have been executed for one and two year periods, respectively. The prices are about the same as last year, ranging from 25 cents per acre for grazing lands to $2.50 per acre for the best farming lands. For raw, unbroken lands the average price is 75 cents per acre per annum. For averge farming lands where small improvements have been made the prevailing price is $1.25 per acre.

Ponca, Pawnee, etc., Agency, Okla.-No leases have as yet been approved for this agency, though 111 farming and grazing leases were submitted to the Department for approval by Agent Sharp with letter of February 12.* They were sent to a special agent of this office for investigation as to the adequacy of the consideration. They have been returned by the special agent with the statement that 36 are "fair value," and those 36 leases are now pending before the Department for approval. The remaining 75 leases have been returned to the agency for the purpose of having new leases executed in their stead at increased rates, as recommended. During the month of June Agent Sharp submitted 112 more farming and grazing leases for approval. They have been returned to John Jensen, the present agent, for investigation as to the adequacy of the consideration. The leases are for Ponca, Pawnee, and Tonkawa lands, and are for three years. The consideration averages 50 cents per acre per annum, though for lands already under cultivation it ranges from 75 cents to $1.25 per acre.

*

Puyallup Reservation, Wash.-Seven farming and grazing leases. The term is generally two years. The consideration ranges from $1.97 to $10 per acre per annum.

Quapaw Agency, Ind. T.-Two farming and grazing leases by the Eastern Shawnee allotees, 4 by the Senecas, and 1 by the Wyandottes. The length of term is from one to three years. The cash consideration ranges from $1.50 to $2 per acre per annum. In some cases certain improvements are to be placed on the lands by the lessees. One mining lease has been executed by the Modoc Indians. The term is five years. The consideration is 10 per cent of all tripoli and other minerals mined. Sac and Fox Agency, Okla.-Sixty-three farming and grazing leases by the Absentee Shawnee allotees, 49 by the Pottawatomies, 55 by the Sac and Foxes, 16 by the Iowas, and 33 by the Kickapoos; also 3 business leases by the Sac and Fox Indians. The length of term is from one to three years. The cash consideration ranges from 15 cents per acre per annum for the poorest grazing lands to $3 per acre for the best farming lands. In some instances certain improvements are to be made by the lessees in addition to the cash consideration. The price paid for business leases is $5 per annum for 25 by 150 square feet, $12.50 for threeeighths of an acre, and $20 for 1 acre.

*Since the above was written 40 of the 111 leases have been approved by the Department; also 84 out of the 112 sent to the agent have been returned and approved. Seventeen others have been returned by the agent for approval.

Santee Agency, Nebr.-One farming and grazing lease for the term of three years. The annual rental is 314 cents per acre.

Sisseton Agency, S. Dak.-One farming and grazing lease. The term is three years. The annual consideration is 314 cents per acre.

Umatilla Agency, Oreg.-Twenty farming leases-4 by the Umatilla, 9 by the Walla Walla. and 7 by the Cayuse allottees-one of which is for 300 acres off the school farm. The consideration in the school farm lease is one-third of the crop raised. The annual rental for the remaining 19 leases ranges from $1.25 to $2 per acre. The terms are two and three years, respectively.

Sixty-three farming leases, the consideration in which ranged from 70 cents to $2.68 per acre per annum, were returned to the agent-22 on January 24, and 61 on April 6-for a personal investigation as to the adequacy of the consideration, because it was thought that the lands should command a higher rental. No report has as yet been received as to the result of his investigation.

Yakima Agency, Wash.-Ten farming and grazing leases. The term is three years. The cash consideration ranges from 25 cents to $1.35 per acre per annum. In some instances the lessees are to place certain improvements on the land in addition to the cash consideration.

Yankton Agency, S. Dak.-Nine grazing leases. The term is generally three years. The cash consideration is 10 cents per acre per annum. Tabulated, the above information as to leases of allotted lands may be given as follows:

INDIAN LANDS SET APART TO MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

Tracts of reservation lands set apart during the year for the use of societies carrying on educational and missionary work among Indians are as follows:

Lands set apart on Indian reservations for the use of religious societies from August 20, 1897, to August 31, 1898.

a Lot on tract reserved for agency purposes.

b On tract reserved for agency purposes.

e Set aside in 1887 to Woman's Home Missionary Society of Methodist Episcopal Church, and surrendered in 1898 in favor of Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs.

A table giving all lands on Indian reservations set apart for missionary purposes will be found on page 00.

RAILROADS ACROSS RESERVATIONS.

GRANTS SINCE LAST ANNUAL REPORT.

Since the date of the last annual report Congress has granted railroad companies rights of way across Indian reservations as follows: Indian and Oklahoma Territories.-Nebraska, Kansas and Gulf Railway Company. By act of Congress of March 30, 1898 (30 Stats., 347, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted right of way through Oklahoma and the Indian Territory, beginning at a point to be selected by said railway company along the south line of the county of Harper, State of Kansas, and running thence in a south and southeasterly direction by way of Kingfisher, over the most practicable route through the Indian Territory and the Territory of Oklahoma, to a point at or near Denison, State of Texas, thence to the city of Galveston, said State, with the right to construct, use, and maintain such tracks, turn outs, sidings, and extensions as said company may deem it to their interest to construct along and upon the right of way and depot grounds herein provided for.

