REPORT OF SCHOOL AT CHAMBERLAIN, S. DAK. CHAMBERLAIN, S. DAK., August 15, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to submit my second annual report of the Chamberlai Indian training school. Location. The school is located about one mile north of Chamberlain, S. Dak on the east bank of the Missouri River. From a sanitary standpoint the locatio is all that could be desired. Buildings.-The main building was completed and received from the contracto December 29, 1897. It is in good condition. At present four new buildings, th hospital, laundry, workshop, and stable, are in course of construction. Water and sewer.-The water and sewer systems were completed and accepte August 9, 1898. I think that we have one of the best and cheapest water plant in the service. The power for pumping water from the Missouri River to the reservoirs is furnished by an artesian well; so our running expenses will be nothing except repairs. Fire protection excellent. Schoolroom work.-On the 5th of May Miss Minnie E. Lincoln began work in the class room with 36 pupils. Owing to the serious illness of her mother, Miss Lincoln was called home June 9, and the term was finished by Miss Lizzie Stevens The work in the schoolroom has been satisfactory. Industrial work.- All work of this character was attended to by Don Cushman farmer. Mr. Cushman, with the assistance of the boys, cultivated a garden 01 about 12 acres, and erected all the fences required so far. Domestic work. The matron has been fortunate in having such valuable assistance as has been rendered by Miss Anasteria Anderia, seamstress, Miss Annie J. Paulson, laundress, and Miss Mary Mashek, cook. The work in each of the departments, namely, sewing room, laundry, and kitchen, has been well and faithfully executed. Mrs. Marie Dowdell, cook, recently transferred from Rosebud boarding school, has charge of the kitchen now, and is doing nicely. Farming land. But very little of our 160 acres is suited for farming purposes, owing to it being so hilly and rolling. At the most there are not over 20 acres that can be successfully tilled. At the proper time I shall request that adjacent land of 160 acres be purchased, thus giving us enough tillable land to raise all necessary feed, required for stock, and hay, etc. We need the land in the present school farm, which is not suitable for farming purposes, or for pasturage. Stock. We have at present 3 good milch cows and 1 heifer calf. We should have a herd of at least 10 good milch cows. We have one good team of work horses; but we need another team suitable for driving and general work. New buildings and improvements.-We should have a girls dormitory building, a schoolhouse, a warehouse, an ice house, a harness shop, and a tin shop. This will be the subject of another communication at the proper time. An electric-light plant is now required, and considering the fact that there will be no expense connected with the running of a dynamo other than the usual wear and tear and necessary repairs, as the power will be furnished by the artesian well, I respectfully ask that your office give this matter favorable consideration when authority is requested for the installing of an electric-light plant. As we have an excellent supply of sand and gravel, I am very much in favor of putting down cement walks instead of wooden walks. I think we can put in cement walks at the same, or possibly less. than the cost of wooden walks. We will need some board fences and paling fences to divide the boys' and girls' grounds and to inclose the school yard. The above matters are simply mentioned in this report, as the details will be given when request for authority is forwarded. In closing, I desire to thank the Indian Office for the prompt and businesslike manner in which all matters pertaining to this school have been attended to; also for sending us an excellent corps of employees and for the many favors shown us during the past year. Very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. JOHN FLINN, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT FLANDREAU, S. DAK. UNITED STATES INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, Flandreau, S. Dak., August 8, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the fifth annual report of the Flandreau Indian industrial school for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898. The encouraging prospects for the school noted in my last report were fully realized by the successful prosecution of the work here during the year just closed. The actual daily attendance of pupils during the year was more than 200, and the work of these pupils was more satisfactory than in any former year in the school's history. This is true as well of the industrial as of the literary departments. At the close of the term a class of twelve pupils, who had completed the specified course for schools of our class, were granted diplomas of graduation—a class that would be a credit to any school in the service. All members of this class will enter schools of higher grade than ours, to fit themselves for the duties of teachers, business men, etc. With one or two exceptions, the employees of the school gave entire satisfaction by the prompt and efficient discharge of their duties. No changes in the personnel of the force was found necessary or advisable during the school year. but two changes have already been suggested by me to