The progress of these Indians, particularly in agriculture, during the past seven years is really wonderful. From wild and barbarous savages many of them have become good farmers, raising from cultivation of the soil more than sufficient to supply all their wants. The number of acres planted this spring by the Indians is greater than last year, but we fear the product will be far less if the present drought continues much longer. Last year was a most favorable season, and the yield of wheat grown by the Indians was greater than was anticipated. There being no market here at that time for the sale of wheat or flour, much grain was wasted by Indians, who raised more than was required for their consumption. Since the completion of the flouring mills there is an increased disposition to make the farms larger, and the Indians feel that they are more permanently attached to the reservation. The total number of acres of land enclosed on the reserve may be estimated this year at 3,000, nearly one-half of which is in cultivation, the balance being hay, pasture, and enclosed lands. So much of the Indian land in cultivation is in so many spots and shapes, scattered over the whole reservation, that it is impracticable to make an accurate estimate of the number of acres so cultivated by them. However, I may safely estimate 500 acres in wheat; corn, 100 acres; oats, 100 acres; and something over 300 acres planted in potatoes, peas, beans, and all sorts of garden vegetables. The continued dry weather this spring will cause our crops to be very short, and at this early period it is difficult to estimate the quantity that will be harvested. In any event, we are pretty certain to have sufficient for the wants of all. A number of Indians, who have good farms cultivated and cared for in the same manner as their white neighbors, will have a surplus, as they always do, of many kinds of produce, which they dispose of for their own benefit, and thus they constantly illustrate the fact that Indians are susceptible of being intelligent and industrious farmers. I think the time has arrived when it would be wise for the government to allot the lands in severalty to such Indians as have their farms permanently improved. It would be in accordance with the treaty stipulations, and would tend to cause the Indians to feel more secure in their rights, which are constantly being threatened by white people living in their neighborhoods. The agricultural implements were received from you too late for use this spring, and I trust that harness may be purchased by you to issue with the ploughs in time for next season. The blankets purchased by you and forwarded last winter were issued to the school children and poor old women as soon as received. The school under the management of Father Vermeusch, principal teacher, has succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectations, laboring as we do in this respect under so many disadvantages. The building used as a school-house is a small dilapidated log cabin, quite too small, is otherwise unfit for the purpose, and is not situated to be convenient of access to the largest number of children. The agency buildings are all of like character, being old and dilapidated, and must soon fall down from decay during the fearfully high winds that prevail here a great portion of the year. As I have heretofore repeated, these log cabins used as agency buildings were built with green cotton-wood logs some seven years ago to serve a temporary purpose, and they have necessarily been occupied ever since. The mills are situated six miles above the agency, and, as you know, are valuable. They would sell to-day for more than double their cost, and are, of course, of incalculable benefit to the Indians. The completion of the flouring mill especially has accomplished more towards making the Indians happy and contented than anything that has ever been done for them by the government. Agency buildings, cheap and comfortable, should be erected near the mills at an early day, and I have respectfully to ask that an appropriation of $7,000 may be made therefor. In February last Major John W. Wells, United States agent for the Flatheads of Montana, while en route for the field of his labor, visited this agency officially. His report to the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs in reference to the buildings, schools, &c, was full and clear; and I trust the recommendations offered by him will be acted upon as early as practicable. From the agency farm, consisting of about forty acres, I have been enabled to issue a sufficient amount of provisions for the children attending school, and to the old men and women who are unable physically to make their own living. Should the crops this season be a partial failure, as I have cause to expect from the present drought, that source of supply will be materially lessened. During the past year there has been less drunkenness, always leading to misdemeanor and crime among the Indians, than any year since they have been located here. The treaty employés have done a large amount of labor for the Indians during the year, and to their reports herewith annexed you are referred for interesting details. For a considerable period we have been without the services of a resident physician. With your approbation Dr. C. M. Steinberger was temporarily employed during the quarter ending March 31, 1867, and since the termination of his engagement we have had no physician. It is difficult fo procure the permanent services of a competent physician for the salary that is allowed. The sanitary condition of the Indians is good, no serious diseases being prevalent among them at this time. The good offices of the Reverend Father Vermeusch in assisting in the care of