I am building a small house at my own expense in the northeast corner of the Osage diminished reservation, where I intend to remove my headquarters this fall. I think, if the proper means were used, these Indians could be induced to cede their lands in Kansas to the government and take a reservation in the Indian territory more remote from white settlements. This should be accomplished, if possible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. J. WORTHAM, G. C. SNOW, United States Neosho Indian Agent. Superintendent Southern Superintendency, Fort Smith, Arkansas. No. 114. CATHOLIC MISSION, NEOSHO COUNTY, KANSAS, September 6, 1867. SIR: We have only 40 Osage and 12 Quapaw boys in our Osage manuallabor school. The Sisters of Charity educate 33 Osage and two Quapaw girls, a small number indeed compared to preceding years. You having lately visited us, I need not describe in detail what they are taught. I simply say that the natural talents of the Indian children are not surpassed by an equal number of white children. Their proficiency, particularly in reading and writing, can be testified by a large number of competent and admiring visitors of our schools. It is much to be regretted that upwards of 300 children are running wild in the Osage villages, and grow up in ignorance, never to be useful to themselves nor to society. The Osage educational fund being small, a large number cannot be taken into our schools. Before 1861, some 25 Osage families had commenced to farm successfully. These began to value the benefit of education, and children entered our schools in number beyond our means. The fourth of the nation, after seeing the fast increase of domestic animals on these Indian farms, seemed convinced that industry, accompanied by light labor, brings more comforts into families than the accustomed long and painful journeys after buffalo meat. The first enterprise of these Indians unfortunately failed. During the two following years they lost all their improvements, their hogs and cattle, and were obliged to resume the semi-annual hunts for the support of their families. I suppose you yourself, and all others who have observed the Indian's mode of living, will agree with me that no Indian tribe can be brought to civilization while they live by hunting, receiving an annuity merely sufficient to indulge indolence. Since the treaty of September, 1865, they have all moved to their new reservation, from 40 to 60 miles distant from our school establishments. Being divided into five or six Indian towns, and deprived of regular advisers, they are becoming wild, and are fast returning to their savage customs. A party spirit being raised, their young men meet in councils to overrule the little remaining authority of their chiefs. These destructive tendencies are regretted by a few families, who desire to separate themselves from the Indian towns with a view to make farms and raise stock. The uncertainty of retaining permanent homes on the new reservation discourages the greater part of the Osages, while it has a tendency to lead the young warriors into mistaken notions. The Osages, as a nation, are, like children, easily controlled. Only let the government extend to them a fatherly hand, and encourage industry and farming. Nothing is more feasible than to employ their own annuities (hitherto only productive of great evil,) for a lasting benefit to these Indians, namely, industrious families should be remunerated proportionably to their improvements. This done, other families would be stimulated to imitation. A similar plan once commenced, the Indian department would soon be enabled to use a very large revenue, namely, the proceeds of the Osage trust lands, to the real advantage of these Indians. I am convinced by long experience that while the Osages live in idleness, and raise their children in their wild towns, which are nests of savage dances and corruption, these children must, by necessity, follow and take delight in the bad examples of the nation. It may be said that the education of children ought to effect civilization, but I say that the examples of the majority will always prevail among young people. There are not a few aged Osages of sober habits, who disapprove the wild Indian customs and ask often for advice, wishing to train their children to farming. All that seems needed is a helping hand from government, not that farms should be made for them and houses built on the like similar superficial plans as experience teaches only serve the interests of speculators, but I do mean that the Osage Indians should make their own improvements, their fields and houses, &c., and be paid for these improvements; moreover, that premiums be promised and timely given proportionably to their exertions and success. Indians unaccustomed to discipline will object to stringent laws, yet the sober and better-minded Osages feel the void of suitable laws. The chiefs and some of the leading men regret that the Indian fields and produce are unprotected against thieving neighbors, and would willingly accept laws of their own liking. They often advise in their councils the adoption of laws. To effect such salutary reforms government officers should strengthen the authority of your Osage chiefs, and assist them in selecting suitable laws. Where there is no law there is no transgression. No wonder, then, that the Indians retaliate for the loss of their horses, this very thing being a trait of their industry and wit. The Osages at home are and have always been peaceable and friendly, but on the plains they seek for titles of bravery. Therefore, reform their customs by suitable laws and you put the Osages on the way of civilization. Yours, respectfully, Major G. C. SNOW. JOHN SCHOENMAKER. No. 115. WE-WO-KA SEMINOLE AGENCY, SIR The condition of the Seminole Indians under my charge has been very much improved since the date of my last annual report. At that time a large majority of them were refugees in camp on the west bank of the Arkansas river, nearly 150 miles from the country that had been provided for them by treaty concluded the 21st day of March, 1866. On my return from