty, persuasion, and in some cases, the promise of reward for the privilege of teaching and caring for them, and the parents of such as were obtained were frequently threatened with being "dropped from the rolls" by the large and influential party of school opponents if they were not taken therefrom. The present school conditions are certainly very gratifying to those acquainted with its history in 1873, and for many subsequent years during which those in charge of it were confronted with the most distressing difficulties in securing attendance.

Agriculture and leases.-While the agricultural interests of the Indians throughout the agency continue to be greatly enlarged and made profitable in a strictly pecuniary sense, such results have not been attained to any considerable extent by their own effort or labor, but are very largely due to the allotment and leasing of lands. While leasing the lands undoubtedly contributes to the general prosperity of the Indians and utilizes them for the benefit of the whites as well, I think it would have been far better for the Indian if agricultural development on their reservations had been of slower growth and accomplished to a greater extent by their own labor and management. The existing conditions at least do not lessen the contempt which the average Indian entertains for labor, and really does away with the necessity for it in most of the tribes. I have observed in this agency that the Indians of the tribes receiving the smallest annuities made more advancement in agricultural pursuits, and more intelligent effort generally to surround themselves with conveniences and comforts, than those more greatly favored in the matter of income and benefactions. It is also true, however, that the Indian who has made himself comfortable through the result of his own labor will discontinue it in most cases when his income is increased by unexpected resources, but he retains his appreciation of such advantages and the experience through which they were realized, and is likely to apply a portion of his increased income in the same direction.

The introduction of numbers of white lessees with their families on the reservations increases and complicates the duties of an agent, and entails upon him a vast amount of additional work, for which no provision has been made in law, clerical labor, or considerations for his protection and safety in dealing with violent and otherwise criminally inclined persons of the class named; and it is unavoidable, but unfortunate, that the class seeking lodgment on reservations are not of the best class of whites. There are a fair proportion of them, however, that are industrious and reputable, the families of whom are a positive advantage to Indian women and children. All of the lessees throughout the agency have been controlled reasonably well, I think, without resort to the Federal or State courts, and possibly the difficulties and disadvantages growing out of their presence is compensated for by influences and results that will aid materially in advancing the Indians to a standard conforming to the policy of the Government toward them, and which can not now be abandoned or easily modified.