The number perhaps would be greater if a thorough census could be taken; but as it had to be made by some of the regular employés at odd times it is possible a few of the Indians were overlooked. Perhaps there are a few Indians who were off the reservation at the time when the work was being done who were not included in the list. As you are aware, there has been two things steadily going on since I came in charge of this agency. One of these is the reduction of the amount of money allowed for paying employés, until it now reaches one-fourth less, while much more labor has been exacted of the agent; hence it is not always possible to have things done just as promptly as they should be. AGRICULTURE. The harvest as a rule has been good, the acreage planted exceeding any previous year; the yield better than has been for years. Those who sowed reaped. As is the case in all communities, there is a class who do not work, hence they are dependent on others for a living. There has been enough grain and vegetables raised this season to supply all with food, if equally divided, and yet leave a surplus for market. While this is one among the best fruit-growing portions of the State, there is none raised from the fact that there never has been any orchards planted until this season. The trees that were set out this year are doing well, so far as I can learn, and it will be but a few years until fruit will be plentiful if the trees now growing are properly cared for. A look at the old and poor fences, foul ground, and other things around here, is sufficient evidence to convince any one that the Indians have advanced but little, if any, for the last twenty years in agricultural and mechanical pursuits. There has been plenty of money furnished and used if it had been properly applied to have furnished the Indians with good agricultural implements. A few years back the employés were paid good salaries, and there was a sufficient number of them to do the Department work in a workmanlike manner, especially when there was no repairing done to the Government property. With this state of affairs why it was that the Indians were not taught farming and made to fix up and enlarge their farms is a matter not very easily accounted for; for a few years ago the Government was as profligate here as it is penurious now. IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS. The Indians have added several new houses and barns to the reservation, most of which were built from lumber sawed at the mill; but not unfrequently the log-cabin and barn may be seen. Some new fences have been made, enlarging the area of their fields, and in few instances new lands have been taken up. I have had built a good, substantial barn at the agency; also one on the department farm, and a small barn at Sinemasho, as well as repairing buildings and making new fences. The carpenter is now at work building an addition to the agency school building. There is much more that must be done in the way of repairs and improvements, as the Government property here needs repairing very much. The condition in which I found the Government buildings and farm was certainly a disgrace to the Government, especially the school buildings. Whose fault that things were allowed to get in that condition I will leave for others to judge. NOTABLE EVENTS AND CHANGES. As you require a brief summary of all notable events and changes that have occurred during the year, I will say that there has occurred two events which I deem worthy of especial notice. First was the change of administration, and the second was the hurling of an "offensive" cyclone, like the thunder-bolt of Jupiter, moving everything movable before it, a little puff of which struck this agency when the thermometer marked 100° in the shade, and landed the present incumbent in the "sea of despondency." But the gentle rain of June will come again and the progress of the Indian will go on about as it has for the last 300 years. LANDS IN SEVERALTY. As I have called attention to the necessity of allotting to the Indians their lands in severalty by letter, I deem it not out of place to allude to the matter in this report. Those who negotiated the original treaty with these Indians intended that the Indians should have land in his own individual right, not collectively, as it is now held. If each Indian entitled to land had the land allotted to him, and given to understand that it should be his and his heirs for all time to come, it would unquestionably be a great stimulus for him to improve and cultivate the land. Permanent improvements would take the place of temporary ones, and a stopping place would be converted into a home. I do not wish to be understood as advocating the abandonment of the res . ervation system at this time. I do not think the people have advanced far enough to admit the withdrawal of the protection of the Government from them, but keep what land is not needed for allotment for their common use for the present, and in time they will be ready to do without it, and it can be disposed of in a way most beneficial to the Indians, but it should not be disposed of until the Indian is prepared for it, He must be educated up to that point, so that a small tract of land will suffice to yield him a living. I am informed that Ex-Inspector Newell has advocated the abandonment of the reservation system entirely, giving the Indian a small tract of land and let him take care of it himself. If he cannot live, let him starve. This may be a correct policy, a humane method, a just treatment of the semi-civilized races; but I do not think so. * * RELIGION. The religious work has been under the supervision of Rev. R. W. McBride, sert here by the U. P. Church. There have been some accessions to the church, which have been about offset by deaths and other causes, so that the church membership remains about the same as a year ago. For about a year or more previous to Mr. McBride's advent to this mission the religious work was successfully carried on by the late