SIR: I have the honor to transmit my second annual report since resuming charge of this agency. THE RESERVATION is situated in the northwestern part of Wyoming Territory, and embraces an area of about thirty by fifty miles; is bounded on the south and west by the Wind River Mountains, by Owl Creek Mountains on the north, and rolling hills and high tablelands on the east. The reservation embraces about three-eighths rugged, rocky mountains, partly wooded; three-eighths table-land and rolling hills, covered with sage brush, too high for irrigation; one-eighth table-land susceptible of irrigation, and one-eighth bottom land, mostly tillable. The two Wind Rivers and a number of small streams flow through the reservation, and, uniting below, form the Big Horn River. HISTORICAL. The Shoshones have occupied this country since 1781, and it was set apart for their reservation by treaty made at Fort Bridger in 1868. By request of the Government and consent of the Shoshones, the Northern Arapahoes were located here without treaty rights. POPULATION. The Shoshones number at this time 778 on the agency and receiving Government support, and 150 to 200 that are roaming and not counted; the Arapahoes, 952; making a total of 1,730 Indians on the reservation. VAGABOND INDIANS. The above mentioned nomadic Shoshones rendezvous at Fort Bridger, Evanston, and intermediate stations on the Union Pacific Railroad, their object being to get whisky and avoid labor, parading in rags and filth before the gaze of the traveling public. They are a disgrace to the service, and should be compelled to live on the reservation and be subject to discipline. CONDUCT OF INDIANS. The Indians occupying this reservation are quiet and peaceably disposed, making but few complaints, although much abused by horse and cattle thieves, as well as whisky sellers. Owing to shortage of supplies, especially beef, they have to hunt a *This_table shows only births and deaths reported by agency physicians. For births and deaths as reported by agents, including agencies where there are no physicians, see table, pages 266 to 284. part of the winter season (a treaty stipulation). Last winter they were quite successful, bringing in robes and furs amounting to about $15,000 in value. The greater part of this money is expended in purchasing flour, bacon, coffee, sugar, and other necessaries not fully supplied by Government. The same may be said of money received for freighting. Hunting versus civilization destroys a love for home and its comforts, prevents the keeping of milk-cows, raising fowls and domestic animals; keeps up a preference for the old tent life and habits, also careless indifference for property. But until they can be supplied by Government and their own exertions with the necessaries of life, I see no way of averting it. Nature has decided the amount of a ration, and that is just what an Indian will have; if he cannot get it one way he will another. He will feed his family as long as he has a cartridge, and so would an Indian Agent or Member of Congress, and both are supposed to be honest men. But to do my Indians justice, there is no evidence that they committed any outrages on cattle or other property last winter for they had all the buffalo and other game they could consume, and were peaceable and quiet. RELIGION. Their religious training has in the past been almost neglected. The Rev. John Roberts, of the Episcopal Church, arrived at the agency on the 13th of February last. He is a young, energetic man, and has rendered efficient service in the school of which he is now principal. A church building in the near future is in prospect. FARMING. Two-thirds of the men are willing to farm and are anxious to do so. Their efforts this year have not been crowned with as much success as desired, owing to a very late, wet spring and want of knowledge in planting. If a competent teacher could be employed for each twenty-five or thirty families for one season, and devote his whole time to teaching them, it would be a saving to the Department in the end. A suitable engine for the grist mill has been purchased and is now on the ground and will be ready for operation this fall. FREIGHTING. The Indians have made two trips to Rawlins Station, on the Union Pacific Railroad, distance 150 miles, and will make one more in September. The last train numbered sixty-nine wagons and the same number of Indian drivers, with one white train-master, bringing 16,000 pounds of freight in good order. White men could have done no better. POLICE, Organizing a police force has been stoutly resisted by Washakie, chief of the Shoshones, but he consented after he saw that it could not be prevented. A good