(31) a distance of twenty-eight (28) rods; thence east and parallel with the south line of said section a distance of seventeen and a half (174) rods; thence south, and parallel with the west line of said section, a distance of twenty-eight (28) rods, to the south line of said section; thence west on the south line of said section, a distance of seventeen and one-half (174) rods, to the place of beginning, containing three acres, more or less, together with the frame building situate thereon and the land covered by said building.

The deed was approved by the Department December 1, 1897, and was recorded in the office of Norman County, Minn., March 16, 1898, in Book F, page 569, and is recorded in this office in Miscellaneous Records, Volume IV, page 280.

Red Pipestone Reservation, Minn.-The following paragraph is contained in the Indian appropriation act approved June 7, 1897 (30 Stats., 87):

The Secretary of the Interior is directed to negotiate, through an Indian inspector, with the Yankton tribe of Indians of South Dakota for the purchase of a parcel of land near Pipestone, Minnesota, on which is now located an Indian industrial school.

In compliance with instructions this office submitted to the Department April 25 last a draft of instructions, with detailed information regarding the Pipestone Reservation, for the guidance of the inspector to whom should be assigned the duty of conducting the negotiations. Flandreau School, South Dakota. In the Indian appropriation act approved June 7, 1897 (30 Stats., p. 80), Congress appropriated for the school at Flandreau, Moody County, S. Dak., $8,000 for the purchase of land to be used as an industrial farm, at a price not to exceed $25 per acre.

August 16, 1897, Leslie D. Davis, superintendent of that school, reported that several desirable tracts lying north of the school lands could be had, which were in a state of thorough cultivation, or were excellent for pasturage. August 28 he was instructed to enter into negotiations with the owners of the several tracts, and, September 24, he submitted a description of the tracts offered him, with the prices asked.

October 6, Supervisor F. M. Conser was instructed to inspect those tracts and report as to their adaptation to the wants of the school. October 27 he recommended favorably the S. of the SE. of sec. 16, T. 107 N., R. 48 W., owned by Mr. M. H. Beadles, of Illinois; the N. of the SE. and the E. of the NE. of same section, owned by George A. Phillips; and the W. of the NE. of said section, owned by the State. In the meantime Superintendent Davis made a supplemental report, October 11, that the N. of the SW. of sec. 21, T. 107 N., R. 48 W., had been offered him at $25 per acre, a most desirable tract to obtain because it would give free and undisputed access to the river for the sewerage system then in process of construction. Later he ascertained that more than $25 per acre would be asked for the Beadles tract.

March 7, 1898, the superintendent reported that he had negotiated for the purchase of the Phillips tract for $4,000, and submitted deed

therefor with abstract of title. This deed, dated March 7, 1898, was submitted to the Department April 16, 1898, and was returned May 21 with the opinion of the Acting Attorney-General that it passed a valid title to the land conveyed, subject to an unsatisfied mortgage of $1,800 held by the State, which was subsequently shown to have been discharged, and so recorded. May 26, 1898, the Department, having approved the deed, granted authority for the payment of the purchase money. The deed was duly recorded in the office of recorder of deeds, Moody County, S. Dak., June 4, 1898, in Book 15, page 209, and is recorded in this office in Miscellaneous Records, Volume IV, page 366. Superintendent Davis had also been authorized to purchase the land held by the State, described as the N. of the SW. of sec. 21; but March 24, 1898, he rep ted that upon examination of county records he found that it was e. tremely doubtful if he could obtain a satisfactory title to that tract. In lieu thereof he recommended the purchase of the SW. † of sec. 16, T. 107 N., R 48 W., which was better land, and being contiguous to the school grounds would be especially valuable to the school. Ju 6 he submitted a deed of even date from Albert Faegre and Sarah J., his wife, conveying to the United States for $4,000 the SW. of sec. 16, T. 107 N., R. 48 W., fifth principal meridian, containing 160 acres. This deed was submitted to the Department June 11, and was returned on the 5th of August with authority for the purchase and with the written opinion of the Attorney. General, dated July 1, 1898, that the deed passed a valid title. This deed was recorded in the register of deeds office for Moody County, S. Dak., volume 15, page 220, on the 12th day of August, 1898, and in this Office in Miscellaneous Records, Volume IV, page 383.