acting agent and clerk, Mr. C. H. Walker, who seemed to be especially adapted to the missionary work. I fear if Mr. Walker had not lent his help to the cause here I should be compelled to report the religious work as waning. SCHOOLS. As I have frequently called your attention to the almost total lack of school facilities here, and have as yet received no assistance in the way of providing suitable buildings; as it was a year ago, after the summer vacation, so it will be this year-the same apology for the school buildings. I am now having an addition made to the agency school building 20 by 32 feet, two stories high, for dining-room below and girls' dormitory on upper floor. The new building will be nearly ready to occupy by the time the fall term of school begins, and by a little improvement at the Sinemasho school there will be ample accommodations (such as it is) at both schools for at least 100 children, and by crowding, as I have had to do the year just passed, 130 children can be provided for. The number in school should be more rather than less, as there are now, per recent census, 216 children from six to sixteen years of age. There were enrolled and attended school here, exclusive of the 21 children at Forest Grove Indian training-school, at agency school 71 children, and at the Sinemasho school 50, making a total of 121 children, of which number 78 were boys. Many of the Indians do not regard their girls as worth educating. The average attendance at the agency school for the year was 41; largest average attendance for one month was 50%. At Sinemasho the average attendance was (for the year) 314. The largest average attendance for one month was 37. The progress made in the studies taught in school was fair. A lazy and indolent lot of boys at the agency school were taught to work, and at the close of the school year they were as industrious as one could expect or wish. There was a very marked improvement in the industrial school at Sinemasho before it closed for the summer vacation. NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE NEEDED. As I have many times previous to this urged upon you the necessity of a new schoolbuilding here, I hope you will pardon me for once more alluding to the matter. The treaty stipulates among other things that the Indians of this reservation shall have a suitable building erected for school purposes, which has never been done; but allow me to offer as an excuse for the Government's failure to fulfill its obligations here to the Indians, that it is a fact that has become notorious that the Government never has dealt with any of the Indian tribes in the past as agreed upon. All who have given the education of the Indian proper thought, or a thorough investigation of education among Indians, know that to educate a few of the Indian youths is nothing more than educated cruelty, for when the youths of the Indians have undergone a thorough education and training for years they fully realize their true condition in their semi-civilized state, and it is very humiliating and unpleasant for them to go back to their old ways of living among their people. Yet they must go back, or nearly so, or be ostracized among their tribes, and they cannot go among the whites. I again repeat it, that to educate a few of the children and turn them out into the world poor and without anything to do, as is now being universally done, is educated cruelty. The Department sends out circulars to the agents, requiring them to put every child in school, yet when urged to make some provision for properly caring for the children, it is utterly impossible to get their ear. Congress makes liberal appropriations for schools and school-buildings among the Indians, but nothing can be had here. I have been unable to elicit any response to my letters and reports about school-buildings needed here for several months past. The Indians have been ready to furnish the lumber for building a school-house large enough to accommodate the 213 school children, but nothing can be done for them, it seems. When the Piutes were murdering the defenseless settlers and keeping the soldiers at bay, the Government called on the Warm Springs for help, and it came. When the Modoes held the lava-beds and there were graves of over 190 soldiers slain in the futile attempt to dislodge them from their stronghold, the Government turned imploringly to the people here for help, promising them if killed in battle or wounded they would be pensioned (which agreement was never complied with); help came quickly, and the result is known everywhere. And yet, when the people here or their agent ask for what they were promised and what they should have, the Government is as silent as the grave. I have done my duty in this matter, both to the Indians and the Government. I have repeatedly urged upon the Department to begin preparations to carry on the educational work here, and I have pointed out to the Indians the beneficial results to them to have all their children educated, especially in the industrial part of the school-work. My purpose has not been to deceive but to give the facts regarding schools here, which I can truthfully say I have frequently done in the past. I think if the Commissioner would visit all the agencies there might be much good grown out of it; he might see what difficulties agents have to encounter in the educational part of their work, and be prepared to give the public a much more intelligent report of Indian affairs. I ask what of right belongs to these people and nothing more. MEDICINE MEN. The medicine man still keeps his hold upon the Indians, and always will so long as the Indian remains in such an ignorant and superstitious state. There are none here but what believe in him except possibly two or three individuals. The Indian doctor is doctor as well as priest. Doctoring among the Indians is not confined to men alone, but the women are possessed with the power to heal as well as the men. The "Teman-i-mus" is free to all who can catch it. When