The enrollment and average attendance in public schools is shown in Table on page, while the following table gives a list of such schools, their location, and the number of pupils for which contracts are made:

TABLE 6.-Public schools at which Indian pupils were placed under contract with the Indian Bureau during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1898.

It is provided in the appropriation act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899

that the Secretary of the Interior may make contracts with contract schools, apportioning as near as may be the amount so contracted for among the schools of various denominations, for the education of Indian pupils during the fiscal year 1899, but shall only make such contracts at places where nonsectarian schools can not be provided for such Indian children to an amount not exceeding 30 per cent of the amount so used for the fiscal year 1895.

For the fiscal year 1895 there was used for contract schools of all denominations the sum of $463,505, of which amount $53,440 was appropriated for schools specifically named by Congress, which leaves a total of $410,065 as the true amount from which the 30 per cent should be taken. The amount allowed for the two schools at the Osage Reservation ($11,250), being paid out of Osage trust money, should not, in the opinion of this office, be included in the amount set apart for contract schools, and therefore, upon your approval, that sum has been deducted from the above total, which would leave a new total for 1895 of $298,815, of which sum I am of opinion Congress intended only 30 per cent to be used for 1899, thus making the sum of $119,644.50 available for such purpose.

When the schedule for the fiscal year 1898 was prepared, there were

two Protestant schools-the Bay Mills, Mich., $600, and the John Roberts, Shoshone Agency, Wyo., $2,160, a total of $2,760. However, during the past year the school at Bay Mills, Mich., has been discontinued, and no contract was made therefor, which leaves only one Protestant contract school in existence. In order to arrive at the amount which, in the judgment of this office, should be set aside to the Catholic contract schools, I deducted the $2,760 from the total amount of $119,644.50, which leaves $116,884.50 for distribution to the various Catholic schools.

It will appear from an inspection of the schedule that the schools have been reduced ratably, rather than to eliminate any particular institution. The reason for this is that the average attendance at nearly all of such schools shows an excess over that contracted for, the number allowed being 1,763 pupils, while the average attendance during the past year was 2,313, indicating that, although reductions have been made in the number allowed, the schools have continued in their particular work.

Contracts have been executed with the different schools for the number of pupils and at the rate and for the amount given in the schedule as follows:

TABLE 7.-Schools conducted under contract, with number of pupils contracted for, rate per capita, and total amount of contract for fiscal years ending June 30, 1895, and June 30, 1899.

a Specially appropriated for by Congress.

20

108

2, 160

20

108

2, 160

2, 435

274, 205

b 1, 119

119, 022

120

167

20, 040

120

167

20, 040

200

167

33, 400

b Not including the two schools of Osage and two Pottawatomie schools at Sac and Fox agencies, Okla., nor one day school at La Pointe Agency, which was converted into a Government school during the year.

For the reasons set forth in my last annual report, a contract with the St. Louis Boarding School, on the Osage Reservation, for 75 pupils at $125 per capita, amounting to $9,375, and also a contract with the St. John's Boarding School, on the same reservation, for 65 pupils at $125 per capita, amounting to $8,125-a total of $17,500-were executed, and payable out of the Osage trust funds.

During the past fiscal year contracts, payable out of the educational fund of the Pottawatomies, have been made with the Sacred Heart Boys' School and the St. Mary's Academy for girls, on the Sac and Fox Reservation, Okla., for 35 boys and 52 girls, respectively, at $144 each per capita per annum. As this fund is nearly exhausted, I have, with your approval, renewed the contract only with St. Mary's Academy for 45 pupils at $125 per capita, which will amount to $5,625. The determination, therefore, of this contract will absorb all of the available portion of this fund. As only one school can be maintained, I have deemed it best that all the money should be used for the benefit of the girls.

The amounts allowed for contract schools, aggregated and compared with former years, and showing the names of the denominations and private parties, are exhibited in the following table:

TABLE 8.—Amounts set apart for education of Indians in schools under private control for the fiscal years 1890 to 1899, inclusive.

CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF SCHOOL PLANTS.

