Deduct all payments that might be properly charged to their account...

217, 139

Leaving a total of.....

2,012, 176

1,491, 600

3 503,776

To this must be added the sum due on account of failure to furnish schools according to the treaty.

Making a total of.....

Besides this the Government is under obligations to build houses for all Indians not having houses, and furnish each with a yoke of oxen, cow, seeds, &c., as the Indians shall be entitled to, by locating on land of their own. The proposed agreement provides for the delivery of 25,000 cows and 1,000 bulls, of a total value of not less than $850,000. The provision for the continuance of the appropriation for the support of schools for an additional sixteen years will require an annual appropriation of about $106,500, or, in the total, about $170,000, or a total under the present agreement of $2,550,000 for these two items alone; other provisions of the agreement will require an additional sum. It is doubtful whether the Indians will be benefited by these large appropriations. If the conditions of the treaties of 1868 and 1876, together with those in the present agreement, are carried out in good faith on the part of the Government, the Indians will need no further aid from the Government, and can readily be made self supporting within the next ten years. The total annual appropriation for these Indians for the fiscal year was about $1,700,000, the most of which is for subsistence, and its expenditure does little for the Indian except to keep him alive.

APACHES OF ARIZONA.

In my last report I called attention to the annual raids made by the Apaches of Arizona. In April last a number of the citizens of Arizona were killed, and a large amount of property stolen or destroyed by a band of Apaches that left the San Carlos Reservation in April, 1882, or before that time. In attempting to escape they passed into New Mexico, and killed Mr. McComas and wife and took their young son prisoner. The people of Arizona were greatly excited over the murders of their fellow-citizens and the destruction of their property, and threatened to take vengeance on the Indians on the reservation, claiming that the murders were committed by those Indians.

It is not at all surprising that the people of Arizona should have been excited over these outrages, occurring each year with the regularity of the seasons, and that in the excitement always attending an Indian raid they should contemplate holding the whole tribe responsible for the acts of a comparatively small number of the tribe. There is nothing more terrible to a new settlement than an Indian raid. No one

knows when the blow will fall, or where next the stealthy foe will ap pear. It is not open warfare, where every man has a fair show with his antagonist; it is not war; it is assassination. In such raids the Indians are careful not to meet any considerable number of whites, but they watch for the farmer at his work, the defenseless household, or traveler on the highway. When the citizens assemble, the Indian hides in the mountains until they disappear, and then he awaits his time to return and wreak his vengeance on the unarmed and defenseless citizens, regardless of age or sex.

In my former report I pointed out the danger to the San Carlos Indians if these raids were not stopped. Should these raids be continued, I am confident nothing but the presence of a military force will protect the Indians at San Carlos from destruction. The people believe the agency is the harbor for renegades, thieves, and murderers, and it is to be feared that heretofore such belief has not been without foundation, although it is not believed that any agency Indian was implicated in the last murders.

The Indians engaged in the raid escaped into New Mexico with but little danger to themselves. The commander of the district of Arizona, General Crook, pursued them into Mexico, and compelled the surrender of a portion of the hostiles, who were brought back to the reservation as prisoners of war. Some difficulty occurred as to the disposal of these Indians. They were prisoners of war, had surrendered with the idea that they would not be punished, and would be permitted to return to the reservation. General Crook hoped to secure quite a number of hostiles that had not surrendered, but had, through the prisoners taken, indicated their intention of so doing. After careful consideration of the case it was thought best to allow them to remain as prisoners of war on the reservation, hoping by so doing those still out might be secured, and then all danger of further hostilities, for the time at least, be avoided. General Crook was given full charge of the police of the reservation, for it was not thought to be prudent to divide the responsi bility of keeping peace on the reservation, and the Department was not willing to attempt to keep peace with the prisoners of war freed from military control. The condition is an anomalous one, and one that can.. not long continue. It is quite certain that the presence of the prisoners among the agency Indians has been very demoralizing. These Indians are guilty of murders and other crimes, and subject to the laws of Arizona and New Mexico, where the crimes were committed. General Crook says that they were not promised immunity for past offenses, but it is quite evident that they returned with the idea that they would not be punished for the crimes committed.

It does not appear to be the duty of the Department of the Interior to determine whether these offenders should be punished or not. At this time they are prisoners of war, in the hands of the War Department. If possible they should be removed from the agency to some

point where there will be less danger of their escape, and where their evil influences wili not be felt by the more peaceably disposed of the tribe.

SAN CARLOS RESERVATION.

The San Carlos or White Mountain Reservation was established November 9, 1871, by Executive order, and contains 2,528,000 acres. The reservation should be carefully surveyed, and such portions as are not needed for the support of the Indians should be cut off.

This reservation is not the property of the Apache Indians residing on it, but it is quite difficult to make the Indians understand that a reservation set apart for their use is not theirs.