Rapid City, S. Dak.-The Indian appropriation act approved June 10, 1896 (29 Stats., p. 345), authorized the purchase of not exceeding 160 acres of land near Rapid City, S. Dak., at a cost not to exceed $3,000, upon which to erect buildings for an Indian industrial school.

Inspector James McLaughlin, having been instructed to select a site, reported September 8, 1896, that he had selected 160 acres, located about 2 miles west of Rapid City, lying in one body, and he forwarded deeds for the same, viz, the west 30 acres of the SW. of the NW. of sec. 3, T. 1 N., R. 7 E., Black Hills meridian, South Dakota, from W. O. Temple and wife, September 4, 1896, for $380; the west 30 acres of the NW. of the SW. and the SW. 1 of the SW. of said section 3, containing 70 acres, from Samuel P. Williamson, September 3, 1896, for $1,860; and the E. of the SE. of the NE. and the NE. of the SE. of sec. 4, T. 1 N., R. 7 E., containing 60 acres, from Henry P. Long, August 31, 1896, for $760. Ninety acres in bottom land were susceptible of irrigation from Rapid Creek and Limestone Creek, through the Temple tract, both streams being reported to have a never-failing supply of excellent water.

The deeds, with abstracts of title, for these three tracts were submitted to the Secretary of the Interior September 19, 1896, and November 27, 1896, the Attorney-General reported that they conveyed a valid

title upon fulfillment of certain conditions, which were complied with. Authority was granted January 4, 1897, for the purchase of the several tracts at the prices specified in the deeds.

The deeds were recorded in the register of deeds office for Penning. ton County, S. Dak., in Book G―that of Mr. Temple, on page 284; that of Mr. Williamson on page 283, and that of Mr. Long on page 282. In this Office they will be found in Miscellaneous Records, Volume IV, pages 132, 136, and 140.

THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION

АТ ОМАНА.

Indian Congress.-The Indian appropriation act of July 1, 1898, (30 Stats., p. 571), contains the following clause:

That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be assembled at the city of Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, at such time and for such period as he may designate, between the first days of June and November, anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, representatives of different Indian tribes, as a part of the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition, to be held at the city of Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, pursuant to an act of Congress entitled "An act to authorize and encourage the holding of a Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition at the city of Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-eight," approved June tenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, for the purpose of illustrating the past and present conditions of the various Indian tribes of the United States, and the progress made by education, and such other matters and things as will fully illustrate Indian advancement in civilization, the details of which shall be in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior. And for the purpose of carrying into effect this provision the sum of forty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated; but the Secretary of the Interior is hereby probibited from making, or causing to be made, any expenditure or creating any liability on behalf of the United States in excess of the sum hereby appropriated.

As showing the purpose and scope of the proposed congress of Indian tribes, I quote the following from a letter of instructions sent to Indian agents in regard to securing the attendance at the congress of representatives of various tribes.

It is the purpose of the promoters of the proposed encampment or congress to make an extensive exhibit illustrative of the mode of life; native industries, and ethnic traits of as many of the aboriginal American tribes as possible. To that end it is proposed to bring together selected families or groups from all the principal tribes and camp them in tepees, wigwams, hogaus, etc., on the exposition grounds, and there permit them to conduct their domestic affairs as they do at home, and make and sell their wares for their own profit.

It is represented that the Indian tribes are rapidly passing away or modifying their original habits and industries by adopting those of civilization; that there are yet many tribes within our borders whose quaint habits and mode of life, which have remained practically unchanged since the days of Columbus, are little known to the majority of our own people, and that an assemblage of the kind proposed would not only be beneficial to the Indians participating, but would be extremely interesting, as well as profitable, to the large body of people in attendance.

