of lighting, both from natural and artificial sources. Windows are so grouped as to furnish light in the most satisfactory manner and with least damage to the eyes. Two methods of improving the artificial system of lighting are available at Indian schools-electricity and gasoline gas. Each of these has been installed and is now in operation at several different schools, although they are of such recent introduction that sufficient time has not elapsed for absolutely practical and concise data to be obtained as a basis for measuring their respective merits as to efficiency and cost. It can, however, be stated without reservation that so far as they have been tried each has proved satisfactory under the conditions imposed. The Pipestone school has been lighted with gas for the past year, and in a very recent report the superintendent expresses himself with great satisfaction at the results attained, so far as the character of light and cost of production are concerned. A similar gas plant has been in operation at the Menomonee school for several months, and reports of equal efficiency have been received. On the other hand, at those places, such as Oneida, Rosebud, Pine Ridge, and other schools of similar class, electricity has proven equally satis factory. I am satisfied, however, that for the smaller schools and in those sections where coal is very expensive the most economical system of lighting is that of gasoline gas, using the Welsbach burners.

The ring or needle bath system has now been tried at so many schools that it has passed the experimental stage. It is considered by those who use it to be the most economical, efficient, and hygienically satisfactory system of bathing yet invented for use at Indian schools. It is especially satisfactory in eliminating the dangers of contagious infections due to careless attention upon the part of employees.

Order and system being the foundation stone of any proper system of education, too much attention can not be devoted to their early impress upon the minds of the young; nor is the infusion of esthetic principles or the appreciation of the beautiful and artistic to be ignored, since their refining and elevating attributes assist materially in the cultivation and enlightenment of the precepts. Therefore it is deemed important that every detail in connection with the improvement of these Indian schools should be carefully weighed, beautified, and refinedmore especially their exterior environments, where the time of the pupil is spent in recreation and pleasure. The school authorities are instructed to have due regard for these principles, to which end unsightly banks and rugged hillsides are made to give place to swarded slopes and plains with flowers and shrubs. At some of the schools, roads and pathways are little better than ditches, and form heterogeneous gridirons, devised without thought or system, which, taken together with the possible verdureless landscape, present a most doleful and uninviting aspect to the scenery, all of which operates detrimentally upon both pupils and employees. An effort is made to impress upon the school people the necessity for joining the useful to the ornamental, improving the surroundings of the school, and, where possible, the

introduction of the study of horticulture, both as a means of pleasure and a profitable enterprise. The prominence with which road making now appeals to the average citizen of our republic presents the necessity for its introduction on our reservations and at the schools.

RÉSUMÉ OF NEW WORK.

The largest of the new school plants are those in course of erection for White Earth and Vermillion Lake, Minn. They are complete in every detail, and will accommodate each about 150 pupils. After mature deliberation the project for the erection of a new school at Mount Scott, on the Kiowa Reservation, Okla., was abandoned, and in lieu the present schools were enlarged by the addition of a mess hall at Fort Sill, and a dormitory and mess hall at Riverside, and dormitory, mess hall, and other buildings at Rainy Mountain, increasing the capacity of each school fifty or more pupils. A new school building at Cherokee, N. C.; new dormitory and buildings at Flandreau, S. Dak.; Mount Pleasant, Mich.; Greenville, Cal.; Arapaho, Okla., have been constructed; also a new building at Little Water school, Navajo Reservation, with a sufficient water supply. The new schools at Rapid City, S. Dak.; Toledo, Iowa, for the Iowa Sac and Fox Indians; Red Moon and Cantonment, on Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation, have been completed, and will be opened early in the next school year. A new auditorium at Haskell Institute will be an ornament and useful addition to the plant. Phoenix, Ariz., admirably located for a large southwestern Indian school, has by Congressional appropriation had its school increased from 400 pupils to 600, and new dormitories and other necessary buildings provided for. The school at Clontarf not proving satisfactory as an Indian school, principally by reason of the nearness of its location to Morris, Minn., has been discontinued and merged into the school at that point. Situated in the extreme southwestern part of Utah, and the northwestern portion of Arizona, reside a small section of the Pah Ute tribe, known as Shebits and Kaibabs. A small school has been established for their benefit at St. George, Utah, and excellent results are anticipated with these hitherto neglected Indians. At a great many of the schools, buildings and other improvements of a minor nature have been made, increasing the efficiency and modernizing their equipments. Electric-light plants have been provided at Lac du Flambeau school, Wisconsin, and other points; water, bathing, and ventilating systems, have been introduced at many schools.

PLANS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

During the spring the school plants at Fort Berthold, N. Dak., and at Winnebago, on the Omaha and Winnebago Agency, Nebr., were destroyed by fire, thus depriving the children of those reservations of school facilities. Plans for a new building at Fort Berthold to accommodate 75 pupils, and at Winnebago for 150 pupils, are now being prepared, and these schools will be ready for occupancy September, 1899.