Since the establishment of this reservation there have been discovered on the exterior parts thereof both coal and silver mines. The coal mines are located in the southern part on land unfit for cultivation. These coal beds were first discovered by miners, who alleged that they were off of the reservation, and who still insist that such is the case; but a survey by the surveyor-general of Arizona affords proof of the falsity of this claim. It is however alleged that the prospectors who first discovered the coal mines acted in good faith, supposing that such coal fields were off of the reservation, and expended considerable labor in opening them. These coal fields are very valuable, and, as this fuel is much needed in Arizona, some arrangement should be made by which the public shall have the advantage of such discovery. It is competent for the President by Executive order to reduce the reservation, and thus throw the coal fields out of the reservation, but it is not thought advisable to do so without compensating the Indians for the land so taken, for, as before stated, it will be very difficult to make them understand that they are not being robbed. Some compensation should therefore be provided before the land is sold. If the claims of the prospectors should be found to be correct, that is, that they were in ignorance of the boundaries of the reservation (the Government not having established boundaries), they ought to be allowed to derive some advantage from their work, either by being allowed to purchase at a reduced price or to lease for a term of years.

NORTHERN CHEYENNES.

In 1881 Little Chief and his band, numbering 235, left the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Agency in the Indian Territory and proceeded to Pine Ridge, Dak. They were subsequently joined by 82 others. A large number of this band have located on Tongue River, Montana, and are making commendable efforts to support themselves. Since my former report the remainder of the Northern Cheyennes have left the Indian Territory and are now in Dakota. I recommend that some provisions be made to locate the Indians in Dakota or Montana, and that suitable provisions be made to enable them to engage in agriculture or stock raising.

NAVAJOES.

The Navajoes are located in Northeastern Arizona and Northwestern New Mexico, and number about 15,000. They have large herds of sheep and goats, and are not dependent on the Government except for the maintenance of their agency and the support of schools. I have called attention, in another part of my report, to the amount due these Indians under the provisions for the maintenance of schools. There is also due these Indians, from an appropriation made to carry out the seventh article of the treaty of June, 1868, the sum of $96,651.74, which is available for the purchase of seeds and agricultural implements for their use. It is not desirable to use all of this fund for the purposes. for which it was appropriated, but it is very desirable to use a portion of it for the purpose of improving the breed of sheep and horses now owned by these Indians. I therefore recommend that the authority be given to use the balance in the purchase of stock, payment of employés, and general expenses in procuring better grades of stock and in policing said reservation. It is found very difficult to keep these Indians on their reservation, for as the grass becomes scarce they leave their reservation and go on to the adjoining lands, and there come in contact with the stockmen and farmers of the adjacent regions. It is very desirable that an efficient police should be provided for, either out of the fund before mentioned or by a general appropriation.

CHEROKEE OUTLET ON LAND WEST OF 960.

The last Congress, in an act entitled "An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, and for other purposes," provided as follows:

That the sum of three hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, to be paid into the treasury of the Cherokee Nation out of the funds due under appraisement for Cherokee lands west of the Arkansas River, which sum shall be expended as the acts of the Cherokee legislature direct, this amount to be immediately available Provided, That the Cherokee Nation, through its proper authorities, shall execute con: veyances, satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, to the United States in trust only for the benefit of the Pawnees, Poncas, Nez Percés, Otoes and Missourias, and Osages now occupying said tract, as they respectively occupy the same before the payment of said sum of money.

On the 14th of June last, under the provision of said act, deeds were duly executed by the Cherokee Nation to the United States in trust for the several tribes as hereafter stated.

On receiving such deeds the $300,000 provided in the said act was paid to the Cherokee Nation.

DISPUTED CITIZENSHIP IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY.

The Cherokees and Choctaws claim the right to determine for themselves who are citizens, and that it is the duty of the Government to remove all persons that their constituted authorities declare are not citizens. The Department, acting under an opinion of the AttorneyGeneral of December 12, 1879, has refused to recognize such claim, and has asserted the right to determine for itself who are and who are not citizens when called on to remove persons claimed to be intruders. On this subject the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in his report, says:

In view of the magnitude of the interests involved and the unsettled condition of these nations consequent upon the presence of this unrecognized population, and its rapid increase among them, I respectfully recommend that Congress authorize the appointment and provide for the payment of the expenses of a commission, whose duty it shall be to visit these nations, consider the points of difference between the Indians and the alleged intruders or non-citizens, and after determining upon rules of procedure for the final adjustment of the question, attend the councils of said nations, and submit said rules for their consideration and action, which, when adopted by them, and approved by the Department, shall be final and conclusive.

I concur in his recommendation.

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION.

This reservation is situated in the Territory of Montana, and contains 7,364 square miles, or 4,713,000 acres of land. A large part of this is unfit for cultivation, but the very best of grazing land. These Indians should be located on the Big Horn, with a suitable reservation for agricultural and pastoral purposes, and the balance sold. At least 3,000,000 acres might thus be disposed of, leaving the Indians sufficient agricult ural lands to become self-supporting, if they desire to become agriculturists, and a sufficient amount of grazing lands should they prefer to become stock-raisers. The 1,713,000 acres that would be left would give nearly, if not quite, 600 acres of land to each individual member of their tribes. The number of Crows has been estimated at 3,500; but it is quite certain that the number is much less, and probably not over 2,500 or 3,000. A portion of the money realized for such sale should be at once invested in a herd for the tribes, and cared for by the Government until such time as the Indians shall be prepared to accept and care for their stock themselves. The proceeds of the surplus lands, properly used, would make the Crows self-supporting in a few years at the farthest.

BLACKFEET RESERVATION.

The number of Indians on this reservation is about 12,000. Until recently they have been able to support themselves largely by hunting, but the disappearance of the buffaloes is likely to cause great suffering