The first step will be to select the families or groups of Indians who are to represent their respective tribes at the encampment. It is desired that the encampment should be as thoroughly aboriginal in every respect as practicable, and that the primitive traits and characteristics of the several tribes should be distinctly set forth. This point should be constantly kept in view in the selection of the Indians and in the collection of material.

The Indians chosen to attend must be full bloods, and should be good types of their respective tribes, consisting preferably of leading men or chiefs and their families. The latter should be made up of man, wife, and one or two (and never more than three) minor children. While it is desired that family groups and family life should be portrayed, it would be preferable that at least a majority of the delegation consist of adults.

Only Indians of good morals and habits should be selected, and most important of all they must be strictly temperate.

They should bring native dress if possible. They should also bring their native domiciles or the materials with which to make them. They should also bring the necessary articles with which to furnish and decorate their tepees or other domiciles. As this will be a most interesting part of the exhibit the furnishings should be as attractive and complete as possible. The necessary materials for carrying on their native arts should also be brought, so that they may engage in making articles for sale on the grounds. Where this can not be done they may bring things illustrative of their craft in reasonable quantities for sale. Necessary cooking utensils should be brought, and these should be as primitive as possible.

A collection of the implements and emblems of warfare would also be extremely interesting, and where it can be arranged with any degree of completeness it is suggested that such collection be brought. Articles to which a historical interest attaches for any reason should also be brought if practicable.

The Indians will not, of course, be at any expense for transportation to or from the Exposition or for expenses of living while in attendance there, and they will be well cared for.

July 11, 1898, the Department detailed Capt. W. A. Mercer, U. S. A., acting agent of the Omaha and Winnebago Agency, Nebr., to install and conduct the congress of Indian tribes at the Exposition, and on July 13, 1898, granted Mr. J. R. Wise, a clerk in this office, leave of absence without pay and appointed him as assistant manager to aid Captain Mercer at Omaha. From Captain Mercer's report of September 15 the following account of the congress is summarized:

The work of installing the Indians was prosecuted with as much expedition as possible, and on August 4, 1898, the Indian Congress was formally opened, and, although not nearly all of the Indian tribes which it was originally intended to have present were on the grounds, the Indians in attendance and in the parade of that day numbered about 450.

"Indian Opening Day" was a complete success, and the attendance on that day had only once been exceeded during the progress of the Exposition, and that was on July 4. There were present for that occasion about 150 Omahas and about 45 Winnebagoes—all from the Omaha and Winnebago Agency. These were not intended as permanent delegations for the congress, and they returned to their reservations after remaining about ten days. The Indians comprising the permanent delegation at that time numbered about 225, representing about 15 tribes and 18 reservations.

The work of procuring and installing delegations from other tribes was prosecuted without interruption, and at this date tribes are represented at the Exposition as shown in the following table:

Included in the band of Apache prisoners of war from Fort Sill are Chief Geronimo, the famous Apache warrior, and his able lieutenant, Nachie. The various delegations from other agencies also have many prominent men.

Many difficulties were encountered in the work of preparing and installing the Indian Congress, and in making it what it was originally intended by the Department that it should be, namely, a congress of the several Indian tribes of the United States, at which their native customs, habits, mode of dress, domestic life, dwellings, etc., should be portrayed. The greatest difficulty lay in the fact that Congress delayed the appropriation for the purpose so long that insufficient time was allowed to select, equip, and prepare the several delegatious. In many cases the Indians were distrustful or did not want to come to the congress. This was especially true of some of the oldest and best types of Indians-the ones that were really most desired as delegates. As a rule, no difficulty was experienced in obtaining any number of mixed bloods or partially civilized representatives, who for many reasons were the least desired.

It required repeated efforts and much persuasion to get Indians of the desired class, such as the Utes, the Bannocks, the Shoshones, the Nez Percés, the Osages, the Navajoes, and Northern Cheyennes. After some of them had been at the Indian Congress camp a few days and