your office. The said changes would certainly result in great good to the school. Three additional employees are allowed us this year, which puts our corps of employees in satisfactory condition. A fine brick and stone dining hall and kitchen building, a large new brick building for large boys' quarters, and a large, well-arranged annex to the girls' quarters, were added to the school plant during the year, immensely relieving the former crowded condition of the school. Plans and specifications for a large new building for school and assembly purposes are now being prepared, and it is expected work on this building will be begun in the course of a month or six weeks. With this building completed the school will have ample capacity every way for at least 300 pupils. An appropriation of $20,000 for this building has already been secured, as there have also been provided funds for the erection of two or three other and smaller structures. When the new building for school and assembly purposes shall be completed it is the intention to utilize the present school building for industrial purposes-for shops of various kinds for teaching several mechanical trades to the pupils. An additional half section of excellent land has been purchased recently and added to the school farm, giving us now 480 acres of land in the school reservation. This increased acreage will enable the school to do more in the line of farming and stock raising than has been possible heretofore, and will enable us to greatly improve the table fare of the pupils by affording more varieties of vegetables and dairy products for this purpose. The sanitary condition of the school continues satisfactory. There was considerable sickness among the pupils during the year, but most of the cases were mild disorders, and the more serious cases were brought safely through and restored to health. No death occurred at the school during the year. The prospects for the future of the school continue brighter as it becomes better known to the Indian tribes from which the attendance is recruited, and there will be no difficulty in always keeping the institution filled with pupils, even with a largely increased accommodation. All in all, the fiscal year 1898 was the most successful and satisfactory in the history of the institution. I have to thank your office for the universally kind and considerate treatment I have received from yourself and from those of your office force with whom I have had business communication. I am, sir, very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. LESLIE D. DAVIS, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT PIERRE, S. DAK. UNITED STATES INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, SIR: I herewith submit my eighth annual report of the Pierre Indian Industrial School for the fiscal year 1898. The history of the school has several times been given in previous reports. The experience of the past year offers nothing further of importance in this respect. The capacity of the school is 150 and the average attendance for the past year was 147. The general health of the pupils has been excellent, and the advancement in scholarship and the various industries taught satisfactory. Probably the most noticeable gain has been in the success of the "outing system." For several years past I have endeavored to find employment for our larger boys with the neighboring farmers and ranchmen during the vacation months. This was not easy to do, as the farmers were generally distrustful of Indian help, and the boys not especially enthusiastic on the subject. I succeeded, however, it finding places for a few of our most trusty boys each year, and this finally brought about so good an understanding and acquaintance between the farmers and the school boys that this year I find myself unable to supply all the help called for. The rate of wages, also, has advanced nearly one-half. This is very encouraging to me, as, in my opinion, no course of training could be devised tha: would be as valuable to Indian boys as this practical labor among our farmers and small ranchmen. My experience up to the present, however, has apparently settled one point. The "outing system" can not be made a success unless the pupils are a long distance from home. A part of our pupils are from Minnesota and other distant localities, while others are from adjacent Sioux reservations. 25 to 50 miles from the school. I have never yet been able to get one of these South Dakota boys to accept a position in the country. No matter what promises or resolutions he may make, when the vacation arrives he hurries away to his home reservation, where he usually spends his time in idleness or worse. Yet these South Dakota boys are just as capable, and if they were 500 miles from home would probably prove as efficient help as the Minnesota boys who generally accept the positions. In my opinion, in Minnesota, with Minnesota boys, the outing system" would fail, while with South Dakota boys it would succeed. Respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. CROSBY G. DAVIS, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT RAPID CITY, S. DAK. UNITED STATES INDIAN SCHOOL, Rapid City, S. Dak., September 13, 1898. SIR: I reported here for duty the 19th of November, 1897. Found the walls of the main building just getting above ground; the work of construction has progressed very