An examination of the buildings and plants of the Indian school service, which were erected years ago, shows a deplorable deficiency in construction, sanitary and hygienic requirements, and conveniences. These conditions may be primarily attributed to inadequate and unprofessional methods of the time, as the devising of plans was frequently intrusted to Indian agents or school superintendents, who, in turn, being devoid of the necessary technical qualification, would enlist the services of the agency carpenter or blacksmith or outside person to evolve and formulate projects which should require the best of architectural skill. In some instances, where proper plans and specifications covering material and workmanship were available, no efficient practical superintendence of the work during construction was provided, so as intelligently to enforce the terms of the contract, resulting in the introduction of bad material, careless workmanship, and the present urgent necessity for immediate expenditures looking to the preservation of these buildings.

As intimated in the reports for the past few years, sewer and water facilities, with proper systems of heating and ventilation, were things unknown in the Indian school service, the most pertinent fact being that buildings were an imperative necessity, and these important adjuncts were omitted, either from economy or the lack of appreciation of their advantages to a perfect school system. The omission of these essential elements of construction is now only too apparent, and, considering the hereditary ailments-consumption and scrofula-to which the Indian is predisposed, it has become necessary that good sanitary and hygienic expedients should be as speedily inaugurated as funds are available.

Reports upon school plants indicate that there are evidences that the buildings of the schools have not received the care and attention requisite to their proper maintenance and preservation, in that defects of little moment in their incipient stages, yet if permitted to continue soon develop into injurious proportions, have been overlooked and remedial applications too long deferred. These results no doubt arise in many instances from an overzealous desire on the part of the responsible parties to make a record for economy in the administration of their respective charges. Noting this defect in the administrative system, in the new Indian School Rules its regulation has been provided for. A small leak, slight deterioration in brick or stone work or other matters of a similar kind, if promptly taken in hand would save many dollars to the Government hereafter. There should be a happy medium between extravagance and parsimony, and agents and superintendents have been properly instructed in this matter.

The value, as reported to this office by the agents and superintendents, of the school plants of the service amount to over $3,000,000, and in all probability the original cost was in excess of this. Much of this property, by reason of its construction under earlier systems, is of

a temporary and perishable nature, and of necessity requires constant attention and adequate expenditures for its preservation and improvement, and therefore, at least for several years to come, I am of opinion that the amount of funds appropriated for this purpose is below the actual necessities, and often the necessary economy becomes subversive of good and effective results.

In congregating and sheltering the great number of comparatively helpless children in the various Indian schools, in considering their uncivilized nature and past environment, it becomes a matter of much concern and moral responsibility to so arrange and equip these institutions that they may possess every safeguard against danger known to modern construction. The great majority of the old buildings were without any provisions for escape should a fire take place, in view of which fact, and that the greater number of children are quartered in the upper stories, together with the constant menace of fire from the use of kerosene lamps, prompt and vigorous measures have been taken to introduce fire escapes, standpipe and hose, and other methods for quenching fires in their incipient stages. It being impossible to fully equip all the buildings within a limited time with proper means for fire escape, a circular was issued directing the attention of agents and superintendents to the importance of such measures, and they were told "that where adequate fire protection has been provided it should be placed in charge of some one or more employees whose duty shall be to see each day that the apparatus is in good working order. Where no such provisions have been made, in halls, dormitories, commissary rooms, and wherever there is danger of fire should be placed pails filled with water ready for immediate use. These pails should be filled with fresh water at least twice each week and inspected daily. Supervisors and other inspecting officials are directed to thoroughly investigate this matter at each school, and a dereliction in obeying this order will be considered a grave offense and dealt with accordingly."

For various reasons many of the buildings have been constructed of wood. This practice I am satisfied is not conducive to economy, since the temporary and perishable nature of the material requires greater expense in the nature of repairs, to say nothing of the great danger of destruction by fire, especially where the water supply is not adequate to the necessities of the service. In view, therefore, of these facts, wherever possible, buildings of a permanent nature have been erected, believing it to be for the best interests of both the Government and of the service.

Great attention has been paid to effective sanitation, which can only be obtained through systems of sewerage and auxiliary house plumbing. In the location of new school plants the adequacy and sufficiency of water supply is a matter of primary consideration, and outweighs all others in the opinion of this office for such a site. Coincident with other necessary and modern improvements that are now being introduced and contemplated, much importance has been given the subject