Denison, Bonham and New Orleans Railway Company.-By act of Congress of March 23, 1898 (30 Stats., 341, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted right of way through the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, beginning at a point to be selected by said railway company on Red River, near Denison, in Grayson County, in the State of Texas, and running thence by the most practicable route

through the Indian Territory in a northerly direction to the southern boundary of the State of Kansas, at some point in the south line of Chautauqua County, in said State, with the right to construct, own, and maintain and operate a branch line of railway, beginning at a point not exceeding 35 miles north of Red River, on the main line, thence in a northwesterly direction to Fort Sill, in Oklahoma Territory, with the right to construct, use, and maintain such tracks, turn-outs, branches, sidings, and extensions as said company may deem it to their interest to construct.

Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company.—By act of Congress of June 27, 1898 (30 Stats., 493, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was authorized, at its sole expense, to restore the South Canadian River to its original channel under the already constructed bridge of said company, and to that end to straighten and shorten the river above said bridge by excavating and constructing a channel for the river through and across sections 28 and 29 of township 9 north, range 15 east, subject to the conditions mentioned in said act.

Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway Company.-By act of Congress of June 27, 1898 (30 Stats., 492, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted right of way through the Chilocco Indian School Reservation in Oklahoma.

By act of Congress of June 4, 1898 (30 Stats., 431, and p. 00 of this report), all railway companies operating lines of railroad through the Indian Territory were authorized to enter into contracts for the use or lease of the railroad and other property of any railroad company whose line may now or hereafter connect with its line, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the respective companies, and to use and operate such road or roads in accordance with the terms of such contract or lease, but subject to the obligations imposed upon the respective companies by their charters or by the laws of the United States or of the State or Territory in which such leased road may be situate: Provided, That the terms of this act shall not apply to parallel or competing lines.

Omaha and Winnebago Reservations, Nebr.-Omaha Northern Railway Company.-By act of Congress of March 26, 1898 (30 Stats., 344, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted right of way through the Omaha and Winnebago reservations, subject to the usual conditions and restrictions.

Colville Reservation, Wash.-Kettle River Valley Railway Company.By act of Congress of June 18, 1898 (30 Stats., 475, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted right of way through the north half of the Colville Reservation, subject to the provisions of the act of Congress of March 3, 1875 (18 Stats., 482).

Washington Improvement and Development Company.—By act of Congress of June 4, 1898 (30 Stats., 430, and p. 00 of this report), the abovenamed company was granted right of way through the Colville Reservation, subject to the usual conditions and restrictions.

GRANTS REFERRED TO IN PREVIOUS ANNUAL REPORTS.

Indian and Oklahoma Territories.- Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company.-By act of Congress of March 17, 1898 (30 Stats., 327, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted an extension of three years from the 1st day of April, 1898, within which to construct the branch lines of road provided for in the act of Congress of February 27, 1893 (27 Stats., 492), provided that the company shall construct at least 50 miles of said railway within one year after the passage of the act, and subject also to the condition that the station grounds shall be limited to 2,000 feet in length for each station. On June 20, 1898, the company forwarded a draft for $1,593 in payment of the annual tax of $15 per mile for each mile of road constructed through Indian lands for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898.

Gainesville, McAlester and St. Louis Railway Company.-By act of Congress of June 7, 1898 (30 Stats., 715, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted the right to commence the construction of its line of road as soon as a map of definite location of the route from the Red River to near South McAlester shall have been filed with and approved by the Secretary of the Interior, provided that a map of definite location of the road from South McAlester to Fort Smith shall be filed and approved before the construction of that portion of the road shall be commenced.

Fort Smith and Western Coal Railroad Company.-By act of Congress of June 7, 1898 (30 Stats., 433, and p. 00 of this report), the above-named company was granted an extension until December 31, 1900, within which to construct its line of road, as provided for by the act of Congress of March 2, 1896 (29 Stats., 40).

Denison and Northern Railway Company. As mentioned in the annual report for 1896, the above-named company was granted right of way through the Indian Territory by act of Congress of July 30, 1892 (27 Stats., 336). By act of Congress of March 29, 1898 (30 Stats., 00, and p. 00 of this report), the company was granted an extension of a further period of one year from the passage of the act within which to comply with the provisions of the original act.

Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway Company (formerly the Choctaw Coal and Railway Company).—February 24, 1898, the Secretary of the Interior approved a map of definite location of fractional section No. 12, extending eastward from Wister Junction a distance of about 63 miles to a junction with the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad; also a plat of station grounds at the latter junction, designated "Choctaw Junction." August 2, 1898, the company tendered a voucher in the nature of a draft for $328.50 in payment for right of way, at the rate of $50 per mile, for fractional section No. 12, above referred to. On August 5, 1898, the Secretary of the Interior approved the plat of additional station ground at South McAlester. September 7