slowly, but now it is finished. The plant now consists of the main building of stone and brick; the hospital, workshop, laundry, and stable, all frame structures, and the water and sewer systems. All these buildings are nicely finished and painted and, situated in a beautiful location, constitute a very nice, healthy, and attractive small boarding-school plant. The water and sewer systems are perfect and the heating and ventilation systems give promise of being most satisfactory. On the 1st of April an industrial teacher was employed and a team and wagon purchased and a small acreage of oats and potatoes put in, but dry weather and no water for irrigation have prevented maturing a good crop. The oats and wild hay have been cut, securing ample hay for use during the entire year. I have been furnished equipments necessary for feeding and sleeping the pupils, and these are all in place, and we were ready to take pupils on the day the building was fully completed, but we have no schoolroom furniture as yet and no seats for pupils' sitting rooms or assembly hall. The gas plant for lighting the buildings is not yet in place, but is under contract and will soon be in order. I now have about twenty applications for admission to the school from mixedblood citizens of the Sioux. Since these applications are voluntary it would indicate a considerable desire to send their children here to school, but I am not yet informed as to whether or not the consent of the agent that they be transferred can be had. All of the employees necessary for starting the school are now here and seem well suited to their respective work. Very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. RALPH P. COLLINS, Superintendent. REPORT OF SCHOOL AT ONEIDA, WIS. ONEIDA INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, SIR: I have the honer to submit the sixth annual report of the Oneida Indian industrial and day schools, of the Oneida Reservation, Wis. Attendance. The attendance at the school has been all that the buildings could accommodate; in fact, the school has been crowded all of the year. The capacity of the buildings is rated at 120 pupils, but at all times more than that number have been in attendance. The following table shows the average, by quarters: Quarter ending September 30, 1897 121.7 128.4 125.4 124.5 The average attendance for the year has been 125 pupils, five more than the rated capacity of the school. Schoolroom Work. This work has been fully up to the usual good work heretofore accomplished in this department. A change of teachers in two rooms was made early in the year in order to add musical ability to the force. However, but little was gained by the transaction. During the Christmas holidays another change was made by the promotion of one of the teachers to the Carlisle Indian school and a new face appeared in the class rooms. Yet, in spite of the numerous changes, I feel that the work has been satisfactory and trust that no further changes may be made in these departments. About 20 of the largest pupils will drop out of this school, being promoted to the different schools of class 2, their places being filled by a kindergarten class. Industrial work. This has been carried on as heretofore, the boys having been engaged in farming, caring for stock, etc., and the girls in the different lines of domestic work. In addition to the school farm, which is small, 75 acres have been leased from Indians and cultivated. An attempt was made to purchase more land for school purposes from Indians, but as the same was allotted to them the Department held that they could not relinquish to the school or Government. If this opinion is held as correct, the school will not be able to possess a good farm for many years, and will be obliged to lease different tracts of land in order successfully to teach the boys agriculture. A fine addition to the school stock was made early in the spring by the purchase of six heifers and a young bull, all of the Holstein breed. Lumber is on the ground for an addition to the school barn, and it is my intention to give more attention to dairy interests as fast as we can get in good condition for so doing. The girls have received instruction in all branches of housework, and many of them have become quite proficient in the different lines of work. All employees of the industrial departments have taken an interest in their work, and, as a consequence, have obtained satisfactory results. Buildings. The buildings of the school, five brick and eleven frame, are in good condition. During the year an 8-room cottage has been erected as quarters and office for the physician, who was added to our force. The electric-light plant, provided for in the Indian appropriation bill for 1898, has been installed and is giving entire satisfaction. By means of pressure regulator and back-pressure valves, so that the steam from the engine is returned to the heating system, we find that the additional expense for running the light plant during the winter months is but slight. During the months of June, September, and October, when the heating plant is not needed, the expense for pumping water and electric lights will not exceed $1 per day, outside of regular salary of engineer. Health. The general health of the pupils and employees has been good. No contagious disease, except a doubtful case of measles, has prevailed among pupils or employees. There