Indian legislation by the first session of the Forty-ninth Congress 264 Tabular report of the condition of trust funds..... 279 Statement of receipts and disbursements on account of sales of Indian lands since 285 Tabular statement showing present liabilities of United States to Indian tribes under treaty stipulations.. 286 Executive orders relating to Indian reservations. 292 Schedule giving areas of Indian reservations and authority for their establishment 381 Table giving statistics as to population of Indian tribes, civilization, allotments, houses, &c. 392-411 Table giving labor, criminal, religious, and vital statistics in regard to Indian tribes.... .412-425 Table of statistics as to lands cultivated and crops raised on Indian reservations .426-437 Table of statistics as to products of Indian labor, and as to stock on Indian reservations 438-449 Table showing prevailing diseases among Indians. 450-459 460 460 Addresses of Indian agents and superintendents of schools 461 467 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: I have the honor herewith to submit the second annual report on Indian affairs under their present management. It is with pleasure that you, and through you Congress and the American people, are invited to mark the unmistakable evidences of progress made by many of the tribes within the last twelve months. These evidences are apparent from several standpoints. The excellent temper, subordination, and general tranquillity which, with two or three exceptions, have everywhere prevailed among the Red Men under the charge of the Indian Bureau are of themselves a most auspicious omen of progress. The active inquiry among many of the tribes for further knowledge of the arts of agriculture; the growing desire to take lands in severalty; the urgent demand for agricultural implements with modern improvements; the largely increased acreage which the Indians have put to tillage, exceeding that of any preceding year; the unprecedented increase in the number of Indian children who have been enrolled in the schools-these and many other facts fully establish the claim that during the past year the Indian race has taken a firmer step and a grander stride in the great march toward civilization than ever before in the same length of time. THE "PEACE POLICY" AND ITS ECONOMY. Another year's experience and practical trial of this "humanitarian and peace system" only adds cumulative testimony to the superiority of its methods of Indian civilization over any others ever yet tried. As a further and unerring evidence, I may refer to the fact that the progress above noted has been made without corresponding increase in expenditures. In fact the estimates for carrying on the Indian service are being reduced, as the following statement shows: Estimate for appropriation : Fiscal year 1886 Fiscal year 1888 $7,328, 049 64 6,051, 259 84 5,608, 873 64 In the estimates for 1888 an increase of $177,500 is asked for educational work. But for this increase the reduction would have been much greater, and the estimate for 1888 would have fallen below the estimate for 1887 $619,886.20, and below the estimate for 1886 $1,896,676. A benign policy on the part of the Government toward the Indian race, dictated by a love of humanity, one in which both political parties have fortunately and exceptionally agreed, is a proud national distinction. It speaks well for the great heart of the people which lies back of and behind this Government that they order and command their representatives to foster a policy which alone can save the aborigines from destruction-from being worn away by the attrition of the conflicting elements of Anglo-Saxon civilization. Upon my induction into office I gave to this line of administration mature reflection, critical research, and extensive consultation, and in my last annual report it was briefly summarized, as follows, and its continuance urged: This brings me directly to the consideration of the practical policy which I believe should be adopted by Congress and the Government in the management of the Indians. It should be industriously and gravely impressed upon them that they must abandon their tribal relations and take lands in severalty, as the corner-stone of their complete success in agriculture, which means self-support, personal independence, and material thrift. The Government should, however, in order to protect them, retain the right to their lands in trust for twenty-five years or longer, but issue trust patents at once to such Indians as have taken individual holdings. When the Indians have taken their lands in severalty in sufficient quantities (and the number of acres in each holding may and should vary in different localities according to fertility, productiveness, climatic, and other advantages), then having due regard to the immediate and early future needs of the Indians, the remaining lands of their reservations should be purchased by the Government and opened to homestead entry at 50 or 75 cents per acre. The money paid by the Government for their lands should be held in trust in 5 per cent. bonds, to be invested as Congress may provide, for the education, civilization, and material development and advancement of the red race, reserving for each tribe its own money. When the farm and the school have become familiar institutions among the Indians, and reasonable time has intervened for the transition from barbarism or a semi-civilized state to one of civilization, then will the Indian be prepared to take upon himself the higher and more responsible duties and privileges which appertain to American citizenship. A wider and better knowledge of the English language among them is essential to their comprehension of the duties and obligations of citizenship. At this time but few of the adult population can speak a word of English, but with the efforts now being made by the Government and by religious and philanthropic associations and individuals, especially in the Eastern States, with the missionary and the schoolmaster industriously in the field everywhere among the tribes, it is to be hoped, and it is confidently believed, that among the next generation of Indians the English language will be sufficiently spoken and used to enable them to become acquainted with the laws, customs, and institutions of our country, and to regulate their conduct in obedience to its authority. The willing support which the entire people of the United States are giving to this policy of educating the Indian and placing him upon a homestead with the peaceful implements of agriculture and the mechanic arts in his hands, and the assiduity with which for years the authorities have worked for the accomplishment of this object with varying success among different tribes in all sections of the country in which they are located, and the onward move in this direction now urged and impelled by every agency and instrumentality of the Indian Bureau, as well as by the numerous organizations and societies of various kinds which are all working in harmonious co-operation for the effectuation of this noble purpose, should arrest the attention of these benighted people, and these beneficent endeavors should evoke from their stolid hearts gratitude and kindly appreciation. I am glad to know that in very many instances such appreciation is not wanting. THE "FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES." In view of this policy of protection for the Indians, it is reasonable that the Indian Bureau and the country should look to the five civilized tribes of the Indian Territory about whom so much has been said by orators and statesmen, and of whom so much is expected by the friends of the Indian, to set freely and promptly such an example as shall advance the civilization of their savage brethren of other tribes. The influence of their example upon the semi-civilized and savage tribes makes the study of their condition and methods a matter not only of great interest but also of first importance. The treaties of 1866, and other treaties also, guarantee to the five civilized tribes the possession of their lands; but, without the moral and physical power which is represented by the Army of the United States, what are these treaties worth as a protection against the rapacious greed of the homeless people of the States who seek homesteads within the borders of the Indian Territory? If the protecting power of this Government were withdrawn for thirty days, where would the treaties be, and the laws of the Indians and the Indians themselves? The history of Payne and Couch and their followers, and the determined effort of both Republican and Democratic administrations to resist their unlawful claims and demands, is too recent not to be still fresh in the memory of these Indians. It is not reasonable to expect that the Government will never tire of menacing its own people with its own Army. Therefore it becomes vastly important that these five civilized tribes, who have among them men competent to be Representatives and Senators in Congress, governors of States, and judges on the bench, should cordially, and in a spirit of friendly gratitude for what has been done for them, co-operate with the Government in bringing about such a change of affairs in their midst as will bring peace and quiet to their borders, settle existing agitations as to their rights and interests, and |