one becomes very sick among them, always from one to three doctors are called in to attend to the patient-to administer to his temporal as well as his spiritual wants. The minister may be called to administer his blessing to the dying man, and they may go through with the religious service with apparent sincerity and fervency, but their superstitious fears prompt them always to indulge in their own religious rites either before or after death; nothing else would satisfy their friends. The man or woman who possesses the "Te-man-i-mus" must be consulted; their blessings must be had. It is needless for me to say that, as a rule, the medicine man as a class, like the women here, is extremely conservative; he is opposed to anything that would advance his people; he opposes schools, good morals, and the observance of the laws. I would say, however, there are some three or four doctors who are apparently friendly to schools and the progression of their people. If they are sincere, what the motives are that impel them to such a course I have been unable to learn. AGENCY PHYSICIANS. There should, in my judgment, be some different system in securing a suitable agency physician; for each agency should have a competent doctor both for the white employés and the Indians. Unless the Indians can be supplied with a physician who is both suitable and competent for the place, they will never give up their old medicine men. If Congress would appropriate a special fund for medical aid as they do in other matters, and such an amount as would justify a competent person to accept the position of physician, it would be much better, for it is not reasonable to suppose that a competent physician can be had for $300 or $1,000 per year, at least he would not be an Esculapius. POLYGAMY AND OTHER VICES. Polygamy is found to be very prevalent among the Warm Springs tribe here. They nearly all believe in it, and practiced it without fear or molestation when I came here. I have succeeded partially in breaking it up in the last year. While the custom has received a serious check, and if properly dealt with will soon disappear among them, the belief in it being right will remain probably for a generation to come. would add here that I find among all the people of this reservation no veneration for the marriage relations. Perhaps there is not an old or middle aged man on the reservation but what has had from two to five women during his life. I have required the people since I came here to get a divorce (when they wished one) in a regular way by a trial in the court, and when granted a divorce, have always taken a just propor tion of the property and given it to the woman, either real or personal property. I find less divorces as a consequence. Men are not so eager to put away their old wives and take younger ones if a division of the property must take place before a divorce can be granted. Gambling is another vice much indulged in by nearly all the Indians here. Young and old, men and women, are given to the vice; but professional gamblers are not very numerous. THE RENEGADES. There are a great many Indians who are not on any reservation. They live in huts mostly along the banks of the Columbia River; their principal residences are at the Cascade Locks-the Dalles-Celilo, and Tumwater. They are nearly all a worthless, ignorant, and superstitious lot of people; as much so as they possibly can be. They prostitute their women, and are a nuisance to the community in which they live. It is a regular "Gretna Green”—an asylum for the law-breakers of this and other reservations to go to when guilty of offences punishable by law. There should be something done to rid the community of this nuisance and the agents of the annoyance of having such a class in so close proximity to his own people, for the influences that come from there are all bad. I am aware that there has been special agents or inspectors sent out to these people to try and induce them to take up land in severalty upon the public domain. While the inspectors receive many promises from the Indians that they would take lands and improve them, yet there is not one of them today who is complying with the law, nor will they unless compelled to. Their religion prevents them taking up land and cultivating it for a living. THE POLICE COURT. I consider the results growing out of the establishment of a police court here as satisfactory. The policemen are efficient. INDIAN TRAINING-SCHOOL AT SALEM, Oreg. This school has recently graduated quite a number of Indian children, six of whom are of this reservation, viz, Misses Sallie and Lillie Pitt, Lizzie Olney, Emma Parker, Etta Holliquilla, and Mr. George Meacham. They are certainly a credit to the institution, as well as themselves. The school will doubtless do much better at Salem than at its former location, as in its new quarters they have many more advantages than at the old, as it is much healthier at Salem than at the old location. There could hardly have been found a better locality for the school in the State than where it is now located. CONCLUSION. In conclusion I would say that of necessity I have omitted to mention many things that properly come under the head of an annual report. To undertake to correctly portray to you the condition of things here is more than I can do. Just think of a lot of unsightly buildings that had been built over 20 years ago, during which time there had been no repairs made; weather-boarding off in patches, window glass and sash broken, the underpinning rotted, and buildings about to fall down; horses reeled as they walked, caused from starvation; scarcely a pound of feed of any kind for feeding teams. What hay that was used to feed the teams was bought or had to be purchased of the Indians. You bought one pound and paid for two. The hay-scales were in a box leaning up against the commissary, neither ornamental nor useful. The school-houses were dingy, without ventilation, and of necessity unhealthy. No provision or any attempt to care for the