Washington to the temporary agency at Fort Gibson on the 1st day of October, 1866, I found them all in camp, eager to go to their new country, but without any means whatever to enable them to reach their future home. They were removed to their new reservation during the month of October, and were furnished with rations of corn and beef, in accordance with the provisions of their late treaty, until their crops could be raised and matured, as they were in a country where no crops have been grown, and the preceding year had been spent in refugee camp, without the means of raising anything for subsistence. They at once commenced the erection of cabins and providing themselves with suitable places for winter. The land on which they were located was new, uncultivated, and for the greater part covered with timber. On this land and without any farming implements, except such as had been transported with them from Kansas and Fort Gibson, and without any seeds furnished them except corn, they were told that they must raise sufficient for their own subsistence after the 1st day of July, 1867, as the government had determined to furnish no more supplies after that time. Using every exertion possible with the means at my command I procured them sufficient axes, wedges, and other tools, so that each band could fence a field in common. During the winter they made more than 100,000 rails; some bands of 100 persons fencing 500 acres, by carrying the rails on their backs. The accompanying statistical report will show that notwithstanding all the discouraging circumstances that surrounded them, they raised more than 110,000 bushels of corn, and a correspondingly large amount of vegetables and garden produce. By a system of government enforced by the chief and headman, every man and woman was compelled to work; and any neglect on the day appointed was visited with a fine of five dollars per day, and the amount was immediately collected, even though it took the last blanket the person slept on, or the last penny in the family. There has been a large surplus of corn raised this year. They have been careful of the moneys paid them, and have invested all in their power in hogs and stock, and the coming year will show a prosperous, contented people. Understanding the intention of the department in requiring an annual report to be, to make such suggestions as may present themselves to improve the condition of the Indians, I shall briefly give my opinion, deduced from several years connection with Indian service and knowledge of Indian character. For some time past I have been thoroughly convinced that the payment of annuities in money does no good whatever to a majority of the Indians, and in many instances is a positive injury to them. It encourages idleness and is a temptation to dishonesty. In almost every case the amount of their annuity is anticipated in debt to the trade; and the greater number of places the worthless ones can obtain credit upon the strength of the payments, the less amount of work he is willing to do. The small amount usually paid to the tribe per capita will not provide them with sufficient funds to procure them necessary clothing and blankets, and, like all indolent persons, they have no stimulant for exertion, while they have or can anticipate a few dollars of annuity money. To the Indians at all advanced in civilization, pastoral pursuits and farming afford the best field for encouragement and advancement. In a country so well adapted to stock-raising as the Indian territory, there is no pursuit so well suited to the Indians as the raising of stock, accustomed from infancy to spend the most of his time astride the back of a pony. They naturally take care of their stocks, and in the Indian country, where no necessity exists to provide feed for stocks in the winter, many Indians have become among the largest stock-growers in the United States. What they were before the war they may become again if all their funds, except such amounts as might be required to carry on their local government, was invested in stock, farming implements, &c., and the whole system of annuity payments were done away with. The same policy applied to other Indians than those living in this superintendency I believe would be found to improve the condition of the Indians. On the score of economy, if upon no other, I would provide them with the means of subsistence, and in every way encourage him in habits of industry and civilization. On the score of humanity, Christianity and the honor of the enlightened nation, a determined, patient effort should be made to save not only spiritually, but physically, the few remaining remnants of a nation that once owned all these broad prairies and fertile valleys. They are susceptible of a degree of civilization, and it is the duty of this government and honor demands that it use every exertion to accomplish this result. Considerable impatience has been manifested by the Indians at the delay in making the survey required under late treaties, but now that the work is soon to be begun, schools will be commenced, the mills erected, the agency buildings completed, and other progressive enterprises inaugurated that cannot but be beneficial to the welfare of the Seminole people. There is a large party in favor of progress, of internal improvements, of advancement and cultivation, and is steadily increasing each year. The years of the late war have brought them all more or less in contact with the whites and face to face with the march of improvements, and they see that labor is rewarded by increased ease and comfort, and the surroundings of pleasant homes. During the past year the Presbyterian board of home missions has sent a missionary among these people (Rev. Mr. Ramsey) who has labored with zeal and fidelity, and his labors have been crowned with gratifying success. The religious element is large among the Seminoles, and many of them are consistent, devout members of some church denomination. Sunday schools are established in every neighborhood, and the old and the young are instructed in the elements of religious and secular education. About the 1st of