has been one death, that of a little girl who had pneumonia while at her home during the Christmas holidays and afterwards developed tuberculosis at the school. As soon as it was found that she could not recover she was sent to her home, where she died a few weeks later. The following is taken from the report of the school physician, Dr. J. G. Bulloch: This school has been fortunate in the past year in having had but one death, and that occurred in a child sent home with tuberculosis. A few accidents have occurred and cases of sickness, though only one case of measles, and no other disease of serious import, although a great many of these Indians are affected with scrofula or tuberculosis, and erysipelas prevails among them, the latter probably due to diseased fat pork, put up and apparently cured by saltpeter. As we are liable to have all the contagious diseases here, and as scrofula is now considered a manifestation of tuberculosis, and the presence of these diseases becomes a source of danger to all, and as the sick can not receive proper and adequate attention, I wish to impress upon the Department the absolute necessity for a hospital and a nurse, with a small steam apparatus to disinfect all clothing. Our sewerage system is positively dangerous to all concerned, the cesspool holding the matter from the closets being filled to the brim with a mass of reeking, putrid material, and if some thing is not done with this I apprehend an epidemic of some sort. We should have a small crematory to burn other refuse matter and privy contents. I also consider that the stables and hogpens are too near the school, and would recommend their removal to a more distant spot. We are badly in need of a suitable lavatory. General condition and needs of the school.-In other reports I have advanced the subject of increasing the capacity of the school, and not long ago plans and estimates therefor were forwarded your Office. Consequently, it is unnecessary to again discuss this subject. However, I would only say that statistics show that money expended for educating Oneida Indians has produced better results than with any other tribe. Therefore, money to be expended for Indian education could not be used to better advantage than at this place. In addition to the enlargement of the plant, there are several other matters that need attention: First. Sewerage should be extended to the river, or to a greater distance from the buildings. The estimated cost of such extension will not be far from $800. Second. A hospital is badly needed, in order that the sick pupils may receive proper care and that others may be taught to properly care for them. It is impossible to give either proper care to the sick or instruction to others as to the care of the same when the patient must be kept in a large dormitory with other pupils, with none of the necessary conveniences for caring for the sick. Third. Enlargement and extension of the water system. The school has an abundant supply of pure water, which is pumped by steam into an elevated tank of about 5,000 gallons capacity. This tank is not large enough, and another, with 20,000 gallons capacity, should be erected on a 50-foot steel trestle, so as to provide better fire protection. Fourth. The school farm should be enlarged. If no land can be acquired from Indians under existing laws, Congressional aid should be invoked, in order that lands adjoining the school and not utilized by Indians might be added to the school property. Day schools. The condition of the day schools is not as satisfactory as I would have it. As in other years, the chief obstacle in the way of their success is irregular attendance. In the winter season many are obliged to remain away from school on account of the poverty of parents, who are unable to properly clothe their children. Others, living within easy reach of a day school, do not send with regularity, not appreciating the work of the day school. Another factor that works against the day school is the soliciting of pupils for nonreservation schools. I have endeavored not to allow pupils to be taken away that were within easy reach of a day school, but occasionally it occurs. The Indians fully appreciate the care of their children in the boarding schools, and take every opportunity of gaining admission to some of them. Probably fourfifths of the pupils of the day schools would be entered in some boarding school within one week if they were given an opportunity. I am of the opinion that this will continue to be the case so long as there are schools of both classes on the reservation and the difference in care and appearance of the pupils is so plainly apparent. However, the actual work in the schools has been good; especially has this been the case in Nos. 1 and 2 schools. At No. 3 the work has not been so satisfactory. owing to a lack of adaptability on the part of the teacher. The attendance at this school has decreased 25 per cent during the year. School No. 4 has suffered from lack of regular attendance, but much good has been accomplished. No. 5 was discontinued early in December, owing to poor attendance. This school is located in an unprogressive, poverty-stricken locality, and a majority of the pupils can not attend school during cold weather for want of suitable clothing. The following statement shows the enrollment and average attendance, also average for year 1897: |