The Kickapoo, Kans., school, by order of Congress, must be moved, and plaus for a building with a capacity of 75, to be erected on the new site, have been prepared. A new school building at Tomah, Wis., is now being erected. Substantial improvements are provided for, in the appropriation law, at Puyallup, Wash.; Salem, Oreg.; Wind River, Wyo.; Pipestone, Minn.; Flandreau, S. Dak.; Tomah, Wis.; Albuquerque, N. M.; Chilocco, Okla.; Genoa, Nebr.; Mount Pleasant, Mich.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Leech Lake and Red Lake, Minn. Plans for carrying on these appropriations are being formulated, and the bulk of the work will be accomplished during the succeeding fiscal year. Out of the general school-support fund the Indian Office contemplates the expenditure of a sufficient sum to radically increase scholastic facilities for the great tribes of the Southwest, and to that end adequate additions will be made to the schools now established for the Pimas, Papagos, Navajos, Moquis, Apaches, at Sacaton, Fort Defiance, Keams Canyon, San Carlos, and Fort Apache. There are on these reservations and adjacent thereto thousands of Indians without any school advantages whatever. Although the cost of building in these sections is very high, yet with the limited funds at its disposal an earnest effort will be made by this Office for remedying existing defects. The Jicarilla Apaches in the northwestern portion of New Mexico are without school facilities of any kind, and plans are now in contemplation for the erection of a boarding school for their uses. Although the Southern Utes are bitterly opposed to the establishment of schools for their children, an effort will be made with them. While governmental efforts for the education and civilization of the Seminoles in Florida are not meeting with adequate results, yet persistent efforts will be continued in order that the fear and aversion which these people entertain toward the Government may be eradicated or abated. At Fort Peck two dormitories are in contemplation, and work on this construction will doubtless be commenced during the year. Bids have been invited for a new girls' dormitory, to be constructed at Morris, Minn., and a project for lighting the plant is now under consideration. Improvements in sewerage, water, etc., at the Menomonee school, Wisconsin, and in buildings at Oneida, are subjects for consideration. Fort Belknap school, Montana, is located at such a distance from good potable water that before any extensive repairs are made the subject of moving the school to a more advantageous site will be considered. A great amount of repairs are necessary and in contemplation.

From the report made upon the Indian school at Perris, Cal., it appears that the site is unsuited to the requirements of a large Indian school. The soil is poor, water facilities are bad, and thus no agricultural, horticultural, or other farming operations-which pursuits the children must follow in after life-can be taught practically. Such a school for southern California is a necessity, and should have at least 200 pupils, which number can readily be secured without great

effort. The present school plant is inadequate, and not in good condi tion. No estimate for repairs has been made because it was thought unwise to expend any more money upon this plant until the question of its removal had been determined. It is suggested that economy and good service require a change in location of this school, and should Congress authorize the same some suitable site can be readily found in southern California, where all conditions of climate, soil, water, and other essential conveniences, may be met, thus insuring a successful school in an important district.

SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION.

The establishment of two school supervisors' positions in addition to those already allowed has been of material advantage in the administration of the school service. The large and increasing number of schools renders adequate supervision by the old force impossible. In order that the work of the supervisors might be simplified, and give each an opportunity to visit several times each year the schools under his charge, the country was divided into five districts. In this way supervisors can see what progress the schools are making, observe their organization, methods, and morale, and secure sufficient comparative data for keeping the Indian Office fully advised upon the merits or demerits of its system, and the advancement or retrogression of employees and pupils.

During each year many thousands of dollars are expended in the erection of new school plants, and improvements and repairs upon old ones. New sites for schools are to be selected, and special emphasis is placed upon adequate sewer and water facilities. Too frequently the Indian Office in these matters must rely upon the untechnical knowledge of the officials. The amount and character of this work requires the best and most skillful expert inspection in every stage. Congress has recognized this deficiency in another branch of the service by providing that one of the Indian inspectors "shall be an engineer competent in the location, construction, and maintenance of irrigation works." No matter how perfect a plan may be prepared, if the same has not been constructed in a competent, workmanlike manner, the service must suffer. The Government has over $3,000,000 invested in buildings for Indian schools, and such vast property should be inspected by some one competent to intelligently and skillfully direct and recommend what repairs, improvements, or necessary changes are requisite. It is therefore suggested that such an official be provided for the Indian school service at a salary sufficient to command the services of a competent expert.

SCHOOL APPROPRIATION.

The following table shows the amounts appropriated for Indian school purposes through a series of years:

TABLE 9.—Annual appropriations made by the Government since the fiscal year 1877 for the support of the Indian schools.

Wild Rice River, Minn.-In 1892 the Protestant Episcopal Church, at a cost of $980.15, erected a building adjoining the Government school at Wild Rice River, on the White Earth Reservation, in Minnesota. The building was used by a mission of that church for teaching Indian women to make lace, and was known as the "Indian lace school.” January 28, 1897, the mission proposed to sell the building to the Government for Indian school purposes, and authority was granted March 29, 1897, to expend $600 in its purchase, payment therefor to be made from the appropriation "Indian school buildings, 1897." A bill of sale to the United States from the Protestant Episcopal Church, by J. A. Gilfillan, its agent, was submitted, which conveyed not only the building but also 3 acres of land surrounding it. This office, however, was found to have no record of the assignment of this tract to the church for any use, and therefore it was deemed best to have the church convey its right in and to said land and the improvements thereon by deed, in lieu of a bill of sale; and, for the purpose of definitely describing the 3 acres and connecting it with the public survey, a survey of that tract was directed to be made.

A quitclaim deed, dated November 4, 1897, from "The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America," by Rev. Joseph A. Gilfillan, attorney, conveyed to the United States, for $600, all its right, title, and interest in and to a certain tract of land lying in Norman County, Minn., described as follows:

Beginning at the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter (SW. NW. 1) of section number thirty-one (31), in township number one hundred and forty-five (145) north, of range number forty (40) west of the fifth principal meridian; thence north on the west line of said section number thirty-one