August the cholera broke out at this agency and raged for some two weeks with considerable violence. Some 40 or 50 persons died, but the disease has almost entirely disappeared from the Indian territory. The Indians of this agency and of the Territory have remained peaceful and faithful to their treaty obligations. Situated as these people are on the western portion of the country and next the wild Indians of the plains, they have had frequent cause of complaint at the depredations committed by irresponsible parties of Indians attached to the tribe at the west of us; but they have listened to the counsels I have given them, and with commendable patience and forbearance have avoided any conflicts whereby disturbances with surrounding tribes might be engendered, and have maintained peaceful relations with the whites and neighboring Indians. Hoping that your efforts for improvement and elevation of the Indians of this Territory will meet with success, I have the honor to submit this as my third annual report. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JAMES WORTHAM, GEORGE A. REYNOLDS, United States Indian Agent for Seminoles. Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Fort Smith, Arkansas. No. 116. NORTH FORK, C. N., October 1, 1867. SIR: In compliance with your request, I can but submit a very brief report of the school, &c., lately placed under my care. The necessary repairs of the buildings, &c., have not yet been commenced other than the procuring of a portion of the materials, &c., necessary thereto. As for the reason of this delay you are fully aware, the means, in sufficient amount to push forward the work, not having yet come into my hands. This institution is located on the North Fork of the Canadian river, and within three miles of its junction with the same, a fine location surrounded with the best of lands. This institution is generally known as the Asbury Manual Labor School. The buildings and other improvements were commenced here nearly 20 years ago under a contract with the United States government and the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, made and entered into by Commissioner Medill and Rev. J. C. Perryman. The most of the time since its establishment it was kept in active operation until stopped by the war. Of its former students many are now taking the lead among their people, industrious, trustworthy, and capable of filling important places in the councils of the nation. The outbuildings, such as stables, cribs, &c., were all burned during the war, and the property belonging to the institution, which a short time before was estimated at over $7,000, including both inside and outside, was either all destroyed or carried away. The soldiers on both sides did a great deal of this, but the Indians themselves (including Cherokees) carried away and destroyed more than the soldiers, so we are left nothing to begin with. The main buildings, which now, owing to the great abuse they have received and the time they have been standing, need thorough repairing. This will cost, including the repairs of the farm, not less than some $6,000, $1,000 of which we have received, as provided for by the treaty-an amount quite insufficient to commence with. The original expenditures in the erection of the buildings and other necessary improvements amounted to some $12,000, and that at a time and under circumstances when such an amount of work could be done at a much less cost than now. The one-half of the above amount was paid by the Methodist mission board. The cost per annum of carrying on the school was about $6,000, $2,000 of which was met by the mission board. The location has heretofore proved a very healthy one, and so too is that of the country around. This district of the Creek nation embraces a very large proportion of the most fertile lands, which, when and in whatever manner cultivated, will repay the tiller's toil. The very finest beef and pork were heretofore to be found in this part of the Indian country. Many of the Indians have been, and a few are still, large stock-raisers, others of them good farmers, perhaps dependent more in years past upon their success in these things than they have of late. The Creeks are mostly inclined to be industrious, but have hitherto labored under many disadvantages for want of machinery and men of enterprise among themselves to work these things. The condition of the Indians who occupied this district previous to the war has, since their return to their old homes again, been very hard; they found little or no stock of any kind in the country, the most of their houses burned, their fields, whether large or small, all laid waste, the entire country bordering on a state of desolation. Many of their friends, whether they went north or south, for one or the other way they were forced to go, never returned again, being either carried off by diseases or the war; some of whom on the eve of leaving buried their effects, not soon to be resurrected. Notwithstanding all this, when they returned at the close of the war, they went to work in right good earnest, so that by last fall they had several thousand bushels of corn to exchange with the merchants for such other things they most needed, while many elsewhere, not in worse condition at the end of the conflict, remained almost entirely destitute. It may not be out of place to add that both Baptist and Methodist have each a goodly number of native church members in this nation. There are also a respectable number of district schools carried on under the direction of the council, several of them taught by native teachers. Yours, very respectfully, Col. JAMES WORTHAM, THOS. B. RUBLE, Superintendent Indian Affairs for the Southern Superintendency. No. 117. FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, October 19, 1867. : SIR On receipt of your letter of instructions having date July 19, 1867, I immediately started for the agency of the Wichitas and affiliated bands for the purpose of obeying your orders in the removal of the Indians pertaining to the said agency, from Butler county, Kansas, to their former homes, on that part of |