threshold of the work committed to us, and long before the time expressed in the act of Congress.

If, however, the next session of the legislative assembly, elected under the act of Congress, shall fail to respond to the will of the nation, Congress should have no hesitation in using extraordinary measures to compel the people of this Territory to obey the laws of the land.

REPORT

OF

THE INSPECTOR OF INDIAN SCHOOLS.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, October 19, 1882.

SIR: In the act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes for the year ending June 30, 1883, and for other purposes, it is also provided that the President is authorized to appoint a person to inspect all Indian schools, who is thereby required to report a plan for carrying into effect in the most economical and efficient manner all existing treaty stipulations for the education of Indians, with careful estimates for educating all Indian youths for whom no such provision now exists; and what sums can be saved from existing expenditures for Indian support by the adoption of such plans, &c.

On the 18th of July last I was honored with said appointment, and in partial compliance with requirements contemplated in said act, have the honor to submit the following preliminary report.

My appointment being of too recent date, and nearly all the intervening time up to date being the vacation season of the Indian schools, very little opportunity for visiting them has been afforded. My time has consequently mostly been otherwise employed. Under direction from your office I proceeded to the Indian Territory and made a selection for the location of the Indian Industrial School provided for in said act, which required

To be constructed at a point in the Indian Territory adjacent to the southern boundary of the State of Kansas, and near to the Ponca and Pawnee reservations, and upon a section of land suitable in quality and location for the industrial purposes of said school, &c., a building suitable in size and convenience for the instruction and care of one hundred and fifty Indian children.

I made a careful examination of the district of country embraced within the boundaries of the limits described in the act; found it very difficult, if not impossible, to find all the essentials for an institution of the magnitude of the one contemplated on the sized tract of land described in the bill, and for that reason selected a larger tract of land, embracing a fraction less than 1,200 acres, a plat and description of which are herewith. An important part of the industries taught at this institution must be the care of stock, horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs; to do this successfully, and at the same time instruct in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and the kindred branches, reference must be had to quality and lay of soil, grass, and water-water not only for stock purposes, but for use at the institution, which will require when in full appointment from 150 to 200 barrels per day. The selection made embraces, I believe, all these important considerations.

The buildings, it will be observed from the plat, are to be located

about 1,100 feet from the springs; the water can very easily be forced this distance, by wind or steam, at a small cost. In the location reference was also had to drainage, which can be very complete from the point selected, the outlet being to a point on the stream below the water supply.

The dependence for water for house use is from several springs near together, from which the flow is very large; and all may be brought together into one, from which forced to the buildings. I visited the neighboring citizens for information as to the lasting qualities of the springs, and found the testimony all agreeing that the flow of water continued through all seasons, and the opinion general that they could be depended upon for a sufficient water supply.

I also made arrangements to have the water analyzed, but have not yet been apprised of the result. Above and below the springs referred to are others which will afford stock water, pools of it standing in the bed of the Chelocco Creek all seasons of the year. By taking this tract of land, an agricultural and stock farm may be obtained in one boundary; the price of the land, as fixed by President Hayes, is 47.49 cents per acre.

I believe the selection made to be the very best which could be found in the district of country contemplated in the bill. The building spot is situated about 5 miles from Arkansas City, Kans., a town of 1,200 or 1,300 inhabitants, a good moral community, and a church-going people.

In making the selection and surveying, they were quite willing to render any assistance possible, and did give invaluable help. I was especially assisted by Charles Scheafbaur, Postmaster Topliff, and A. C. Williams, esq.

While the location is a good one and will be easy of access from the various tribes below, and afford school facilities and opportunities to some who have had none, I believe the advancement would be more rapid and the labor more satisfactory if the institution were located more in the midst of civilization, where Sabbath-school and church privileges would be greater than they can be there, and an influence would be brought to bear invoking fostering help and protecting care from those who, until such opportunities are given them, do not realize how much of the milk of human kindness is contained in their natures.

I also had plans and specifications made for the building, which have been forwarded for your inspection and action. It is proposed to build of stone, the cost being but very little more, and the durability so much greater than of frame. It will be impossible to complete the school building and furnish it and the necessary out-buildings, corrals, fences, &c., with the sum named in said act; an additional appropriation will be necessary for that purpose, which is respectfully recommended.

I also visited the "old Pawnee reservation in Nebraska" with reference to establishing an industrial school at that point, in accordance with the provision of same bill. Found the old building in a badly damaged condition, the result of a want of attention on the part of those having charge of it, and from the effects of a storm which had blown off about one-third of the roof. To properly accommodate 150 children, the number specified in the bill, it is necessary, besides making repairs to the old building, to make additions. I employed an architect to make the proper examination and estimate for such additions as are necessary; the result of his labors has been forwarded for your action in the premises. The amount appropriated is regarded as sufficient to complete and furnish the buildings with necessary out-buildings, corrals, fences, &c., for occupancy.

The school being intended more especially for the Sioux, whose country is not an agricultural one, but more adapted to stock-raising and grazing purposes, it is important that the children should be taught how to care for and attend to stock, horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, but more especially horses and cattle; but the importance of teaching them agriculture, horticulture, forestry, &c., should not and need not be lost sight of. A dairy, or butter-making, carried on extensively there, conducted in the modern way, feeding the cows during most of the year, and the regular work, together with the raising of roots and other kinds of forage, saving them and feeding them out, would furnish variety and continuous employment, and instruct in information which would be both useful and beneficial to them after leaving the school.

An apple or general fruit nursery might very appropriately be conducted there, and the various agencies of the North and Northwest, where such trees would grow, be furnished from it.

To successfully conduct the institution with the varied lines of industry necessary, more land than the amount provided for in the bill is necessary; it should have a full section, but I found it impossible to get at a fair price that amount, but ascertained I could buy 160 acres adjoining the 160 on which the building is situated, for $3,000, which with the 160 acres school tract, and 160 acres especially provided for, would make 480 acres, and be a very desirable school farm. No provision having been made for the purchase of more than 160 acres, arrangements were made to lease the last 160-acre tract with privilege of purchase when provided for by Congressional action at the price named, to wit, $3,000, or the lease to be at 6 per cent. on that sum, or $180 per year. It is respectfully recommended that this purchase be made, as it is necessary to complete the school farm. The building is located close to the village of Genoa, which has a population of about two hundred souls. It is a new town, occupying the old site of the Pawnee Agency; is composed of enterprising citizens who are very anxious to have the school located in their midst, and promise it fostering care, and very cheerfully rendered all help necessary, arranging for land, &c. The iand is good and the location seems to be a healthful one. There may, however, some difficulties arise in the effort to get the Sioux to send their children there; it is the former home of their Pawnee enemies, and around it may cluster memories of some traditional superstitions which may cause them to hesitate; they have a very great horror of the ghosts of their enemies, and an old Pawnee graveyard lies close to the

town.

Knowing this peculiarity, I asked the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs to have the various Sioux agents written to, to see how many children they would send to that place to school. Some promises were made, but, so far as I know, the "ghost" question was not raised at all. I also visited Indiana to confer with the trustees of White's manual labor boarding-school, about sending twenty Indian children to that institution, under the act providing for one hundred children to be sent to such institutions, not over twenty to any one State. The result of that visit has been the subject of a special report; arrangements will be perfected for the children to be sent there. Arrangements have also been made for similar numbers in Nebraska and North Carolina.

Industrial schools such as are contemplated in that bill are not very numerous; hence, opportunities are scarce for carrying out the intention of that provision. I visited the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan with the hope of getting some children in there, but found it not arranged for that class of students, their course being