set of young men has been enlisted and no doubt will do good service. EDUCATION. Teaching on the day-school system has not been a success at this agency, as Indian families are, many of them, at too great a distance from the school, but by crowding the employés into close quarters and converting two of their houses into boarding and lodging houses for school purposes, I commenced a small boarding-school for boys on the 10th of March, 1883. This school is under the auspices of Rev. John Roberts and has been in every respect as successful as could be expected. A contract has been let and foundation is now being laid for a large and complete boarding-school house to accommodate one hundred boys and girls. Under good management there is no good reason why this training school cannot be made a success. The proximity of home, restlessness of children under restraint, and want of parental authority are all obstacles in the way. But the parents are anxious for the school and are strongly pledged to support it. A firm and determined management will no doubt overcome all impediments. In conclusion, I have the honor to thank you for the improvements you have ordered for the benefit of the service at this agency. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. JAMES IRWIN, United States Indian Agent. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS, WITH THEIR POST-OFFICE ADDRESSES. Clinton B. Fisk, chairman, 3 Broad street, New York City. E. Whittlesey, secretary, New York ave., cor. Fifteenth street, Washington, D. C. Orange Judd, 751 Broadway, New York City. W. H. Lyon, 483 Broadway, New York City. Albert K. Smiley, New Paltz, N. Y. William T. Johnson, Chicago, Ill. LIST OF INDIAN AGENCIES FORMERLY ASSIGNED TO THE SEVERAL RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. FRIENDS -Santee, Nebraska, Otoe and Pawnee, in the Indian Territory. Levi K Brown, Goshen, Lancaster Co., Pa. FRIENDS.-Cheyenne and Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche and Wichita, Osage, and Sac and Fox, in the Indian Territory. James E. Rhoades, 1316 Filbert street, Philadelphia, Pa. METHODIST.-Hoopa Valley, Round Valley, and Tule River, in California; Yaka ma, Neah Bay and Quinaielt, in Washington Territory; Klamath and Siletz, in Oregon; Blackfeet, Crow, and Fort Peck, in Montana; Fort Hall and Lemhi, in Idaho; and Mackinac, in Michigan. Rev. Dr. J. M. Reid, secretary Missionary Society Methodist Episcopal Church, 805 Broadway, New York City. CATHOLIC.-Tulalip and Colville, in Washington Territory; Grande Ronde and Umatilla, in Oregon; Flathead, in Montana; and Standing Rock and Devil's Lake, in Dakota. Charles Ewing, Catholic Commissioner, Washington, D. C. BAPTIST.-Union (Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles), in the Indian Territory, and Nevada, in Nevada. Rev. Dr. H. L. Morehouse, secretary American Baptist Home Missionary Society, Temple Court, Beekman street, New York City. PRESBYTERIAN. - Navajo, Mescalero Apache, and Pueblo, in New Mexico; Nez Percés, in Idaho; and Uintah Valley, in Utah. Rev. Dr. J. C. Lowrie, secretary Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, 23 Centre street, New York City. CONGREGATIONAL.-Green Bay and La Pointe, in Wisconsin; Sisseton and Fort Berthold, in Dakota; and S'Kokomish, in Washington Territory. Rev. Dr. M. E. Strieby, secretary American Missionary Association, 56 Reade street, New York City. PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.-White Earth, in Minnesota; Crow Creek, Lower Brulé, Cheyenne River, Yankton, Rosebud, and Pine Ridge, in Dakota; Ponca, in Indian Territory; and Shoshone, in Wyoming. Rev. A. T. Twing, secretary Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 22 Bible House, New York City. UNITARIAN.-Ouray Agency, in Utah. Rev. G. Reynolds, secretary American Unitarian Association, 7 Tremont Place, Boston. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.-Warm Springs, in Oregon. Rev. John G. Brown, D. D., secretary Home Mission Board United Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.-Southern Ute, in Colorado, and Mission, in California. Rev. J. G. Butler, Washington, D. C. Agency. List of Indian agencies and agents, with post-office and telegraphic addresses. Post-office address. Telegraphic address. Agent. Capt. Charles Porter, U. S. A Hoopa Valley, Humboldt County, California Crow Creek and Lower John G Gasmann. Pine Ridge (Red Cloud) Standing Rock. Yankton. V. T. McGillycuddy A. L. Cook. John D. Miles P. B. Hunt Ponca, Pawnee, and Otoe L. C. Woodin Wichita. Quapaw Laban J. Miles. D. B. Dyer San Bernardino, Cal Covelo, Mendocino County, California Yuma, Ariz. San Carlos, Ariz. Arcata, Cal. San Bernardino, Cal. |