the sick and helpless is acknowledged with gratitude by those of the Indians who are capable of the sentiment, and duly appreciated by the agent and all others who, witness his kindly ministra tions. I have permitted several Indians to accompany the military expeditions against the hostile Indians in the Owyhee country, to act as scouts and guides. I have no doubt a company of 60 men could be raised to serve in that capacity, or as soldiers. These tribes, particularly the Cayuses, were formerly considered great warriors, and could doubtless be readily induced to march against their hereditary enemies, the Snakes. I deem it proper in this report to refer to a matter that is considered of great interest by many white people living in this neighborhood, and which caused much trouble in the minds of the Indians. The question of the removal of the Indians is being constantly agitated by a portion of the people of Minatilla county, in which this reservation is situated. While I am convinced that it would be much better for the Indians if they were removed to some more isolated place, away from the immediate proximity of the whites, it is equally clear to my mind that the Indians, at present, have no desire to go. The reservation is completely surrounded by white settlements, and, as I have previously reported, contains a large area of cultivated land, much more than will be required for the maintenance of these Indians. So anxious are the white people in the vicinity to possess this land, that threats to remove the Indians by violence are not unfrequently heard. The constant fear of the Indians, thus caused, that this reservation may at any moment be wrested from them, is a source of much trouble and vexation to the agent in charge. At the last session of the legislature of Oregon, a memorial to Congress was passed asking the removal of these Indians, and I am informed that a petition from the people of this county, to the same effect, has been transmitted to Washington. Our senators and representatives in Congress have visited this reserve, and it is believed they will urge some action by Congress that will be satisfactory to the people of this region. If anything is done relative to this matter, I believe it would be judicious for the proper authority to appoint a commission to hold a council with these tribes, and ascertain what they will sell their lands and improvements for, and when they would be willing to move. These preliminaries may be settled in this manner with very little cost to the government. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. W. PERIT HUNTINGTON, WM. H. BARNHART, United States Indian Agent. Superintendent Indian Affairs, Salem Oregon. No. 17. UMATILLA INDIAN AGENCY, SIR: This is the second time I have had the satisfaction to report to you. It affords me much gratification to say that our Indians seem to appreciate more and more what is done for their spiritual welfare. As many as 82 of them, adults and children, have been baptized, but, as you are well aware, the building now used for a school-house and church is entirely too small to contain those who wish to attend, and much anxiety is expressed by the Indians that a larger building may be erected. I will not extend further on this spiritual topic. Although I sincerely trust that, with the grace of God, I have been able to do some good, much still remains to be done, and will be always so, weeds ever growing with the good wheat. In making my report last year I stated that the school was as successful as could be expected from a day school, but at the same time I expressed my fears that I would not be able to maintain it on such good footing. In this I was happily disappointed; the number of scholars has increased, and all who have visited the school appear to be highly satisfied with their advancement and progress. Your kindness in allowing each child coming to school a sack of flour every month, and the blankets distributed among them, has been most effectual in securing a large and regular attendance. The number of scholars has during the year varied from 35 to 46 until the present month. I have found it necessary to grant some of the scholars leave of absence to accompany their parents to the mountains, in their annual expedition after camas and other roots and berries; these, however, I have no doubt, will soon return. As I stated in my last annual report, an industrial school, or, as it is more commonly called a manual labor school, where the boys and girls can be boarded and live under the constant supervision of their teachers, is the only plan that I believe can be adopted, which will secure a lasting benefit to the Indians; and it gives me much pleasure to understand that an agreement has been entered into between the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Rev. Father Brouillet for that purpose, and I sincerely trust that the arrangements may be perfected at an early day. As far as my spiritual duty obliges me to visit the sick, the sanitary condition of the Indians appears to be most satisfactory, and when the arrangements are carried out contemplated in the agreement above alluded to, and a hospital erected for the sick and infirm, I shall be better enabled to soothe their sufferings and prepare them for their passage to eternal life. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. BARNHART, Esq., United States Indian Agent. A. VERMEUSCH, Teacher. No. 18. WARM SPRINGS INDIAN AGENCY, SIR: In accordance with the regulations of the Indian department, I have the honor to submit the following as my second annual report upon the condition of Indian affairs at this agency: By reference to the statistics of education, &c., for 1866, you will perceive that the number of each tribe under my charge, present at that time, was as fol lows, viz: The number of Indians belonging to this reservation who were absent at the time the above census was taken would amount to about 200, mostly members of the Tygh and John Day tribes. I am pleased to report that the condition of these Indians has greatly improved during the past year. In the spring of 1866, as soon as the winter's snows had disappeared, the hills were covered with Indians, who were digging roots on which to subsist until fishing season. The past spring presented a very different appearance. A large majority of the Indians, in fact nearly all the Wasco and Deschutes tribes having an abundance of wheat, corn, and potatoes raised the past year, were engaged every fair day repairing their fences, enlarging their fields, and making preparation for putting in their crops. As early as the 16th of May, 1866, the Indians began to visit the salmon fisheries in large numbers. Being well aware of their destitute condition, and seeing no possible way of furnishing them with subsistence, I gave permission to all whose farms would not require their presence to visit the fisheries for a period of twenty days. Up to this time the number of Indians who have this year applied for permission to visit the fisheries is not one-tenth as large as that of the past season. It is my opinion that if they have a good yield from their crops this season, but very few, if any of them, will visit the fisheries next spring. The Indians this season broke up and planted about 60 acres of new land, which makes the quantity they now have in cultivation 435 acres, planted this season as follows, viz: 305 acres in wheat, 32 acres in corn, 70 acres in potatoes, 28 acres in assorted vegetables, viz., cabbage, turnips, beans, peas parsnips, beets, squashes, &c. On the 6th and 7th instants we were visited by very heavy frosts, which entirely destroyed all the assorted vegetable crop, and greatly damaged the crop of corn and potatoes. Since the said frosts many Indians have put in of the contract, and they were complied with by the agent, so far as they could be. They having possession of the school before the contract was made, were continued in possession; but no land was cultivated, children fed and clothed, or buildings erected, because he has had no appropriations applicable to that purpose. The archbishop has not yet furnished any other teacher than Father Vermeusch, and he is quite sufficient for the school until more conveniences are supplied. In order to fully carry out the contract, it is necessary to provide suitable buildings, enclose sufficient land, and provide teams and men to work it, and these cannot be done without money. I recommend, therefore, that $3,500 be appropriated for these purposes. The buildings ought not to be erected near the present agency, because the land in that immediate vicinity is totally unfit for cultivation, and the distance from the saw-mills-six milesis so great as to make the hauling of lumber very expensive. An excellent location, within two miles of the mills, affords the required amount of unoccupied fertile land, good water, convenient timber, and a retired location-none of which are to be had at the agency. I make these suggestions after a full consultation with Father Vermeusch, as the agent of the archbishop, and with his full concurrence. His familiarity with the Indians and the ground, and his earnest zeal in the business, render his opinions of value. Of course, the removal of the Indians from the reservation would forbid the carrying out of this contract altogether, and if removal is contemplated, (as I have suggested in a former part of this report,) this matter should be held in abeyance until the other is decided. I cannot too earnestly repeat what I have said in my former reports, as well as in this, that it is from manual labor schools alone that any good to the Indians may be expected. Schools where the Indian children are separated from their savage parents, housed, clad, and taught not only the contents of the spelling-book and the testament, but the elements of agriculture, mechanic and domestic arts-the boys to plough, plant, and hoe, to saw, cut, and frame-the girls to sew, knit, mend, and cook-these schools are the only ones which benefit the Indians. The day schools, at which the attendance is optional with the scholars, and often difficult, or impossible, by reason of the distance at which scholars reside. are of very little value. The scholars attend irregularly, and very often refuse to attend at all; and when they do attend, the good influence of a few hours in school is entirely overcome by the far greater time that they are subjected to savage associations. I repeat my former recommendation, that such legislation as will place all the schools upon the manual labor basis be adopted. STATISTICS. The statistics of education, &c., and the statistical return of farming, have been filled up by each of the agents, and accompany this report. I have also compiled a "Consolidated Statistical Return of Farming," which shows the amount of all the crops, the value thereof, the amount and value of live stock, buildings, and other property at all the reservations. It will show, in a concise and convenient form, about the actual agricultural condition of the tribes, with some brief comments. I trust it will be printed with this report. UNITING AGENCIES. There are several considerations in favor of uniting or consolidating two or more agencies into one, where the circumstances permit it. The Indians will be under better control, less liable to scatter, and require less vigilance to keep depraved and mischievous whites away from them; superior advantages of schools, mills, &c., and economy to the government. |