old or indigent who were unable to care for themselves; only the men of influence were looked after; if the old and wornout lived, it was all right, of course. That may be humanity and Christianity, but it is not the kind I believe in. Stock were left to care for themselves during the winter, property was scattered, the strong imposed upon the weak; favoritism was prevalent. Such was the state of affairs eighteen months ago, and I have not told half of it; and of course to remedy these abuses was not an easy task. There was not a foot of lumber or any other suitable material on hand to begin repairs with. Material had to be provided before anything in the way of repairs or improvements could be done. My labors have been many. The mills have been repaired, school-buildings improved, new barns and fences made. The Indians had to learn that the agent was at the head of affairs here; places held by incompetent employés had to be supplied with competent persons; some of the white settlers in close proximity to the reservation had to be taught a lesson that they could not trespass with perfect impunity upon the lands of the reservation; the flour contractor had to learn that he could not expect 50 cents more per barrel for flour than it could be purchased for in the market; he found it made a difference who the agent was. The schools had to be reorganized and habits of industry inculcated to take the place of laziness that had been fostered among the children; the leading men (so-called) had to learn that the agent did not require their assistance any more as an educational board; that the teachers, under the direction of the agent, would manage the school affairs of the agency. The constant interfering and meddling with the schools and school children by the parents had to be abolished. All these things and much more the agent had to contend with. * # Evil persons residing on or near the Tygh adjacent to the reservation have tried to make the Indians dissatisfied with the way things have been conducted here recently. They have misrepresented things to the Indians. The two most prominent persons in the last interference were # who wanted to be agent here, and who, the Indians say, promised them that if they would indorse him for agent, that in case of his appointment he would permit them to drink all the whisky they wanted, to marry all the women they desired, and to do as they pleased about sending their children to school, (but yet, after all these fair promises, he found that a large majority of the Indians did not want a change in the present system); and who owns a flouring-mill on the Tygh, and has wanted the contract to furnish flour here, and who had such contract prior to my assuming charge, at a rate above what it could be had of others had competition been invited. I only mention this instance of interference with the affairs of the agency, that some steps can be taken to protect the agent from the attacks of designing persons; for unless my successor lends his aid to these outside schemes he will have trouble with them; they will be swift to circulate reports not true of him. With the expenditure of a few hundred dollars and the help and material I now have at my disposal, this agency in a very short time could be put in a very good condition. You asked me to give facts and to omit all rose-colored reports of things here. What I have said I think will convince you that I have complied with your request. Very respectfully submitted. The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ALONZO GESNER, United States Indian Agent. OURAY AGENCY, UTAH, SIR: In compliance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit my second annual report. Although during the year very many occurrences have arisen somewhat annoying, I feel I can make a favorable report, and express much gratification for favors received from the Department during your administration. This agency has occupied the present site scarcely one year, and though the buildings had undergone a moderate form of refitting before occupancy, I find a great deal of work to be done-enough to more than employ what help is allowed me in getting everything in good working order. In fact, I have to divide my help between looking after the wants of the Indians and keeping the Government property in shape, so that neither receives the attention demanded. The employés who have assisted me have performed their labors well and faithfully, and much, very much, of the success accomplished at this agency is due to their efforts. AGRICULTURE. There is not the number of acres under cultivation this year as last, owing to the high water which flooded and entirely destroyed the very best prospects of crops in 1884, which discouraged many. But a better system of cultivation has been advanced, and the yield per acre will be better. The farms are small, many of them mere patches, but I am well satisfied to see an Indian take some interest in small matters. The farming lands are scattered along the river bottoms for a distance of 15 miles on either side of the agency, and some have not received the attention they should, as one farmer cannot be in two places at a time. I would recommend the employment of two additional farmers for six months in the year, to be allowed to assist in putting in their crops and harvesting the same. The gratuitous action of the Government, in distributing agricultural implements to the Indians, is commendable, and will, I think, be fully appreciated in time by the tribe, as it now is by a few. The agency farmer resigned July 31, and the carpenter and blacksmith resigned August 8, which leaves the agency in bad shape for help. The Indians' crops are now ready to cut, and I have no one to assist them. The pay is inadequate to the employment of good men, as one who is worth anything at all can demand and secure a better compensation nearer civilization, and the "hangers on," infatuated with Government positions, are of no account, usually, and a good man is hard to get. |